PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manu Okoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drederick Tatum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Okoro kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Jungle Ugly. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Okoro
vs
Tatum

180 cm
28
216 lbs
23 - 6 - 0

180 cm
29
213 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 23 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manu Okoro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Drederick Tatum!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okoro lands a jab to the nose.
Okoro throws a looping overhand right but Tatum ducks down to avoid it.
Tatum jabs Okoro to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tatum chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Okoro can pounce on him.
Okoro on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tatum swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Okoro on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tatum throws a lazy uppercut
and Okoro counters with a nice leg kick.
Tatum lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tatum misses with a double jab.
Okoro throws a sloppy head kick and Tatum moves out of range easily.
Tatum dives in and grabs Okoro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Okoro pushes down on Tatum's head and hops out.
Okoro throws a sloppy head kick and Tatum moves out of range easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Okoro. That's going to slow Tatum down.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tatum.
A punch combination from Tatum misses.
Okoro moves out of range of the strikes.
Okoro ducks under a wild hook from Tatum.
Tatum tries to bum rush Okoro with a series of wild strikes but Okoro uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoro moves out of range as Tatum strikes.
Okoro lands with a straight right. Tatum didn't see that one coming.
Tatum scores with a three punch combo!
Drederick Tatum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tatum takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tatum misses with a straight left.
Some wild striking there from Tatum.
Tatum throws a series of punches but Okoro avoids them all with ease.
Okoro throws the kick towards the body but Tatum avoids it.
Okoro drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tatum takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tatum misses with a few strikes there.
Tatum ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okoro moves away.
Tatum throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Tatum tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Okoro.
Tatum looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Tatum misses.
Tatum fails to land with a series of punches.
Okoro throws a head kick that misses.
Tatum rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Okoro moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tatum throws a looping overhand right but Okoro ducks down to avoid it.
Tatum misses with a wild combination.
A punch combination from Okoro misses.
Okoro scores with a nice right hand.
Okoro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manu Okoro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Okoro throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Tatum scores with a head kick.
Tatum misses with an uppercut
and Okoro counters with a head kick.
Okoro throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tatum on the side of the head.
Tatum fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Okoro works over Tatum's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Drederick Tatum has been cut.
Tatum lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatum looks to land a left hand but Okoro moved out of range nicely.
Tatum is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Okoro.
Okoro moves away from the strike by Tatum.
A big left from Tatum misses.
Okoro scores with a jab to the jaw.
Tatum misses with a looping right.
Okoro throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tatum on the side of the head.
Okoro keeps Tatum at a distance using the push kick.
Tatum staying out of range there.
Tatum throws a lazy uppercut
and Tatum takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Okoro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tatum moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okoro tests Tatum's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Okoro ducks under a wild hook from Tatum.
Okoro lunges at Tatum with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tatum's hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Okoro.

Okoro tries to sprawl but Tatum drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Tatum prevents Okoro from standing back up.
Okoro keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tatum has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Okoro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tatum.
Tatum thows a huge punch but Okoro dodges it nicely.
Okoro wants to improve his position but Tatum is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tatum trying to mount his opponent but Okoro defends it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tatum thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Okoro's head.
Tatum thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Okoro's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Manu Okoro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Drederick Tatum's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tatum takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Tatum throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Okoro misses with a straight left.
Drederick Tatum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tatum fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Tatum ducks under a wild hook from Okoro.
The fighters circle momentarily. Okoro darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Okoro moves out of range of the strikes.
Tatum throws an overhand right that lands on Okoro's shoulder, as Okoro tries to avoid the shot.
Tatum connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Tatum displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okoro misses the shot to the body.
Okoro scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Okoro lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Tatum sizes up Okoro with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Tatum on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tatum misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nice takedown defense from Okoro. No joy for Tatum on that attempt.
Tatum lands a nice hook to Okoro's body. Okoro takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tatum misses with a hook. Okoro ducked under it nicely.
Okoro connects with the punch.
Okoro walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tatum throws a nice looking combination but Okoro bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tatum throws a good cross that connects.
Tatum dives in and grabs Okoro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Okoro pushes down on Tatum's head and hops out.
Tatum is breathing heavily.
Okoro darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Okoro scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tatum throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Okoro avoids the body shot from Tatum.
Tatum tries to bum rush Okoro with a series of wild strikes but Okoro uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tatum throws a nice looking combination but Okoro bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tatum throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Okoro counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Okoro lands an overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatum takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tatum swings for the body but Okoro moves out of range.
Tatum is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tatum. Okoro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Okoro with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Okoro takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Okoro.
Tatum misses with a body punch
and Okoro counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Okoro thumps Tatum with a low kick.
Okoro blocks a jab.
Okoro slaps away a takedown attempt from Tatum, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Manu Okoro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drederick Tatum.
Okoro lands a really nice looking cross but Tatum seems unphased.
Okoro connects with the punch.
Nice straight punches there by Okoro. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Okoro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoro feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tatum's calf.
Okoro throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Okoro wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Okoro lands the left hand.
Nice cross by Okoro.
Tatum ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okoro moves away.
Tatum tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Okoro scores with a jab to the body.
Okoro lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Okoro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tatum has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Okoro throws a nice head kick!
Nice body kick from Okoro.
Okoro thumps Tatum with a low kick.
Okoro scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Okoro scores with a shot to the body.
Okoro fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tatum on the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okoro moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Okoro sizes up Tatum with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Tatum is rocked!
Manu Okoro is winning the standup battle so far.
Okoro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Okoro. That's going to slow Tatum down.

Okoro lands a left and a right that send Tatum crashing to the mat, dazed. Okoro thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Tatum is still on wobbly legs! Can Okoro finish him?
The fighters circle, before Okoro throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Tatum's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Okoro lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Manu Okoro!
Manu Okoro took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Conviction for their support in the buildup to the fight.