PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Black Belt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yakubu Okoroji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yakubu Okoroji has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Black Belt's chin.

Belt
vs
Okoroji

187 cm
37
201 lbs
17 - 13 - 0

190 cm
27
198 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Black Belt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Yakubu Okoroji!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okoroji throws a right and a left that Belt avoids nicely.
Yakubu Okoroji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belt shoots in but Okoroji avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Belt will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Belt moves in looking to clinch but Okoroji pushes him off.
Left hook, right uppercut from Okoroji.
Belt stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Okoroji.
Okoroji looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Belt gets a takedown into half guard.
Okoroji trying to hold on to Belt's head to control him but Belt postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoroji is looking to escape.
Okoroji blocking the ground and pound attempt from Belt.
Belt working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Okoroji's thigh. Okoroji counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Okoroji working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Belt.

Okoroji working for a triangle but Belt defends it easily.
Belt preventing the sweep.
Belt is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at SWF GYM - JUDO 'n' MMA that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Belt working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Okoroji's head.
Belt postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Belt with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Belt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Okoroji wants to stand up but Belt is controlling him.
Belt throws an elbow that misses. Okoroji uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Belt's guard. Nice move by Okoroji!

Belt tries to strike from the bottom.
Okoroji postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Okoroji wants to control from the top but Belt keeps moving.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Okoroji trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Okoroji is one step ahead there.
Okoroji lands a couple of digs.
Belt wants to sweep but no luck.
Belt is working hard here to advance position.
Okoroji loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Belt has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Okoroji can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Okoroji passes into half guard.
Okoroji not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Okoroji prevents Belt from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Okoroji is working for a kimura but Belt is defending it quite comfortably.
Belt works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Okoroji chips away with some ground and pound.
Okoroji is stalling in the full guard.
Belt wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belt being controlled here, momentarily.
Okoroji pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belt is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yakubu Okoroji dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Belt uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Okoroji.
A big left from Okoroji misses.
Okoroji has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Okoroji defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Belt.
Belt keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Okoroji.
Okoroji misses with the combination.
Belt is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Okoroji.
Okoroji scores with a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okoroji walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Belt checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Okoroji misses with a straight right.
Belt fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Okoroji avoids it really well and circles away.
Okoroji misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Okoroji shoots in and bounces Belt off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Okoroji trying to control but Belt is working from the bottom.
Belt wants to hit a switch here but Okoroji passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Belt there!
Belt holds on for dear life, controlling Okoroji's posture momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belt wants to control but Okoroji is having none of it.
Belt is bucking up trying to escape but Okoroji cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Okoroji working the ground and pound effectively.
Okoroji is landing with some decent strikes but Belt is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Belt is in a horrible position here. Okoroji smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Okoroji is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Belt is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Belt flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Okoroji anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Belt and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Okoroji slips an arm under Belt chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Okoroji has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Okoroji is squeezing on Belt like an anaconda would it's prey. Belt fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Yakubu Okoroji!
Yakubu Okoroji decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.