PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Okereke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toshi Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Toshi Ortiz enters the cage!

Okereke
vs
Ortiz

180 cm
24
175 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

178 cm
22
170 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 5 - 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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Toshi Ortiz!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Lou da Vinci and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortiz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Okereke swivels and escapes.
Okereke shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ortiz defends it nicely.

Okereke fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ortiz to the ground. Okereke is now in Ortiz's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Okereke wants to control from the top but Ortiz keeps moving.
Okereke would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Okereke being controlled here momentarily.
Okereke throwing strikes but missing.
Okereke wants to stand but Ortiz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ortiz 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.
Ortiz looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okereke is looking to work some ground and pound but Ortiz has wrist control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ortiz can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ortiz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Ortiz shoots in and bounces Okereke off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ortiz throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ortiz distracts Okereke with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ortiz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Okereke manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Okereke swinging wildly here.

Okereke forces Ortiz back against the cage and clinches.
Okereke goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ortiz prevents it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Okereke gets control of Ortiz's arms and successfully pulls guard. Okereke will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz with a nice head shot there.
Okereke looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Okereke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ortiz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Okereke is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ortiz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ortiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ortiz preventing the sweep.
Ortiz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ortiz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ortiz postures up in Okereke's guard and throws a big left but Okereke blocks it.
Okereke wants to stand up but Ortiz is controlling him.
Ortiz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Okereke is breathing heavily.
Ortiz scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ortiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ortiz working some strikes from top position.
Ortiz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ortiz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Okereke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ortiz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ortiz connects with a couple of short punches.
Ortiz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Okereke wants to sweep here but Ortiz controlling him for the moment.
Ortiz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Okereke's head.
Okereke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ortiz.
Ortiz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
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!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ortiz accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ortiz throws a big right hand that misses.
Okereke is trying to keep Ortiz in close.
Ortiz cracks Okereke with a solid left hand.
Ortiz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Ortiz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ortiz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ortiz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ortiz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ortiz preventing the sweep.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ortiz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ortiz chips away with some ground and pound.
Ortiz is in close to Okereke's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toshi Ortiz 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 but Ortiz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ortiz misses with a takedown attempt - Okereke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jonny Okereke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Okereke shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ortiz is staying active underneath Okereke, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Okereke is just content to waste time from the top position. Ortiz takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Okereke is looking to stand up but Ortiz won't let him.
Ortiz is trying to keep Okereke in close.

Ortiz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Okereke trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ortiz has his foot on Okereke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Okereke works his way back into a safe position though.
Ortiz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Okereke trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ortiz's guard.
Ortiz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Okereke.
Okereke trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Okereke has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Okereke trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ortiz's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz is trying to keep Okereke in close.
Toshi Ortiz has got the better of the ground game so far.

Okereke postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ortiz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Okereke, into his guard.
Ortiz throws an elbow that misses. Okereke uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ortiz's guard. Nice move by Okereke!
Ortiz has a closed guard, preventing Okereke from standing up.
Okereke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Okereke postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okereke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ortiz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Okereke stopping the sweep attempt from Ortiz.
Okereke slips nicely into half guard.
Okereke trying to control the action but Ortiz is working from the bottom.
Okereke looks to land a strike but Ortiz avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Okereke looking to sit in guard and control but Ortiz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Okereke trying to keep a closed guard but Ortiz is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ortiz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ortiz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jonny Okereke will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ortiz shoots in for a double leg but Okereke sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Okereke shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Ortiz as Okereke shoots in.
Okereke shoots in but Ortiz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonny Okereke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Okereke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Okereke throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ortiz tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Okereke is in Ortiz's guard.
Okereke postures up.

Okereke drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ortiz dives on top into guard.
Ortiz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ortiz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Okereke's head.
Ortiz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ortiz connects with a couple of short punches.
Ortiz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ortiz throws a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Okereke's head.
Ortiz is looking to work some ground and pound but Okereke has wrist control.
Ortiz throwing strikes but missing.
Ortiz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Okereke is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ortiz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ortiz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Okereke would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ortiz pulls Okereke in close to his closed guard and prevents Okereke from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okereke wants to control from the top but Ortiz keeps moving.
Okereke working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Ortiz has his foot on Okereke's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Okereke works his way back into a safe position though.
Okereke trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
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.

We're going to have a standup here because Jonny Okereke wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ortiz dives in and grabs Okereke's left leg, looking for a takedown. Okereke pushes down on Ortiz's head and hops out.
Ortiz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Okereke closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Okereke lands in his opponent's guard.
Okereke in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ortiz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ortiz is controlling Okereke's posture.
Okereke stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ortiz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ortiz is looking for a triangle but Okereke pushes his legs off easily.
Okereke trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Okereke wants to pass the guard but Ortiz is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okereke passes into half guard.
Okereke is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Okereke trying to control the action but Ortiz is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ortiz trying to control but Okereke postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ortiz is not content to let Okereke control the position.
Okereke not landing any meaningful shots this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Toshi Ortiz.
I think Ortiz 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toshi Ortiz!
Our winner, Toshi Ortiz, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.