PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Walter Payton (ranked 1071 p4p, 859 weight class) and Mike Okafor (ranked 158 p4p, 126 weight class). Payton's entrance music is Andre Nickatina - Yeah. A fine choice. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Payton
vs
Okafor

194 cm
22
215
5 - 0 - 0

220 cm
21
207
11 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Core Combat
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Walter Payton!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Okafor!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Jorge Garcia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payton thows a left - swing and a miss!
Payton on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Mike Okafor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Okafor misses with a looping right.
Okafor gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Payton.
A jab from Payton does it's job there.
Okafor misses with a wild body shot.
Okafor misses with a straight right.
Okafor tries to score with a low kick but Payton moves his leg out of the way.
Payton bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Payton throws a hook but Okafor blocks it.
Payton looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okafor slips under a jab from Payton.
Payton throws a lazy right hand but Okafor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Payton steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Okafor.
Okafor looks to score with a jab to the body but Payton is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payton misses with a lunging right hand
and Okafor counters with a slapping leg kick.
Okafor swings widly with a right hand
and Payton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Okafor rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Payton counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Payton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Okafor.
Okafor with a hook.
Payton misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Okafor was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Payton wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Payton takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A looping hook to the body misses from Okafor. Payton does a little dance to reset his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Payton misses the target.
Mike Okafor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Payton throws a body punch but Okafor moves out of range.
Payton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Okafor tries to avoid it but Payton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Okafor to the ground. Okafor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A big left from Okafor misses.
Payton throws a right hand that misses
and Okafor counters with a three punch combo that has Payton backing up. Payton nods at Okafor to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okafor misses with a leg kick
letting Payton counter with a right hand.
Okafor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A swing and a miss from Payton.
Payton has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Payton there as he acknowledges the shot.
Okafor lands with an uppercut that bounces Payton off the cage and back into range.
Okafor jabs at Payton's body.
Payton slips a jab from Okafor.
Okafor moves into range and connects with a jab.

It looks like Walter Payton has been cut.
Okafor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Payton.
Payton on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Okafor. Okafor obviously looking to wear him down.
Okafor looks to land a left hand but Payton moved out of range nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Payton misses the target.
Okafor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Payton.
Okafor looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Okafor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton shoots in for a double leg but Okafor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Payton is defended easily by Okafor.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Okafor! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walter Payton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Payton ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Payton moves out of range of the strikes.
A head kick misses from Okafor.
Payton slips under a jab.
Payton throwing a counter right hand but Okafor manages to avoid it.
Okafor misses the body punch
and Payton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Okafor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Payton throws a jab but it's blocked by Okafor.
Payton ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Payton scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payton shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Payton throws a hook to the side of Okafor's head but Okafor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Payton stuns Okafor with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Okafor moves out of range as Payton strikes.
Okafor throws a lazy uppercut
and Payton counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Payton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Okafor.
Payton throws a hook but Okafor avoids it easily.
Payton is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Payton misses with an uppercut. Okafor saw that one coming.
Okafor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Payton just misses with a punch to the body.
Payton slips a straight right by Okafor.
Payton moves away from the strike by Okafor.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Okafor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Walter Payton's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Okafor jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Payton misses the shot to the body.
Payton lands with a cross.
Okafor lands a jab to the nose.
Good exchange - Okafor coming out on top.
Payton throws a jab but it's blocked by Okafor.
Okafor getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Okafor misses with an uppercut.
Okafor connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payton takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Payton misses with a lunging right hand
and Payton takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Okafor misses with a leg kick
enabling Payton to counter with a crisp jab.
Okafor scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Okafor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okafor throws the left hand but Payton avoids the punch easily.
Okafor throws a looping overhand right but Payton ducks down to avoid it.
Okafor misses with a hook.
Payton shoots for a takedown but Okafor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Payton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Payton connects with a nice looking jab.
Okafor scores with a nice right hand.
A jab from Okafor misses.
Okafor moves out of range of the strikes.
Payton moves out of range as Okafor strikes.
Payton takes one to the side of the head.
A shot to the liver by Okafor. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Payton.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walter Payton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Okafor connects with a nice looking jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okafor cracks a nice hook into Payton's ribs.
Okafor misses with a straight right.
Okafor connects with a looping right hand.
Okafor lands a nice shot to the body.
Payton takes one on the button.
Okafor works Payton's body with a nice hook.
Okafor throws a lazy right hand but Payton sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Okafor lands with a shot to the body.
Okafor is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Okafor throws a leg kick but Payton moved away.
Okafor misses with a looping right.
Payton is looking to counter punch.
Mike Okafor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Payton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Payton jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Okafor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Payton is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Jab by Okafor.
Okafor jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Okafor swings for the body but Payton moves out of range.
Okafor jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Payton throwing a counter right hand but Okafor manages to avoid it.
Payton shoots in and drives through. Okafor sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Payton closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Okafor to the mat! Okafor manages to get full guard.
Okafor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Okafor working for a triangle but Payton defends it easily.
Payton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Payton with a flurry of punches that miss.
Payton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Okafor is pulling down on Payton's head. It's preventing any offense from Payton, at least for the moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Payton with a flurry of punches that miss.
Payton postures up in Okafor's guard and throws a big left but Okafor blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Okafor working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Payton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Payton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Okafor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Walter Payton's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Okafor staying out of range there.
Payton misses with a straight right.
Payton slips a jab and a cross from Okafor.
It looked like Payton wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Okafor.
Payton throws a jab but it's blocked by Okafor.
Okafor looks to throw the jab but Payton is out of range.
Okafor lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A punch lands to the side of Payton 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Payton takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Payton scores with a punch to the head.
Payton throws out a loose jab but Okafor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good shot there by Okafor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Okafor.
Jab from Okafor.
Payton throws a hook to the side of Okafor's head but Okafor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Payton doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Okafor takes one to the chin there.
Payton scores with a punch to the head.
Okafor throws an off balance right hand
and Payton counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Okafor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Payton.
Okafor throws a looping overhand right but Payton ducks down to avoid it.
Payton throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Okafor counter with a right hand.
Payton throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Okafor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
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!
A head kick by Okafor misses
and Payton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okafor fakes the leg kick and cracks Payton in the body.
Okafor works Payton's body with a nice hook.
Payton looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Okafor just misses with a punch to the body.
Payton looks to land a left hand but Okafor moved out of range nicely.
Nice cross by Okafor.
Payton takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Okafor lands a big uppercut and Payton crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Payton looks OK. Okafor waves Payton back to his feet!

Payton is rocked!
Okafor fakes the body blow, causing Payton to drop his hands! Left hook to the temple! Payton goes stiff, and falls face first into the mat. Goodnight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Mike Okafor!
Mike Okafor is the new light heavyweight champion!
Mike Okafor thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Walter Payton was interviewed post fight and said 'Bullsh*t'.