PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Okafor (ranked 844 p4p, 1859 weight class) and Shape Shifter (ranked 118 p4p, 251 weight class). Mike Okafor has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Okafor
vs
Shifter

220 cm
24
210
15 - 5 - 0

191 cm
23
215
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Vegan Gains

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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Okafor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Shape Shifter!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Roberts and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shifter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Okafor.
And Shifter tries to counter it with a takedown but Okafor pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Shifter chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Okafor can pounce on him.
Shifter tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Okafor swivels and escapes.
Okafor seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Okafor lands with a hook. Shifter tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A lazy left from Okafor finds it's target.
Okafor throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Shifter counters with a takedown into side control.

Shifter tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Okafor sneaks back into half guard.

Okafor is defending against the submission attempts here by Shifter.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shifter is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Shifter is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Okafor has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shifter passes the guard and advances to mount!
Poor strikes thrown by Shifter there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Okafor is desperately trying to improve his position but Shifter has a good base and remains in mount.
Shifter throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shifter jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Okafor is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Okafor and Shifter has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Shifter goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Okafor has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Shifter but great work by Okafor.
Shifter is trying to improve his position.
Okafor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Shifter is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Okafor off and has taken his back!

Shifter looking for the RNC.
Well, with Shifter on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Okafor is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okafor trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Shifter looking for the choke from the back.
Okafor looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Shifter looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Okafor is controlling Shifter 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.

Shifter is looking for a triangle here but Okafor uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shifter misses with a strike from the bottom.
Shifter is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Okafor is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Okafor manages to capitalize on a mistake by Shifter to take his back!
Okafor keeps control of the position as Shifter tries to break free.
Shifter rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Okafor perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shifter has a hand on Okafor's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Okafor takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Shifter is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shifter 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.
Shifter gets full guard.
Okafor controlling from the top position.

Shifter looking for subs off his back but Okafor has passed one foot through into half guard.
Shifter wants to get back to full guard but Okafor has passed into side control.
Shifter manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mike Okafor will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Okafor is looking to chop away at Shifter's legs.
Shifter appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Okafor misses with a body shot.
Shifter was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
A head kick misses from Okafor.
And Shifter tries to counter it with a takedown but Okafor pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Okafor throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mike Okafor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shifter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Okafor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Okafor really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A low kick lands for Okafor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okafor gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Shifter decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Okafor's guard.
Okafor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Okafor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Okafor keeping full guard, as Shifter tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter keeps trying to improve his position.
Okafor has Shifter pulled in close to control his posture.

Okafor working for a triangle but Shifter defends it easily.
Shifter stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Okafor swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Okafor has his foot on Shifter's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shifter works his way back into a safe position though.
Shifter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Okafor is keeping the position for now.
Shifter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Okafor is trying to control the position but Shifter postures up.
Shifter passes Okafor's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Shifter seems to be looking for submissions.
Okafor is holding on to half guard well.

Shifter is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Okafor is in trouble now - Shifter has advanced to mount!

Shifter goes for an armbar but Okafor turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Okafor.
Okafor has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Shifter escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Okafor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shifter is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Okafor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Okafor stays in close to Shifter's body and controls the position.
Okafor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shifter swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Shifter looking for a guillotine here but Okafor defends easily.

Shifter working for a triangle but Okafor defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Okafor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Shifter isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Okafor stacks Shifter on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Okafor!
Shape Shifter has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shifter looks to move to half guard but instead Okafor has passed into mount! Damn!
Okafor looking to control but Shifter is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mike Okafor will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Okafor scores with a spinning back kick!
Okafor misses with a leg kick

and Shifter counters with a nice double leg into side control. Okafor won't be happy with that.
Shifter is trying to ground and pound but Okafor uses the momentary lack of control by Shifter to regain half guard.

Shifter is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Okafor is just riding it out for now. Shifter eventually gives up the hold.
Shifter is pressing down on Okafor's thigh, looking to free his foot. Okafor is holding on for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shifter is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Okafor has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okafor regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shifter wants to pass the guard but Okafor is keeping the position.

Okafor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Okafor working a defensive guard here.
Okafor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shifter.
Shifter passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Shifter tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shifter has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shifter is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Okafor has escaped the position, nice work there.
Okafor isn't going anywhere.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okafor is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shifter is being controlled here.
Shifter is trying to improve his position.
Okafor trying to control the action but Shifter is working from the bottom.
Shifter tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Okafor presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Shifter is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Okafor trying to control but Shifter is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shifter really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Okafor tries to control but Shifter wriggling away.
Shifter is in all sorts of trouble here.
Shifter is still trying to improve position.
Okafor takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shape Shifter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Okafor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shifter looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Okafor.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Okafor, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Okafor!
An out of breath Mike Okafor thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.