PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikio Okita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Sheppard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Okita
vs
Sheppard

180 cm
18
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikio Okita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeff Sheppard!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheppard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sheppard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Okita takes a swing at Sheppard's ribcage but misses.
Okita scores with a kick to the body.
Okita slips a jab and a cross from Sheppard.
Sheppard misses with a two punch combination.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Okita lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sheppard has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sheppard and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sheppard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Okita looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Okita wanted to stand there but Sheppard had control of the position.
Sheppard trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okita pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sheppard is keeping the position for now.
Sheppard wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okita sitting in guard here, content to control.
Okita throws a big right hand that misses.
Okita is looking to stand up but Sheppard won't let him.
Sheppard controls Okita momentarily but Okita frees himself.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Sheppard stuffs the takedown.
Sheppard fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Okita looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sheppard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sheppard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Okita moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Okita drives through with a takedown into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Okita can do anything to dispel that myth.
Okita forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Okita stands up from half guard.
Okita looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Okita is breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Sheppard.
Sheppard works over Okita's head and body with a nice combination.
Sheppard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Sheppard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Okita is not content to let Sheppard control the position.
Okita gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard is looking to take a break and control but Okita is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Okita is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sheppard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sheppard's back!
Sheppard can't escape the position.

Okita has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Sheppard is defending well but eventually Okita manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Sheppard has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mikio Okita!