PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bam Bam Joshy (ranked 1039 p4p, 1853 weight class) and Yakubu Okoroji (ranked 75 p4p, 134 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Joshy
vs
Okoroji

150 cm
31
152
20 - 16 - 0

165 cm
28
154
12 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Shadow Realm Apparel
Black Lab Clothing

Uncle Rufus Clothing .Co

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 20 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bam Bam Joshy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yakubu Okoroji!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okoroji avoids the body shot from Joshy.
Joshy keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice sprawl there from Joshy as Okoroji shoots in.
Okoroji misses with a takedown attempt - Joshy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Joshy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Okoroji scores with a jab. Joshy acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Joshy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Okoroji sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Joshy keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd cheers as Okoroji lands an impressive looking overhand right. Joshy doesn't seem phased though.
Okoroji avoids a kick to the body.
Okoroji darts in looking for a takedown but Joshy gets double underhooks and turns Okoroji into the cage.
Bam Bam Joshy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yakubu Okoroji.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joshy tries to score with a low kick but Okoroji moves his leg out of the way.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Okoroji! But no joy.
Joshy uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Okoroji has time to react.
Joshy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Okoroji.
Okoroji goes for a double leg but Joshy avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Joshy continues to drive forward.
An attempted straight right counter from Joshy misses the target.
Okoroji shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Joshy as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoroji throws an overhand right that lands on Joshy's shoulder, as Joshy tries to avoid the shot.
Okoroji moves out of range as Joshy strikes.
Okoroji swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Joshy closes the distance and clinches.
Okoroji's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Joshy is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Okoroji to keep the fight standing.
Okoroji has Joshy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Joshy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Okoroji drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Joshy gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Joshy lands a body shot in the clinch.
Okoroji has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Joshy is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Joshy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Okoroji walks away with a smile on his face. Joshy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Okoroji takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Okoroji steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Joshy.
Yakubu Okoroji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Okoroji drives through with a takedown into Joshy's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okoroji tries to free his leg and advance position but Joshy is retaining full guard.
Okoroji forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okoroji is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Okoroji has gone for a leg lock! Joshy slips out almost immediately though and dives into Okoroji's guard.

Joshy is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joshy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Joshy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Okoroji isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Joshy stacks Okoroji 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 Joshy!
Joshy gets to mount! Okoroji was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Joshy is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Okoroji has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Okoroji!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji lands a couple of digs.

Okoroji postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Joshy is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Okoroji, into his guard.

Okoroji working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Joshy has passed into half guard!

Okoroji looking for submissions off his back.

Okoroji looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Joshy pushes past his half guard into mount!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bam Bam Joshy dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Okoroji tries to close the distance and clinch up but Joshy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Okoroji tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Joshy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Okoroji walks into a jab.
A head kick from Joshy lands but Okoroji takes it in his stride.
Bam Bam Joshy is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Okoroji looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Okoroji closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Okoroji is looking to pass Joshy's guard but actually Joshy recovers to full guard.
Okoroji works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Okoroji is looking for a kimura here.

Joshy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Okoroji pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoroji wants to get back to his feet.

Okoroji is working for a kimura here but Joshy manages to reverse the position and he's now in Okoroji's guard.

Joshy drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Joshy jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Joshy drops back looking for a leg! Okoroji is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Okoroji manages to kick Joshy off! Joshy jumps back into Okoroji's guard.

Joshy is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Joshy might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Okoroji is looking for a triangle here but Joshy uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Bam Bam Joshy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joshy prevents Okoroji from escaping the position.

Joshy looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Joshy gets to mount! Okoroji was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji is working to get back to half guard.

Joshy goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Okoroji is on top in guard.
Okoroji wants to pass the guard but Joshy is keeping the position.
Okoroji slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Okoroji moves into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joshy gets back to half guard.

Okoroji is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Joshy looking for submissions off his back.

Joshy is defending against the submission attempts here by Okoroji.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Joshy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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 Bam Bam Joshy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Joshy lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A clash of legs there as Okoroji blocks the low kick.
Nice straight punches there by Joshy. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Joshy.

Okoroji changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Joshy looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Joshy gets back to half guard.
Okoroji trying to mount his opponent but Joshy defends it.
Joshy is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Crapollas Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

Okoroji is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joshy is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joshy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Okoroji pulls his head out easily.
Joshy is looking to improve his position.

Okoroji is trying to work for a kimura but Joshy is defending well.

Okoroji is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Okoroji looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Joshy manages to get to full guard.
Okoroji stands and throws Joshy's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Okoroji is trying to get an arm triangle but Joshy is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joshy prevents Okoroji from improving position.

Okoroji is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Joshy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Okoroji is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Joshy has escaped the position, nice work there.
Joshy is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Okoroji is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Joshy has escaped the position, nice work there.
Joshy is looking to regain half guard here but Okoroji keeps moving and retains side control.
Yakubu Okoroji has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joshy is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Okoroji is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Joshy is just riding it out for now. Okoroji eventually gives up the hold.

Joshy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yakubu Okoroji comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Joshy 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bam Bam Joshy!