PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Kersikov (ranked 27 p4p, 77 weight class) and Mauro Okongwu (ranked 7 p4p, 14 weight class). Kersikov comes to the cage accompanied by Head of the Table. Okongwu has chosen Show Stop - REASON as his entrance music. 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?

Kersikov
vs
Okongwu

201 cm
33
269
26 - 9 - 0

206 cm
34
265
31 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)

Tempo Athletics
HELL'S BALLS NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andrei Kersikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mauro Okongwu!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Okongwu swinging wildly here.
Kersikov half committed to a counter leg kick.
Okongwu shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kersikov eats them both and turns towards Okongwu to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body kick from Kersikov.
Okongwu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kersikov looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okongwu scores with a jab to the body.
Kersikov throws a shot from downtown. Okongwu moves away and avoids it.
Okongwu throws a big counter head kick but Kersikov avoids it with no problem.
Okongwu misses with a kick to the body.
Okongwu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Okongwu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kersikov was well out of range. Poor timing from Okongwu.
Okongwu throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Kersikov counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov throws a hook but Okongwu blocks it.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Okongwu throws a head kick but Kersikov moves out of range.
Kersikov tries to land a front kick but Okongwu steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Okongwu looks to land a body kick but Kersikov moved away.
And Kersikov counters with a quick kick to the body but Okongwu blocks it.

Okongwu instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov lands an uppercut.

It looks like Mauro Okongwu has been cut.
Okongwu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kersikov's elbow.
Okongwu can't find room to land a body shot as Kersikov controls the action.
Okongwu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Okongwu working aggressively here.
Kersikov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Kersikov.
Okongwu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Okongwu scores with a nice hook to the head.
Okongwu lands a nice shot to the body.
Kersikov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Okongwu backwards.
Kersikov tries a body shot but Okongwu blocks it.
Kersikov can't find room to land a body shot as Okongwu controls the action.
Okongwu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kersikov's elbow.
Kersikov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Okongwu backwards.
Good body shot from Kersikov.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Okongwu creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okongwu avoiding damage as Kersikov throws knees to the body.
Okongwu misses with a punch on the inside.
Okongwu can't find room to land a body shot as Kersikov controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Come on Kersikov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kersikov lands a knee to the head.
Kersikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kersikov lands a hook that snaps the head of Okongwu backwards.
Okongwu can't find room to land a body shot as Kersikov controls the action.
Okongwu blocks a body shot from Kersikov.

Kersikov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Okongwu gets a clinch.
Okongwu struggles to land a body shot inside as Kersikov controls his hands.
Come on Kersikov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Okongwu lands with a light punch inside.
Okongwu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Okongwu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kersikov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kersikov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mauro Okongwu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mauro Okongwu's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kersikov scores with a push kick.
Okongwu checks a low kick from Kersikov.
Okongwu just misses with a punch to the body.
Okongwu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kersikov's sensitive parts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot lands for Okongwu.
Okongwu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okongwu misses with a body punch
and Kersikov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kersikov avoids the body shot from Okongwu.
Nice defenses there by Kersikov.
Okongwu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kersikov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A quick step to the side and Kersikov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Okongwu 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okongwu tests Kersikov's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Kersikov lands a big head kick that sends Okongwu tumbling to the mat! Kersikov takes a step backwards and waves Okongwu back to his feet - he wants the finish!

That has opened up Mauro Okongwu's cut even more.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Okongwu swinging wildly here.
Kersikov is looking to counter with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okongwu lands with a right hand.
Okongwu is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kersikov rather than just go for the knockout.
Kersikov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Okongwu thows a leg kick but Kersikov checks it
and Kersikov counters with a nice kick to the body.
Kersikov throws a head kick that misses.
Kersikov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Okongwu is able to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okongwu throws a leg kick that misses.
A quick step to the side and Kersikov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Okongwu is looking to score with low kicks.
A little feinted left hand from Kersikov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Okongwu misses with a body kick.
Okongwu looks to score with a jab to the body but Kersikov is just out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kersikov connects with a single shot there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Kersikov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mauro Okongwu's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Okongwu throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kersikov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Okongwu.
Kersikov misses with an uppercut
and Okongwu counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Okongwu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okongwu connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kersikov's hands.
Kersikov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Okongwu.
A little feinted left hand from Kersikov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okongwu scores with a body shot.
Kersikov checks a low kick from Okongwu.
Kersikov throws a quick counter kick to the body but Okongwu avoids it.
Okongwu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Okongwu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kersikov was well out of range. Poor timing from Okongwu.
Kersikov was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Okongwu drops his hands momentarily and Kersikov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okongwu throws a big shot that misses.
Okongwu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kersikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kersikov is looking to counter with a body kick.
Okongwu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kersikov.

It looks like Andrei Kersikov has been cut.
Okongwu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

The cut above Mauro Okongwu's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Okongwu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kersikov fires out a quick counter leg kick but Okongwu just manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Okongwu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kersikov jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
A left lands for Kersikov.
Okongwu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Okongwu misses with a hook.
Kersikov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Okongwu has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Kersikov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Okongwu rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kersikov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kersikov throws a lazy body kick
and Okongwu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Okongwu just misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauro Okongwu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Okongwu has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauro Okongwu!
Our winner, Mauro Okongwu, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.