PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Okafor (ranked 119 p4p, 206 weight class) and Cesare Tiramanti (ranked 20 p4p, 32 weight class). Cesare Tiramanti has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Okafor
vs
Tiramanti

220 cm
26
210
21 - 6 - 0

185 cm
31
207
26 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Pound Town INC
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

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 21 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Okafor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Cesare Tiramanti!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Tiramanti.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tiramanti. Okafor does a little dance to reset his feet.

Okafor gets caught napping as Tiramanti dives in and scores a takedown. Okafor manages to retain guard.

Okafor is looking for a triangle but Tiramanti pushes his legs off easily.
Okafor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tiramanti is controlling him.
Tiramanti trying to control but Okafor is working from the bottom.
Okafor wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tiramanti thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tiramanti wants to pass the guard but Okafor is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okafor trying to keep a closed guard but Tiramanti is proving a slippery customer.
Tiramanti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Okafor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Okafor looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Okafor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tiramanti.
Tiramanti throws the left hand but Okafor avoids the punch easily.
Tiramanti throws an overhand right that lands on Okafor's shoulder, as Okafor tries to avoid the shot.
Okafor appears to be looking for a big counter.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Tiramanti crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Okafor - the referee stops the clock and Tiramanti gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Okafor. Tiramanti manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A low kick lands for Okafor.
Tiramanti connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiramanti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Okafor.
Tiramanti clobbers Okafor with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tiramanti on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Okafor slips a jab from Tiramanti.
Okafor throws a hook to the side of Tiramanti's head but Tiramanti sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Okafor misses with a right hand
and Tiramanti cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Okafor scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tiramanti misses with an uppercut.
Tiramanti lands an overhand right.
Tiramanti throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Okafor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Okafor misses with an uppercut.
Okafor thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Tiramanti if he has to take too many more of those.
Tiramanti uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Okafor.
Okafor slips a jab from Tiramanti.
Tiramanti throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Okafor to counter with a crisp jab.
Tiramanti on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Okafor. Okafor obviously looking to wear him down.
Okafor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tiramanti.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiramanti throws a right and a left that Okafor avoids nicely.
Tiramanti defending well as Okafor loads up on a big left hand.
Tiramanti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tiramanti lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A swing and a miss from Tiramanti.
It looked like Okafor wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Okafor misses with a looping right.
Cesare Tiramanti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tiramanti throws a lazy right hand but Okafor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Okafor is looking to counter punch.
Tiramanti lands a slapping body shot.
Tiramanti might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Tiramanti looks to throw the jab but Okafor is out of range.
Okafor throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Okafor moves out of range of the leg kick from Tiramanti.
Okafor is looking to counter with a body kick.
Tiramanti slips a jab from Okafor.
Tiramanti appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Okafor throws a leg kick that misses.
Okafor looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Okafor tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Tiramanti decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tiramanti is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Okafor defends it well.
Tiramanti is thwarting Okafor's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

