PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Okabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Burke might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Manish Boy. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Burke
vs
Okabe

178 cm
27
183 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

177 cm
37
181 lbs
35 - 20 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, James Burke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenji Okabe!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Okabe.
Burke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Burke cracks Okabe with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Okabe shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Burke shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Okabe counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Burke!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Okabe advances to full mount.
Burke is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Burke wants to control but Okabe is having none of it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Okabe looking to control but Burke is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Burke sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Nice strikes from Okabe there.
Burke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okabe works his foot free and advances to mount.
Burke's coaches at ~T~ Troid - Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
BOOM! Okabe connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Okabe breaks from Burke's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Okabe tries to control but Burke wriggling away.
Burke working to try and regain half guard.
Okabe takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Burke slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Okabe wants to pass the guard but Burke is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okabe is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Okabe looking to finish Burke with some ground and pound. This is bad for Burke!
Okabe tries to control but Burke wriggling away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Burke regains half guard.
Okabe slips a nice elbow through Burke's hands, connecting with Burke's forehead.
Okabe wants to pass the guard but Burke is defending well.

Burke actively working from the bottom here.
Burke slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Burke controls Okabe momentarily but Okabe frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okabe works over Burke with some ground and pound from guard.
Burke can't keep his opponent in guard - Okabe advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Okabe tries to pass to full mount but Burke defends it.
Okabe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burke keeps working.
Okabe uses his free foot to push down on Burke's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Burke.
Okabe scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Okabe lands a nice shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okabe scores with a couple of good head shots there.
My spies in Ballas Only inform me that Okabe has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Okabe with a couple of short strikes.
Okabe lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okabe has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Burke's face.

Burke is rocked!
Okabe trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Okabe might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Burke haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Okabe landing punches.
Okabe lands a nice shot to the head.
Burke really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Okabe lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Oh Burke is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Okabe lands a heavy shot. That's hurt Burke! Okabe sees the opportunity and turns up the heat - strike after strike land to the defenseless Burke and the ref dives in to save him! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Kenji Okabe!
Kenji Okabe decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.