PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hakeem Okoye (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sol Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Okoye
vs
Dos Santos

180 cm
26
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
23
190 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hakeem Okoye!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sol Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dos Santos tries to clinch up

and Okoye counters by clinching up.

Dos Santos has the Thai plumb, controlling the head nicely. He loads up with a big knee to the head and Okoye goes down! Dos Santos pounces into side control - this one could be over soon!

It looks like Hakeem Okoye has been cut.
Dos Santos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Okoye keeps working.

Dos Santos stands up.
Okoye changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dos Santos tries to avoid it but Okoye manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dos Santos to the ground. Dos Santos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Okoye looks for a takedown but Dos Santos sprawls well.
Dos Santos wants to clinch but Okoye slips to the side

and Okoye counters by moving into the clinch.
Dos Santos missing with knees to the body.
Okoye is working for takedown but Dos Santos is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hakeem Okoye. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoye is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Okoye is trying to break the clinch but Dos Santos has him pressed against the ropes.
Dos Santos landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Okoye is breathing heavily.
Dos Santos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Okoye's face.
Nice elbow from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos lands an elbow just above Okoye 's eye.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Okoye takes a knee right on the jaw!

Okoye is rocked!
Dos Santos lands a nice elbow.
Oh Okoye is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but Okoye blocks with his arms.
Okoye seems to have got his legs back now.
Dos Santos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Okoye has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but Okoye blocks with his arms.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head.
Okoye wants to get back to striking at distance but Dos Santos won't allow it.
Okoye is looking to break free of the clinch but Dos Santos has double underhooks.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Okoye blocks it with crossed arms.
Dos Santos lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Okoye blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okoye is trying to force a seperation but Dos Santos has the dominant position.
Dos Santos with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos blocks an elbow strike from Okoye.
Dos Santos lands a damaging elbow.
Dos Santos misses with a knee strike.
Dos Santos landing knees to the head.
Dos Santos has Okoye pressed against the ropes, preventing Okoye from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dos Santos lands an elbow inside that Okoye shrugs off.
Dos Santos creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Okoye's defenses.
Dos Santos misses with a knee strike.
Dos Santos with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Okoye drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dos Santos gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Okoye tries to pull guard but Dos Santos holds him up against the ropes and eventually Okoye drops back down to his feet.
Okoye tries for a takedown. No joy.
Okoye tries to pull guard but Dos Santos holds him up against the ropes and eventually Okoye drops back down to his feet.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Okoye blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos connects with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Okoye is blocking nicely.
Okoye blocks an elbow strike from Dos Santos.

Okoye gets control of Dos Santos's arms and successfully pulls guard. Okoye will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Okoye on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Okoye tries to get out of the position.
Okoye tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Okoye is looking to sweep but instead, Dos Santos has passed into half guard.
Okoye trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Dos Santos manages to pass to mount!
Okoye is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Okoye wants to hold on but Dos Santos pushes him away.
Dos Santos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Okoye tries to hold on but Dos Santos postures up.
Okoye is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sol Dos Santos dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hakeem Okoye's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Okoye shoots for a takedown but Dos Santos saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Okoye throws a sloppy head kick and Dos Santos moves out of range easily.
Dos Santos tries to clinch

