PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Barnes (ranked 3935 p4p, 4063 weight class) and Sunshine Okafor (ranked 338 p4p, 349 weight class). Okafor is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bliss. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barnes
vs
Okafor

170 cm
21
144
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
156
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steve Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sunshine Okafor!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid body kick from Okafor.
Okafor jabs Barnes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Barnes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Okafor connects with a right hand. Barnes shakes it off.
Barnes scores with a body shot.
Okafor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jab by Okafor.
Barnes fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Okafor checks it well.
Okafor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Good work by Okafor as he checks the leg kick.
We've been told by Barnes's head coaches at Qube MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Okafor checks the leg kick nicely there.
Good work by Okafor as he checks the leg kick.
Barnes moves out of range as Okafor strikes.
Nice body punch from Barnes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Okafor lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barnes's sensitive parts.
Barnes throws a lazy head kick
and Okafor counters with a body kick that stops Barnes in his tracks momentarily.
Okafor looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A telegraphed right hand from Okafor misses the target.
Barnes moves in looking to clinch but Okafor pushes him off.
Okafor throws a low kick but Barnes moves out of range easily.
Okafor misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okafor avoids the head kick by Barnes.
Barnes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barnes throws a front kick aimed at Okafor's knee but Okafor avoids it well.
Okafor swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Barnes throws a push kick but Okafor slaps the foot to one side.
Barnes tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Okafor is able to avoid easily.
Okafor with a hook.
Okafor lands a nice shot to the body.
Barnes throws a solid leg kick but Okafor takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barnes.
Okafor fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barnes.
Left hook, right uppercut from Okafor.
Barnes misses with an uppercut. Okafor saw that one coming.
Barnes takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Okafor fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barnes.
A low kick from Barnes misses
and Okafor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Okafor tries to clinch up.
Sunshine Okafor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Barnes lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Okafor has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Okafor and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Okafor throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barnes counters with a body kick.
Okafor misses the shot to the body.
Okafor jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Barnes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Okafor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barnes on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Good exchange - Okafor coming out on top.
Barnes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Okafor.
Barnes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Okafor throws a front kick that sends Barnes stumbling back into the cage.
Okafor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barnes throws a jab but it's blocked by Okafor.
Okafor looks to land a body kick but Barnes moved away.
Barnes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Okafor jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Okafor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barnes. That did some damage!
Barnes fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Okafor.
Barnes swings for the body but Okafor moves out of range.
Barnes moves out of range as Okafor throws a body kick.
Barnes throws a head kick that half lands.
Okafor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okafor works Barnes's body with a nice hook.
Okafor lands a nice shot to the body.
Okafor scores with a nice strike.
Barnes is looking to clinch.
Okafor throws a low kick but Barnes moves out of range easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Barnes misses its target.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Okafor.
Barnes takes one to the side of the head.
Okafor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barnes.
Barnes moves out of range of the strikes.

Barnes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Barnes tries to break free but Okafor pushes him back against the cage.

Okafor manages to break the clinch.
Okafor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barnes was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Okafor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Okafor digs a good hook to Barnes's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okafor fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Barnes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Okafor swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnes takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Okafor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Barnes at a distance.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Okafor moves out of range easily.
Okafor slips a jab and a cross from Barnes.
A good leg kick by Barnes.
Barnes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Okafor makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Barnes tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Barnes takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Okafor throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A low kick from Barnes is predictable there
letting Okafor counter with a right hand.
Okafor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barnes scores with the left hand. Okafor knows he should have avoided that one.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnes misses with a punch to the body.
Okafor lands with a left to the head.
Okafor misses with a hook to the ribs.
Good body shot from Barnes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sunshine Okafor dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Okafor swings for the body but Barnes moves out of range.
Barnes misses with a low kick.
Sunshine Okafor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Okafor lands with a straight right. Barnes didn't see that one coming.
Barnes swinging wildly here.
Okafor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Okafor's jab looks to have found its range, popping Barnes under the eye.
Barnes looks for the body kick but Okafor saw that one coming.
Nice jab there from Okafor.
Steve Barnes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Okafor looks to score with a jab to the body but Barnes is just out of range.
Barnes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Barnes.

Okafor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Okafor scores with a nice head shot.
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!
Barnes throws a series of punches but Okafor avoids them all with ease.
Okafor steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Okafor checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes connects with a high kick.
Barnes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Okafor cracks Barnes with a good jab.
Okafor fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Barnes checks it well.
Barnes misses with an uppercut.
Okafor throws a lazy right hand but Barnes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barnes misses with a body shot.
Barnes throws a body punch but Okafor moves out of range.
Okafor lands a right hook to the body.
Barnes swinging wildly here.
Okafor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Okafor throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Barnes on the side of the head.
Barnes stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Barnes connects with a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Barnes clinches.
Okafor lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Okafor throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okafor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Okafor scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Barnes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Okafor.

