PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jovanni Bokacho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bokacho
vs
King

178 cm
27
163 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

175 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Jovanni Bokacho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe King!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

King closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bokacho did well to prevent King getting side control.
King not doing much here.
Let's hope that King has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joe King was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Bokacho clinches up with King and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King can't break the clinch.
A short uppercut from Bokacho.

Bokacho's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
King fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bokacho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but King moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
King steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Bokacho. That one must have hurt.
Joe King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bokacho keeps King at a distance using the push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Bokacho lands but King takes it in his stride.
Bokacho misses with a head kick.
Bokacho swinging wildly here.

King drives through and clinches with Bokacho against the cage.

Bokacho pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
King misses with the body kick
and Bokacho counters with a big head kick but King shrugs it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
King fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King fails to land the takedown.
Jovanni Bokacho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe King.
King takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Joe King has been cut.
Bokacho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bokacho throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Bokacho moves to clinch but King breaks away

and King counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King trying to control the action but Bokacho is working from the bottom.
A lull in the action here as King stalls from top position.
You can see the frustration on Bokacho's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jovanni Bokacho dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe King's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice sprawl there from Bokacho as King shoots in.
Bokacho throws a head kick but King moves out of range.
King looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bokacho is fending him off so far but King persists. Nope, Bokacho circles away and we're back to standing.
King swats away the attempt to clinch by Bokacho.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from King.
Jovanni Bokacho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe King.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bokacho swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bokacho misses with a wild combination.
King tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bokacho swivels and escapes.
King takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sloppy strikes from Bokacho. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bokacho sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten King somewhat.

King closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bokacho to the mat! Bokacho manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bokacho trying to keep a closed guard but King is proving a slippery customer.
King wants to control from the top but Bokacho keeps moving.
King might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bokacho kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King forces his way into half guard.
King is trying to control. Bokacho wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
King wants to free his trapped foot but Bokacho is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
King is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Joe King has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
King avoids the head kick by Bokacho.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jovanni Bokacho will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joe King's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

King is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bokacho's half guard.
King not doing much here.

King is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bokacho sees it coming and defends easily.
King is looking to stall here but Bokacho recovers full guard.
King trying to control but Bokacho is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King forces his way into half guard.
King trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
King is stalling here. Bokacho is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! King seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bokacho has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
King is trying to control Bokacho's posture but Bokacho avoids it.

Bokacho goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, King has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bokacho but great work by King.
King is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Bokacho's shoulder. That is not cool.
King sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bokacho is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King trying to control the position but Bokacho is working away.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
King remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joe King hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bokacho lands with a nice combination. King backs away looking to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bokacho lands a head kick!
Bokacho throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
King tries to clinch up
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jovanni Bokacho.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bokacho, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jovanni Bokacho!