Okafor actively working from the bottom here.
Tiramanti trying to pass the guard but Okafor defending well.
Tiramanti seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Okafor does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cesare Tiramanti dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tiramanti throws a poor cross that misses
and Okafor counters with a straight right hand.
Tiramanti misses with an uppercut. Okafor saw that one coming.
Okafor scores with a leg kick.
Tiramanti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okafor.
Okafor seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Okafor misses with an uppercut.
Tiramanti throws a chopping leg kick but Okafor manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Okafor throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tiramanti.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Okafor - that will leave a mark!
Okafor slips under a jab.
Tiramanti looks to land a right hand but Okafor moved out of range.
Tiramanti throws a wild body kick that Okafor sees coming a mile off.
Okafor catches Tiramanti with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiramanti throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Tiramanti throws a big shot that misses.
Okafor connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Okafor is looking to land body kicks.
Okafor scores with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tiramanti throws a right hand that Okafor ducks under and follows up with a left that Okafor also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okafor tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Okafor blocks a jab.
Okafor displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tiramanti throws out the jab.
Tiramanti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
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.
Tiramanti cracks Okafor with a good jab.
Tiramanti ducks right into an uppercut from Okafor.
Okafor scores with a spinning back kick!
Tiramanti misses with a body shot.
Okafor lunges at Tiramanti with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tiramanti's hand.
Okafor dips to his left and cracks Tiramanti with an uppercut!
Tiramanti throws a right hand that misses
and Okafor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Okafor throws a lazy right hand but Tiramanti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Okafor moves out of range of the leg kick from Tiramanti.
Tiramanti is looking to score with low kicks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Okafor slips a straight right by Tiramanti.
It looked like Okafor wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Okafor misses with a straight left.
It seemed like Tiramanti was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Okafor blocks the low kick.
Okafor is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Okafor throws the left hand but Tiramanti avoids the punch easily.
Okafor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tiramanti. Tiramanti circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Okafor misses with a low kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Tiramanti misses.
Tiramanti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Okafor was well out of range. Poor timing from Tiramanti.
Nice shot by Okafor.
Okafor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tiramanti lands with a nice combination. Okafor backs away looking to recover.
A bone on bone clash there as Okafor blocks the leg kick.
A cross from Okafor lands.
Okafor avoids the body shot from Tiramanti.
Okafor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tiramanti.
Tiramanti missing with a left hand there. Okafor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Okafor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Okafor takes a swing at Tiramanti's ribcage but misses.
Okafor defending well as Tiramanti loads up on a big left hand.
Tiramanti checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Okafor slams his shin into Tiramanti's torso.
Tiramanti wants to slow Okafor down by chopping away at his legs.
Tiramanti finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Okafor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Okafor throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Mike Okafor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Okafor lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A jab from Okafor does it's job there.
Okafor throws a big shot that misses.
Okafor throws a hook but Tiramanti blocks it.
Okafor on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Okafor scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Tiramanti staying out of range there.
Tiramanti only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Tiramanti lands a nice hook to Okafor's body. Okafor takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tiramanti thows a leg kick but Okafor checks it
letting Okafor counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tiramanti misses with a straight right.
Okafor missing with a left hand there. Tiramanti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okafor throws a wild body kick that Tiramanti sees coming a mile off.
The crowd cheers as Tiramanti lands an impressive looking overhand right. Okafor doesn't seem phased though.
Okafor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tiramanti.
Tiramanti throws a leg kick but Okafor sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tiramanti lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Okafor looks to land a left hand but Tiramanti moved out of range nicely.
Okafor throws out a loose jab but Tiramanti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tiramanti looks to throw the jab but Okafor is out of range.
Tiramanti scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Okafor misses with a looping left.
Tiramanti throws a right hand that misses
letting Okafor counter with a right hand.
Okafor misses with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tiramanti smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tiramanti misses with an uppercut. Okafor saw that one coming.
A leg kick checked by Tiramanti.
Okafor is looking to slow Tiramanti down with leg kicks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Okafor dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Okafor throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Okafor moves out of range of the strikes.
Okafor blocks the body kick.

Tiramanti feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Okafor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Okafor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tiramanti is controlling him.
Tiramanti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okafor looking to control.

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

Okafor working for a triangle but Tiramanti defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Okafor is looking for a triangle but Tiramanti pushes his legs off easily.
Tiramanti pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Okafor is keeping the position for now.
Okafor keeping moving, preventing Tiramanti from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Tiramanti takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Okafor scores with a nice right hand.
Tiramanti's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tiramanti swings widly with a right hand
letting Okafor counter with a right hand.
Tiramanti just misses with a punch to the body.
Tiramanti takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Okafor moves out of range of the strikes.
Okafor lands a jab to the nose.
Mike Okafor is winning the standup battle so far.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Okafor. Tiramanti shrugs it off though.
Tiramanti looks to land a left hand but Okafor moved out of range nicely.
Tiramanti has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Okafor.
A shot to the liver by Tiramanti. Beautiful body shot.
Okafor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Okafor throws a big shot that misses.
Tiramanti has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Okafor lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okafor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tiramanti.
Tiramanti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tiramanti has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Okafor finds it's way round the side to connect with Tiramanti's head.
Okafor scores with a nice body kick.
Okafor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A little jabbing left from Tiramanti on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Okafor tests Tiramanti's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Okafor scores with a nice right hand.
Okafor gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Okafor moves away from the strike by Tiramanti.
Okafor throws a chopping leg kick but Tiramanti manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
It seemed like Tiramanti was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Okafor scores with a kick to the midsection.
Tiramanti ducks under a wild hook from Okafor.
Tiramanti lands a nice hook to Okafor's body. Okafor takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okafor lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tiramanti takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Okafor gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tiramanti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tiramanti digs a good hook to Okafor's body.
Okafor lets loose with a powerful body kick. Tiramanti will feel that in the morning.
Okafor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Okafor throws a head kick that half lands.
Okafor lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tiramanti's sensitive parts.
Okafor staying out of range there.
Okafor tried to counter with a leg kick but Tiramanti avoided it.
Okafor misses with a hook.
A nice leg kick lands there from Okafor.
Tiramanti blocks a jab.
As Okafor backs off Tiramanti throws a huge counter combo but Okafor manages to avoid it all.
Okafor tries to move into range but Tiramanti moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Tiramanti thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Okafor clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Okafor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tiramanti scores with a punch to the head.
Tiramanti jabs at Okafor's body.
Okafor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Okafor connects with an inside leg kick.
Tiramanti misses with a two punch combination.
Tiramanti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okafor moves away.
Tiramanti loads up on a big right hand but Okafor slips the punch.
Okafor misses with a looping right.
Okafor cracks Tiramanti with a good jab.
Tiramanti displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Okafor throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiramanti misses with an uppercut. Okafor saw that one coming.
A combination from Okafor does no damage.
Okafor takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tiramanti shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Okafor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tiramanti.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Okafor does it's job there.
Okafor moves away from the strike by Tiramanti.
Tiramanti feints and then cracks Okafor's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Okafor down.
Okafor avoids the body shot from Tiramanti.
Tiramanti lands a really nice looking cross but Okafor seems unphased.
Okafor looks to throw the jab but Tiramanti is out of range.
A head kick by Tiramanti misses
and Okafor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Okafor gets caught flat footed, as Tiramanti shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Okafor is wriggling around but Tiramanti manages to pass to half guard.

