PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andre Wells (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manu Okoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manu Okoro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Wells
vs
Okoro

200 cm
25
216 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Crippler's Corner
Convicted

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 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andre Wells!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Manu Okoro!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Okoro.
Okoro drops Wells with a right and a left! Okoro comes rushing in but Wells regains his composure and manages to keep Okoro in guard.

It looks like Andre Wells has been cut.
Wells looking to hit a scissor sweep but Okoro is one step ahead there.

Wells working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Okoro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Okoro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Okoro postures up.
Wells is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Wells trying to keep a closed guard but Okoro is proving a slippery customer.
Okoro wants to control from the top but Wells keeps moving.
Wells will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Okoro won't allow Wells to sweep him here.
Okoro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Okoro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Okoro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wells manages to avoid it.
No joy there for Okoro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wells closes the distance and clinches up with Okoro, looking for a takedown. Wells pushes Okoro against the cage but Okoro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Okoro gets a clinch.
Okoro is struggling to control the position.
Nice body punch from Okoro - that landed with a thud.
Okoro lands a knee to the head.
Okoro slows down the pace here.

Okoro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wells showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Okoro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okoro lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wells circles away quickly and effectively.
Wells shoots in for a takedown but Okoro shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andre Wells. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wells clinches but Okoro breaks the clinch
and Okoro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wells takes a shot right to the bread basket.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Wells. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Wells is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Okoro throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Wells's head.
Wells tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Okoro scores with a push kick.
Okoro throws a right and a left that Wells avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Okoro misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Okoro. That snapped Wells's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Okoro misses with an elbow over the top.
Wells tries to pull guard but Okoro holds him up against the cage and eventually Wells drops back down to his feet.
Okoro slowing the pace effectively.
Okoro unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Okoro utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Okoro with a knee to the head.

Andre Wells's cut is getting worse.

Okoro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wells fails with the takedown
and Okoro counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Andre Wells seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Okoro fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wells walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okoro chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A jab-cross combination lands for Okoro and sends Wells crashing to the mat! Okoro follows him down to the mat - Wells regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Wells is rocked!
Okoro tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wells knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Oh Wells is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Okoro stalling.
Wells seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Okoro tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Okoro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andre Wells'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.

Okoro throws a head kick that misses.
Wells tries for a takedown but Okoro circles away easily
and Okoro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Okoro connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Wells misses with a takedown attempt
and Okoro makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Okoro throws a series of punches but Wells moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Okoro. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Okoro.
Okoro throws a sloppy head kick and Wells moves out of range easily.
Wells tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Okoro makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Wells walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Okoro scores with a spinning back kick!
Okoro fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Wells.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoro cracks Wells with a big right hand and Wells goes down!
Okoro sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wells had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Okoro is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Wells Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Okoro's back instead.
Okoro wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okoro breaks Wells's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Okoro tries to free his leg and advance position but Wells is retaining full guard.
Okoro trying to control but Wells is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wells looking to hit a scissor sweep but Okoro is one step ahead there.

Wells is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Okoro throws a left that rocks Wells and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Okoro dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Wells regain composure!

Andre Wells's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Okoro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wells keeps working.
Okoro landing a few strikes.

Okoro has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Manu Okoro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wells slips a jab and a cross from Okoro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoro scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A lazy left from Okoro finds it's target.
Okoro throws a front kick that sends Wells stumbling back into the cage.
Okoro sizes up Wells with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Jeez, Andre Wells's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Okoro cracks Wells with a big right hand and Wells goes down!
Okoro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Okoro is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
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!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wells is trying to stick to Okoro's back but Okoro is turning into Wells. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Wells's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Okoro.

Wells working for submissions but it's allowed Okoro to get to half guard.
Okoro is looking to take a break and control but Wells is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Okoro seems content to control.
Okoro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wells keeps working.
Okoro prevents Wells from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okoro is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Okoro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Andre Wells's cut.
That's time! Wells's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Wells has his takedown stuffed
and Okoro counters with a body kick that stops Wells in his tracks momentarily.
Wells avoids a punch combination nicely.
Wells with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Okoro to counter with a crisp jab.
Okoro thuds a left hand into Wells's body.

Okoro moves into the clinch.
Okoro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Okoro with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Okoro with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Okoro lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Okoro utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Okoro lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Okoro landing knees to the head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Andre Wells's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Manu Okoro!