and Okoye counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dos Santos lands an elbow inside that Okoye shrugs off.
Okoye tries to break free but Dos Santos pushes him back against the ropes.
Dos Santos scores with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Okoye is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Dos Santos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dos Santos lands an elbow that stopped Okoye in his tracks for a moment.
Dos Santos connects with a knee to the head.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos working Okoye over with knees to the body.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Okoye pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Dos Santos lands an elbow just above Okoye 's eye.
Okoye tries to pull guard but Dos Santos holds him up against the ropes and eventually Okoye drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hakeem Okoye. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A knee to the head by Dos Santos.
Okoye fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice elbow from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dos Santos lands an elbow just above Okoye 's eye.
Okoye blocks an elbow strike.
Dos Santos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Okoye's face.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dos Santos misses with a knee strike.
Okoye is trying to force a seperation but Dos Santos has the dominant position.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Okoye tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Okoye fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dos Santos misses with a knee strike.
Dos Santos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Okoye has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
A frustrated look appears on Okoye's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Okoye is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dos Santos is keeping busy.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head.
Dos Santos throws an elbow that misses.
Okoye tries a knee to the head but Dos Santos blocks it.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Dos Santos throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dos Santos gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dos Santos.
Okoye is trying to push Dos Santos away but Dos Santos has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Dos Santos with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dos Santos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Okoye has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Okoye is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Dos Santos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dos Santos misses with a knee to the head.
Okoye goes for a takedown attempt but Dos Santos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Dos Santos closes the distance and pushes Okoye back into the ropes.
A knee to the head by Dos Santos.
A frustrated look appears on Okoye's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Dos Santos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sol Dos Santos seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Dos Santos with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dos Santos with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoye dodges an elbow strike from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos misses with an elbow over the top.
Dos Santos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Okoye has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nice elbow from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos lands a damaging elbow.
A knee to the head by Dos Santos.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Okoye fails to pull guard.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Okoye blocks it with crossed arms.
Dos Santos pushes off an throws an elbow but Okoye leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Knees in the clinch landing for Dos Santos.
Dos Santos lands an elbow inside.
Dos Santos has Okoye pressed against the ropes, preventing Okoye from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dos Santos lands an elbow just above Okoye 's eye.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Dos Santos.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dos Santos.
Okoye blocks an elbow strike from Dos Santos.
Dos Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Okoye is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos lands a damaging elbow.
Okoye fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but Okoye blocks it.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Okoye blocks it with crossed arms.
Okoye jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dos Santos walks away with a smile on his face. Okoye gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dos Santos lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Dos Santos throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Okoye throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dos Santos wants to clinch but Okoye slips to the side

and Okoye counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Okoye is trying to break the clinch but Dos Santos has him pressed against the ropes.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Dos Santos utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but Okoye blocks it.
Dos Santos throws an elbow but it misses.
Okoye lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Dos Santos or not.
Okoye taking a breather.
Dos Santos lands a knee to the head.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but Okoye blocks with his arms.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Okoye avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sol Dos Santos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hakeem Okoye's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Okoye has a takedown stuffed.
Dos Santos tries to clinch

and Okoye counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dos Santos lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Dos Santos looking to throw knees to the head but Okoye is blocking nicely.
Dos Santos unloads a knee to the mid-section. Okoye lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Dos Santos using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Okoye has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dos Santos tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Okoye stalling in the clinch but Dos Santos improves position.
Dos Santos with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dos Santos lands an elbow just above Okoye 's eye.
Dos Santos scores a nice knee to the body.
Okoye looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Okoye fails to pull guard.
Dos Santos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Okoye goes for a takedown attempt but Dos Santos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hakeem Okoye. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dos Santos wants to clinch
and Okoye counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Okoye moves out of range of the body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Okoye misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoye circles away from the clinch attempt

and Okoye counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Okoye.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dos Santos throws a knee to the head but misses.
Okoye tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dos Santos just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Okoye is working for takedown but Dos Santos is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dos Santos connects with a nasty looking knee right to Okoye's face.
Dos Santos lands an elbow just above Okoye 's eye.
Okoye wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dos Santos throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Okoye blocks it with crossed arms.
Okoye jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dos Santos walks away with a smile on his face. Okoye gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dos Santos tries a head kick but it misses.
Sol Dos Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Okoye fails with the takedown.
Okoye looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dos Santos tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Okoye counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Okoye drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dos Santos pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Okoye counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Okoye looking to pass the guard.
Okoye throwing strikes from guard but Dos Santos blocks nicely.
Okoye prevents Dos Santos from getting back to his feet.
Dos Santos is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoye trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Okoye showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Hakeem Okoye just wasn't active enough.
Dos Santos tries to clinch but Okoye moves away

and Okoye counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Dos Santos is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Okoye is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okoye throwing strikes but Dos Santos manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Okoye is looking for a sweep.
Okoye tries to escape but Dos Santos is in control.
Okoye tries to bench press Dos Santos off him but Dos Santos keeps the position.
Dos Santos working away.
Hakeem Okoye has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dos Santos trying to control the action but Okoye is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hakeem Okoye showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dos Santos 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sol Dos Santos!