PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Okereke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmie Cinders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Okereke
vs
Cinders

180 cm
23
178 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

182 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jonny Okereke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmie Cinders!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okereke goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cinders tries to close the distance and clinch up but Okereke swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Okereke shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cinders manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Okereke scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Cinders escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Okereke gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cinders trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cinders being controlled here, momentarily.
Okereke has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Okereke trying to control but Cinders is working from the bottom.

Cinders is working an open guard so Okereke takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cinders throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cinders darts in trying to clinch
and Okereke makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okereke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cinders lands with a good body shot.
Okereke tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Cinders manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Okereke drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Cinders taking a bit of punishment here - Okereke scoring with strikes.
Okereke working away.
Okereke in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Okereke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cinders keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cinders tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cinders parries the strikes from Okereke easily there. Okereke is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cinders to escape.

Okereke is trying to get an arm triangle but Cinders is defending well.

Okereke is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cinders is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cinders is looking to regain half guard here but Okereke keeps moving and retains side control.
Okereke 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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Okereke seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cinders for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Okereke trying to control the action but Cinders is working from the bottom.
Cinders tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Okereke wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Okereke decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Cinders swats away the attempt to clinch by Okereke.
Okereke stuffs the takedown attempt from Cinders. Cinders gets slowly back to his feet.
Cinders chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Okereke can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cinders throws the kick towards the body but Okereke avoids it.

Okereke bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cinders looks gassed!
Okereke just content to control the position.

Okereke decides to stand back up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right-left combo lands from Okereke.

Okereke drives through with a takedown into Cinders's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Okereke pushing down on Cinders's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Okereke is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cinders sees it coming and defends easily.

Okereke stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Okereke dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Okereke shoots in looking for a takedown. Cinders tries to sprawl out of it but Okereke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cinders manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cinders throws a head kick that misses.
Okereke fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cinders avoids it really well and circles away.
Cinders misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okereke connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cinders lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Okereke circles away quickly and effectively.
A telegraphed right hand from Okereke misses the target.
Cinders stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Okereke.
Cinders tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Okereke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cinders closes the distance and clinches up with Okereke, looking for a takedown. Cinders pushes Okereke against the cage but Okereke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cinders is breathing heavily.
Okereke is looking to clinch but Cinders is avoiding it.

Cinders darts in and clinches Okereke up against the cage.

Okereke breaks the clinch.
Okereke fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cinders has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Okereke clinches up against the cage.

Okereke drags the fight down to the ground.

Okereke looking for subs off his back but Cinders has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cinders thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okereke wants to control but Cinders is keeping busy.
Okereke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cinders wants to lay and pray for a moment but Okereke keeps working.
Okereke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Okereke tries to kick Cinders off but Cinders keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Okereke is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Okereke works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cinders being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jonny Okereke.
Okereke shoots in and drives through. Cinders sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonny Okereke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Okereke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cinders paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cinders looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Okereke looks for a takedown but Cinders sprawls well.
Okereke shoots for a takedown but Cinders saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cinders goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Okereke decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Okereke is looking to take a break and control but Cinders is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cinders pushes Okereke off looking to stand but Okereke dives back in and keeps control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cinders is looking to control Okereke's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cinders avoid being mounted?
Okereke is trying to control. Cinders wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cinders is looking for a sweep. Okereke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Okereke controlling the action here.

We're going to have a standup here because Jonny Okereke wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Okereke closes the distance and pushes Cinders back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Okereke dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A punch combination from Cinders misses.

Okereke shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cinders's guard.
Okereke throwing strikes but missing.
Cinders is looking to stand up but Okereke isn't so interested in that idea.
Okereke seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Okereke trying to control but Cinders is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Jonny Okereke wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Okereke closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okereke is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cinders to keep the fight standing.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Okereke drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cinders pulls his leg out and moves away.
Okereke shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cinders pinned against the cage. Cinders gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonny Okereke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Okereke shoots in and gets a takedown into Cinders's guard.
Cinders keeping moving, preventing Okereke from controlling successfully.
Okereke slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cinders is pushing Okereke's head away, looking to escape. Okereke manages to hold on to the position though.

Okereke wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cinders, who protects the arm well.
Cinders tries to improve position but can't.
Okereke is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Cinders will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Cinders manages to get back to half guard.
Okereke scoring with strikes to the body and head.
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!
Okereke wants to pass the guard but Cinders is defending well.
Okereke working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okereke working the head and body with strikes.
Cinders is staying active underneath Okereke, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Okereke is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cinders is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Cinders wants to improve his position but Okereke is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jonny Okereke.
Cinders on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Okereke shoots in for a takedown but Cinders shows good takedown defense.
Okereke tries to clinch up but Cinders circles away and keeps his distance.
Okereke dips to his left and cracks Cinders with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Okereke manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cinders on his heels. He'll look to pass Cinders's guard now, I'm sure.
Okereke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cinders can do to turn this around?
Cinders is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Okereke stands up and waves to Cinders to follow him.
Jonny Okereke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cinders throws a hook to the side of Okereke's head but Okereke sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Okereke gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Okereke can't get the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okereke misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cinders.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Jimmie Cinders has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cinders tries to land knees in the clinch but Okereke avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonny Okereke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Okereke 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonny Okereke!