PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Reiji Okazaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Domenic Gazza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gazza is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by National Anthem of Italy. Reiji Okazaki has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Okazaki
vs
Gazza

200 cm
21
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

189 cm
20
200 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reiji Okazaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Domenic Gazza!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Kavanagh and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okazaki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gazza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Okazaki stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gazza circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Gazza. Those never looked like landing.
Okazaki lands with a nice body kick.
Decent striking displayed by Okazaki there.

Okazaki takes the fight into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Gazza.
Okazaki controlling the action here for a moment.
Gazza wants a takedown but no success here.
Okazaki prevents a takedown attempt there.
Okazaki landing knees to the head.

It looks like Domenic Gazza has been cut.
Gazza wants a takedown.
Reiji Okazaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Domenic Gazza.
Gazza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gazza drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Okazaki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gazza tries to circle away but Okazaki has him pinned against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Okazaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gazza being controlled against the cage.
Okazaki prevents a takedown attempt there.
Okazaki is pressed up against the cage. Gazza has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Okazaki down to the mat. Okazaki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Okazaki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gazza takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Okazaki connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Okazaki clinches up against the cage.
Okazaki is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gazza looks gassed!
Gazza is pressed up against the cage. Okazaki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gazza down to the mat. Gazza avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gazza cracks Okazaki with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Okazaki pushes Gazza up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gazza takes an elbow to the temple.
Gazza tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Okazaki's elbow.
Gazza lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gazza wants a takedown.
Gazza wants to break free but Okazaki has control.
A knee to the head by Okazaki.
Okazaki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gazza fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Okazaki darts in and clinches Gazza up against the cage.
Okazaki comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Gazza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Okazaki staying out of range there.
Gazza swats away the attempt to clinch by Okazaki.
Gazza tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gazza cracks Okazaki with a right hand to the side of the head.
Okazaki connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Okazaki, right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gazza takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gazza chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Okazaki can pounce on him.
Okazaki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gazza on the side of the head.
Gazza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Okazaki lands a high kick!
Gazza takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Okazaki is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Okazaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Okazaki cracks Gazza with an open hand slap.
A chopping leg kick lands by Okazaki.
Okazaki's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gazza under the eye.
Okazaki with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okazaki fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Okazaki tries to clinch up.

Okazaki clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Okazaki.
Gazza tries for a takedown. No joy.
Okazaki using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Okazaki.
Okazaki lands an elbow just above Gazza 's eye.
Okazaki lands an elbow inside.
Gazza is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Okazaki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nice elbow from Okazaki.

That has opened up Domenic Gazza's cut even more.
Okazaki lands an elbow that stopped Gazza in his tracks for a moment.
Okazaki unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Gazza misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Okazaki gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Okazaki wants to stall.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Okazaki obliges.
Okazaki gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Okazaki lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reiji Okazaki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Domenic Gazza'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.

Gazza on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Okazaki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gazza takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Okazaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Gazza to counter with a crisp jab.
Okazaki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gazza.
Gazza takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A jab from Gazza misses.
Okazaki is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Okazaki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gazza swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gazza closes the distance and pushes Okazaki back into the cage.
Gazza tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gazza drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Okazaki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Knees to the body from Okazaki.

Okazaki wants the takedown. Gazza is fighting it off but Okazaki persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gazza's guard against the cage.
Gazza is breathing heavily.
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!
Gazza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Okazaki is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okazaki distracts Gazza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Okazaki wants to control from the top but Gazza keeps moving.
Okazaki is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Okazaki has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Reiji Okazaki wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gazza on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gazza swats away the attempt to clinch by Okazaki.
Gazza misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okazaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gazza waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Okazaki.
Okazaki connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gazza. Gazza circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Okazaki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gazza circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gazza fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Okazaki manages to avoid it.

Gazza instigates a clinch.
Gazza looking to stall.
Gazza tries for a takedown. No joy.
Reiji Okazaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Domenic Gazza.
Okazaki gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gazza.
Gazza gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Okazaki.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okazaki lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gazza throws a head punch that misses.
Gazza drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okazaki lands a knee to the body.
Okazaki lands an elbow just above Gazza 's eye.
Gazza takes a knee right on the jaw!
Okazaki content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Okazaki lands an elbow inside that Gazza shrugs off.
Okazaki lands a damaging elbow.
Okazaki utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gazza gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Okazaki.
Okazaki lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Gazza tries for a takedown. No joy.
Okazaki lands an elbow inside.
Okazaki lands an elbow inside.
Okazaki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Okazaki connects with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okazaki tries to score a body lock takedown but Gazza shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Okazaki landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Okazaki lands an elbow that stopped Gazza in his tracks for a moment.

The cut above Domenic Gazza's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Okazaki lands an elbow inside.
Okazaki comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okazaki has Gazza pushed against the cage.
Gazza has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Okazaki is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Okazaki has Gazza pushed against the cage.
A knee to the head by Okazaki.
Okazaki stalling in the clinch.
Reiji Okazaki has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Okazaki lands an elbow just above Gazza 's eye.
Okazaki creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Gazza's defenses.
Okazaki crunches a lovely knee into Gazza's ribcage.
Okazaki lands a knee to the body.
Okazaki lands a nice elbow.
Okazaki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gazza's face.
Gazza goes for a takedown in the clinch but Okazaki prevents it.
Okazaki stalling in the clinch.
Gazza wants a takedown.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Okazaki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Okazaki leaning against his opponent.
Okazaki stops a takedown attempt from Gazza.
Okazaki leaning his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reiji Okazaki dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Domenic Gazza's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Gazza listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Okazaki decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Okazaki stops Gazza from getting back to his feet.
Okazaki works his foot free and advances to mount.
Okazaki wants to control the pace but Gazza is squirming around nicely.
Okazaki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Okazaki controlling the pace for now.
Gazza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Okazaki wants to finish this one by submission but Gazza is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Okazaki.
Gazza is working to get back to half guard.
Okazaki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gazza can do to turn this around?
Gazza is squirming around, avoiding Okazaki's attempts to control the action.
Okazaki wants to take Gazza's back but he can't do it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okazaki trying to control but Gazza is having none of it.
Gazza really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Okazaki moves to take his opponent's back.
Okazaki tries to keep control of the position but Gazza is staying busy.

Okazaki is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Gazza has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Will Okazaki go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Domenic Gazza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okazaki lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Gazza staying busy and making it hard for Okazaki to control.
Gazza rolls, trying to escape but Okazaki keeps control of the position.
Okazaki keeps control of the position easily here as Gazza tries to buck him off.
Okazaki seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gazza for as long as he can get away with.
Reiji Okazaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Reiji Okazaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Reiji Okazaki just wasn't active enough.
Gazza has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gazza there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Okazaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sloppy strikes from Gazza. Those never looked like landing.
Gazza fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Okazaki avoids it really well and circles away.
A big left from Gazza misses.
Gazza on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okazaki scores with a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A good leg kick by Okazaki.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reiji Okazaki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Okazaki has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reiji Okazaki!