PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Adams (ranked 731 p4p, 107 weight class) and Ghazi Okah (ranked 172 p4p, 24 weight class). Adams comes to the cage accompanied by Thom Pace - Maybe. Okah has chosen Rock Stone as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Adams
vs
Okah

190 cm
26
220 lbs
17 - 4 - 1

195 cm
25
212 lbs
11 - 4 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Nutrition
Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Adams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ghazi Okah!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Adams misses the jab.
Okah throws a good cross that connects.
Okah lands a really nice looking cross but Adams seems unphased.
A jab from Okah misses.
It looked like Adams was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Okah.
Adams takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Adams has been working on his boxing with his coaches at *****AXE PACK***** in the buildup to the fight.
Adams throws a shot from downtown. Okah moves away and avoids it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Okah! But no joy.
Adams jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Adams throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Okah swings away with a body shot that misses
and Adams cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Adams misses with a looping left.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Okah! But no joy.
Adams bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Okah scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Adams paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okah throws a shot to the body.
Adams moves out of range of the body kick from Okah.

Adams gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Okah misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Okah tries a body shot but Adams blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah lands with a short shot to the head.
Adams tries to score a body lock takedown but Okah shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Okah misses with a body punch.
Okah swings wildly with an uppercut but Adams uses good head movement to avoid it.
Okah lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Adams backwards.
Adams misses with a punch on the inside.
Okah doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Okah lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Okah.
Adams's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Adams.
A shot in the inside from Adams.
Okah swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Okah scores with a hook to the body.
Adams tries to throw a body punch but Okah avoids it by throwing Adams back against the cage.
Adams leaning his opponent against the cage.
Okah misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okah blocks an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Okah misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Adams lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Okah makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Okah waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Adams.
Adams attempts a counter takedown but Okah avoids it well and moves away.
Okah works the jab nicely.
Okah's corner calls for a 1-2. Okah obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Adams throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Okah works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Okah staying out of range there.
Adams throws a lazy uppercut
letting Okah counter with a right hand.
James Adams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Adams moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice jab there from Okah.
Adams loads up on a big right hand but Okah slips the punch.
Adams blocks a leg kick.
Okah lands with a nice body punch.
Ghazi Okah is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adams closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Okah jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Adams was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Okah misses with a looping left.
Okah fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A jab from Okah does it's job there.
Okah dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Adams. That did some damage!
Adams looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Okah is fending him off so far but Adams persists. Nope, Okah circles away and we're back to standing.
Okah keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Adams blocks the body kick.
Okah is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Adams had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Okah explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Okah.
Adams swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Okah paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Okah looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okah slips a jab and a cross from Adams.

Okah moves into range and clinches up with Adams.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okah doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Adams tries to throw a body punch but Okah avoids it by throwing Adams back against the cage.
Okah lands a left hand that snaps the head of Adams backwards.
Okah misses with a short punch on the inside.
Okah misses with a hook to the ribs.
Okah misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Okah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Adams's elbow.
Adams trying to control the position but instead, Okah has worked for underhooks and has pushed Adams into the cage.
Okah scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Okah lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Adams backwards.

Adams gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Okah wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Okah pushes Adams off and scrambles back to his feet.

Okah pushes Adams up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghazi Okah dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Okah lands a front kick.
Adams swings for the body but Okah moves out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Okah.
Adams checks a low kick from Okah.
Okah scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Okah fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Adams tries to bum rush Okah with a series of wild strikes but Okah uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Okah has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Okah is looking to land body kicks.
Adams lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Okah circles away quickly and effectively.
Okah connects with a crisp jab.
Okah throws a quick inside leg kick.
Adams tries to clinch but Okah is having none of it.
Adams misses with a takedown
and Okah counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Adams gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Adams tries to clinch up but Okah circles away and keeps his distance.
A countering left hand to the body from Okah misses.
Good leg kick by Okah there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah looks to throw the jab but Adams is out of range.
Okah takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Adams fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Okah takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Okah throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Adams fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Okah throws a leg kick but Adams moved away.
Adams misses with an uppercut. Okah saw that one coming.
Okah goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Okah throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Adams with a nice cross.
Okah throws a right hand that misses
and Adams counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Okah with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Adams lands a really nice looking cross but Okah seems unphased.
Adams throws a lazy uppercut
and Okah counters with a straight right hand.
Okah slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okah lands a nice shot that snaps Adams's head back.
Adams misses with a straight right.
Okah keeps the fight on the outside.
Okah uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Adams.
A little jabbing left from Okah on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Adams thows a left - swing and a miss!
Adams throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Okah scores with a shot to the body.
Adams throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Adams misses with a wild body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Okah! But no joy.
Ghazi Okah seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Okah instigates a clinch.
Okah scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch on the inside from Okah fails to land.
Adams throws a head punch that misses.
Okah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Adams's elbow.
Okah tries to throw a body punch but Adams avoids it by throwing Okah back against the cage.

Okah breaks the clinch.
Okah keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okah goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Adams looks to land a left hand but Okah moved out of range nicely.
Adams jabs Okah to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Okah looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Adams throws a lazy uppercut
and Adams takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Okah buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Okah throws a quick inside leg kick.
Okah lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Okah jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Adams appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Adams has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Okah.
Okah fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Adams looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
No luck for Adams with that takedown attempt.
Adams takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okah will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Adams takes a body punch but keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Adams misses with a hook. Okah ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Okah on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Okah scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Adams loads up on a big right hand but Okah slips the punch.
Adams on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Okah looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Okah showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Adams.
Adams blocks a low kick nicely.
Okah throws a body kick that misses.
Okah misses with a body kick.

Adams clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Okah swings wildly with an uppercut but Adams uses good head movement to avoid it.
Adams presses Okah against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghazi Okah showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Adams fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Okah let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Okah fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Adams throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Okah connects with a right hand. Adams shakes it off.
Okah connects with an inside leg kick.
Adams misses with a jab, cross combination.
Okah throws a low kick but it's checked well by Adams.
Adams fails in his attempt to clinch.
Adams looks to land a right hand but Okah moved out of range.
Adams keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Okah there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Adams shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Adams missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Okah is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Adams's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Adams's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah is not going to allow Adams to sit and survive in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okah has good solid back control here.
Adams is keeping busy.
Okah controlling from the back.
Ghazi Okah has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Okah is continuing to stall.
My spies in The Wild Beasts Zoo inform me that Okah has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Okah trying to control.
James Adams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adams just trying to survive but Okah is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Okah is hanging on to Adams's back as he tries to escape.
Okah controls the position.
Let's hope that Okah has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The adventures of Okah the control monster continue. Boring.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Okah is controlling the position but Adams somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Okah is looking to advance position but Adams won't allow it.
Adams punching from the bottom.
Ghazi Okah is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Okah is taking a breather. Adams says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Adams is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Okah pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ghazi Okah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Okah has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ghazi Okah!
After winning the bout, Ghazi Okah thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.