Okafor trying to hold on to Tiramanti's head to control him but Tiramanti postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Okafor manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Okafor wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Okafor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tiramanti controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tiramanti looking to pass the guard.
Okafor controls Tiramanti momentarily but Tiramanti frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiramanti trying to control the position from guard on top but Okafor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Okafor controlling the position.

Tiramanti stands and steps away. Okafor gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Tiramanti tries to score with a low kick but Okafor moves his leg out of the way.
Sloppy strikes from Tiramanti. Those never looked like landing.
Okafor lands with a thumping leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Okafor blocks the low kick.
Okafor lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiramanti fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Okafor manages to avoid it.
Tiramanti fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Okafor gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Tiramanti walks into a jab.
Tiramanti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Okafor was well out of range. Poor timing from Tiramanti.
A little feinted left hand from Okafor on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Okafor attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Tiramanti connects with the punch.
Tiramanti slips a straight right by Okafor.
Okafor connects with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okafor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tiramanti.
Okafor throws a lazy right hand but Tiramanti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Okafor moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Okafor catches Tiramanti with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Okafor cracks Tiramanti with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Okafor thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Mike Okafor will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tiramanti takes a swing at Okafor's ribcage but misses.
Okafor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tiramanti.
Okafor lands a jab.
Tiramanti misses with a leg kick.
Okafor is looking to counter with a body kick.
Tiramanti throws a head kick that misses.
Tiramanti scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Okafor doesn't seem bothered though.
Tiramanti uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Okafor.
Tiramanti lands a nice looking body shot.
Tiramanti throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tiramanti throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Okafor chopping away at his opponent's legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiramanti fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Okafor fails to land with a series of punches.
Okafor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Okafor moves away from the strike by Tiramanti.
Tiramanti throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tiramanti. Okafor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tiramanti avoids the body shot from Okafor.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tiramanti. Okafor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Okafor looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tiramanti throws a looping overhand right but Okafor ducks down to avoid it.
Tiramanti looks to score with a jab to the body but Okafor is just out of range.
Tiramanti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okafor.
Okafor tries to land a leg kick but Tiramanti saw it coming and moves away.
Okafor connects with the punch.
Tiramanti misses the jab.
Tiramanti motions for Okafor to come forward. Tiramanti throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
And Okafor counters with a quick kick to the body but Tiramanti blocks it.
Okafor slips a jab from Tiramanti.
Nice defenses there by Okafor.
Tiramanti attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiramanti has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Okafor.
Tiramanti misses with a hook. Okafor ducked under it nicely.
Tiramanti connects with a looping right hand.
Tiramanti gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Okafor blocks a low kick nicely.
Okafor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tiramanti.
Okafor scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tiramanti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okafor moves away.
Okafor misses the jab.
Okafor takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Okafor throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of Tiramanti 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Tiramanti dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Okafor. That did some damage!
Tiramanti connects with a nice looking jab.
Okafor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiramanti tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cesare Tiramanti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Okafor misses with a hook. Tiramanti ducked under it nicely.
Tiramanti blocks a low kick nicely.
A low kick from Tiramanti is predictable there
enabling Okafor to counter with a crisp jab.
Okafor looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Some wild striking there from Okafor.
Okafor slips a jab from Tiramanti.
Okafor throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tiramanti on the side of the head.
Nice uppercut lands for Tiramanti. That snapped Okafor's head back.
Tiramanti scores with a shot to the body.
Okafor with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tiramanti throws a combination that misses
and Okafor counters with a low kick, right behind Tiramanti 's knee.
Okafor connects with a solid leg kick.
Tiramanti lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiramanti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tiramanti throws a lazy uppercut
and Okafor counters with a nice uppercut.
Tiramanti scores with a jab to the head.
Okafor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Okafor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Okafor avoids the body shot from Tiramanti.
Tiramanti ducks under a wild hook from Okafor.
Tiramanti steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Okafor.
Tiramanti misses with a body kick.
Good shot there by Tiramanti.
Okafor is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A swing and a miss from Okafor.
Tiramanti scores with a decent looking hook.
A good leg kick by Okafor.
Okafor lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mike Okafor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jab by Tiramanti.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cesare Tiramanti.
I think Okafor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 48:48
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 49:47
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 47:48

The fight is ruled a draw!
Mike Okafor retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!