PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Okereke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vaughn Vandergrit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Okereke
vs
Vandergrit

180 cm
23
175 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

187 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

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 1 - 4 - 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, Vaughn Vandergrit!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Columbo Gatti and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vandergrit tries for a takedown but Okereke sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Okereke stuffs the takedown attempt from Vandergrit. Vandergrit gets slowly back to his feet.
Okereke misses with the combination.

Okereke gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vandergrit drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Okereke gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jonny Okereke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vaughn Vandergrit.
Vandergrit has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Okereke avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Vandergrit is trying to break free.
Okereke is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Okereke has hold of one of Vandergrit's legs. Vandergrit is fighting the takedown attempt but Okereke gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Okereke controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Okereke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandergrit is trying to keep Okereke in close.
Okereke knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vandergrit on the ground.
Vandergrit is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Okereke passes Vandergrit's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Vandergrit trying to hold on to Okereke's head to control him but Okereke postures up.
Okereke is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Okereke is breathing heavily.
Vandergrit is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vandergrit is looking to clinch but Okereke is avoiding it.
Okereke throws a chopping leg kick but Vandergrit manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Okereke throws a low kick but Vandergrit avoids it.
Vandergrit shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Okereke decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vandergrit's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Okereke is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Okereke has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Vandergrit looking for a guillotine here but Okereke defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Okereke has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vandergrit is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okereke engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

We're going to have a standup here because Jonny Okereke wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Vandergrit shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Okereke as he avoids it easily.

Okereke pushes Vandergrit up against the cage in a clinch.

Okereke gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Vandergrit not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vandergrit keeping full guard, as Okereke tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vandergrit has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Okereke can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Okereke slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Vandergrit working for a triangle but Okereke defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okereke working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vandergrit's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Okereke dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Okereke stuffs the takedown.

Okereke closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Okereke misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Vandergrit is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vandergrit is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Okereke controlling the position from side mount.
Vandergrit manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Okereke is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vandergrit pulls his head out easily.
Vandergrit tries to stand but can't do so whilst Okereke controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandergrit wants to take a breather but Okereke is having none of it.
Okereke tries to get to full guard but Vandergrit has control of the leg.
Okereke wants to control the action here but instead Vandergrit manages to pass to full mount!
Okereke on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Okereke tries to get out of the position.
Okereke is trying to reverse the position but instead Vandergrit has taken his back - oops!
Vandergrit lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Okereke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okereke has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Vandergrit trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Vandergrit is persistently looking for the submission but Okereke is defending it well.
Jonny Okereke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Okereke breaks Vandergrit's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okereke is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Okereke landing some decent shots from guard.
Vandergrit looking to control.
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.
Vandergrit not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Vaughn Vandergrit wasn't active enough on the ground.
Okereke is looking to slow Vandergrit down with leg kicks.
Okereke shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okereke fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vandergrit avoids it really well and circles away.
Vandergrit is trying hard to land a takedown here. Okereke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vandergrit misses with a takedown attempt

and Okereke counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jonny Okereke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vaughn Vandergrit.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Okereke stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vandergrit swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vandergrit controls Okereke momentarily but Okereke frees himself.
Okereke tries to free his leg and advance position but Vandergrit is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Okereke stands and steps away. Vandergrit gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Vandergrit fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Okereke dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Okereke stuffs the takedown.
A right-left combo lands from Okereke.
Okereke tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Okereke has a takedown stuffed.
Vandergrit throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Okereke's waist but Okereke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vandergrit off to one side.
Vandergrit 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.
Okereke wants to clinch.
Jonny Okereke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vandergrit tries to clinch up but Okereke circles away and keeps his distance.
Vandergrit lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Okereke as Vandergrit shoots in.
Jonny Okereke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vaughn Vandergrit.

Okereke instigates a clinch.
Okereke tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vandergrit smiles and moves away.
Vandergrit throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vandergrit is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Okereke forces Vandergrit back against the cage and clinches.

Okereke pulls guard.
Vandergrit trying to control but Okereke is working from the bottom.
Okereke wants to stand up but Vandergrit is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vandergrit preventing the sweep.
Vandergrit wants to pass the guard but Okereke is keeping the position.
Vandergrit would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Okereke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vandergrit.
Okereke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vandergrit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vandergrit trying to control the position from guard on top but Okereke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Vaughn Vandergrit wasn't active enough on the ground.

Okereke closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vandergrit quickly recovers to half guard.
Vandergrit is looking to control Okereke's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vandergrit avoid being mounted?
Okereke trying to control the pace.

Okereke is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Okereke is working for a submission of some sort.
Okereke is looking to advance position but Vandergrit won't allow it.
Vandergrit is trying to control but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vaughn Vandergrit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vandergrit wants to improve his position but Okereke is controlling well.

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 Jonny Okereke.
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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

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