Okafor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barnes is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Some bone on bone action there as Okafor checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Barnes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okafor moves away.
A lazy body kick from Okafor
and Barnes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barnes misses with a head kick.
Okafor only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Okafor lands with a thumping leg kick.
Okafor connects with a high kick.
Barnes takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Barnes takes the fight into the clinch.
Okafor tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barnes smiles and moves away.
Barnes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barnes takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Okafor.

Barnes closes the distance and clinches.
A nice left hand lands by Okafor.

Okafor breaks from the clinch.
Okafor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Barnes misses the shot to the body.
Barnes bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Okafor's head backwards.
Okafor delivers a nice body kick.
Okafor avoids the body shot from Barnes.
Barnes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Okafor. Okafor obviously looking to wear him down.
Okafor connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barnes momentarily.
Barnes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Barnes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Okafor.
A head kick misses from Barnes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okafor misses with the body kick
and Barnes counters with a straight right hand.
Barnes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Okafor.
Okafor lands a head shot.
Okafor throws an overhand right that lands on Barnes's shoulder, as Barnes tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okafor connects with a solid leg kick.
Okafor is looking to clinch but Barnes is avoiding it.
Okafor throws a jab when Barnes was well out of range.
Barnes lands a jab to the head.
Okafor lands with a hook. Barnes tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Barnes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Okafor, pushing him back against the cage.
Barnes blocking some punches.
Barnes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Okafor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Okafor darts in and clinches Barnes up against the cage.
Barnes struggles to land a body shot inside as Okafor controls his hands.
Okafor misses with the head strike.
Okafor working aggressively here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Okafor swings wildly with an uppercut but Barnes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Okafor scores with a shoulder strike.

Okafor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sunshine Okafor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barnes moves out of range of the body kick.
Okafor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A counter left hand to the body from Barnes misses its target.
Okafor on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barnes. Barnes obviously looking to wear him down.
Barnes swings for the body but Okafor moves out of range.
Okafor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barnes takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Okafor lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Barnes takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Okafor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barnes manages to avoid it.
Barnes tries to clinch there but Okafor circles away.
Barnes throws a right hand that Okafor ducks under and follows up with a left that Okafor also avoids with ease.
Okafor throws out a counter right but Barnes avoids it with no problem.
Okafor misses with an uppercut
and Barnes counters with a nice body shot.
Barnes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okafor.
Barnes is looking to wear down Okafor with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes throws a head kick but Okafor moves out of range.
Okafor swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Okafor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barnes.
Okafor cracks Barnes with a good jab.
Okafor with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barnes to score with a decent uppercut.
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!
Okafor cracks Barnes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes doesn't manage to clinch there - Okafor circles away.
Barnes cracks Okafor with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Barnes swings away with a body shot that misses
and Okafor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Okafor crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Barnes - the referee stops the clock and Okafor gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Barnes. Okafor manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Barnes tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Okafor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barnes tries to clinch but Okafor is having none of it.
Okafor lands a front kick.
That kick from Okafor tenderised Barnes's leg. Barnes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Barnes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barnes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Okafor lands with a right hand.
Okafor wants to clinch.
Okafor lands with a cross.
Barnes looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Okafor.
Barnes misses with a wild combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jab from Okafor.
Barnes tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Okafor is able to avoid easily.
Okafor throws a counter combo.
Okafor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barnes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Okafor throws out the jab.
Okafor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Barnes delivers a nice body kick.
Okafor misses with an uppercut. Barnes saw that one coming.
Barnes appears to be looking for a big counter.
Barnes throws a low kick but it's checked well by Okafor.
Barnes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barnes is looking to score with low kicks.
Okafor bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Okafor swats away the attempt to clinch by Barnes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okafor lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Barnes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Okafor looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Barnes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Okafor throws out the jab.
A nice leg kick from Okafor, right into the meat of the thigh.
Okafor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Okafor misses with a body kick.
Barnes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Okafor's sensitive parts.
Okafor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barnes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Barnes.
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Okafor follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Barnes misses with an uppercut. Okafor saw that one coming.
Barnes throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Okafor on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Okafor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Barnes looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Okafor works the jab nicely.
Okafor lands with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okafor scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barnes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Okafor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Okafor tests Barnes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Okafor slips a jab and a cross from Barnes.
Okafor jabs Barnes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Okafor stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Okafor throws a big shot that misses.
Okafor misses with a looping right.
Barnes throws a sloppy head kick and Okafor moves out of range easily.
Okafor moves into range and connects with a jab.
Steve Barnes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barnes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Okafor throws the left hand but Barnes avoids the punch easily.
Okafor keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Okafor checks a low kick from Barnes.
Barnes moves away from the strike by Okafor.
The crowd cheers as Okafor lands an impressive looking overhand right. Barnes doesn't seem phased though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sunshine Okafor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Okafor 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sunshine Okafor!
During a confident post fight interview, Sunshine Okafor thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.