PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karim Bashorov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yakubu Okoroji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bashorov comes into the arena with Hangar 18 blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bashorov
vs
Okoroji

190 cm
26
194 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
28
198 lbs
13 - 10 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Karim Bashorov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Yakubu Okoroji!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okoroji misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bashorov.
Both fighters circling a little - Okoroji finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
No joy there for Okoroji, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bashorov moves away from the strike by Okoroji.
Okoroji moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Okoroji fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bashorov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Bashorov.
Bashorov lands a jab to the head.
Okoroji with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bashorov to score with a decent uppercut.

Okoroji scores with a takedown into Bashorov's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Okoroji advances to half guard.
Bashorov is looking for a sweep. Okoroji is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Okoroji content to control rather than advance.
Ground and pound from Okoroji.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashorov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okoroji is looking to take a break and control but Bashorov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bashorov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Okoroji trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bashorov trying to control the position.
Okoroji throws a big right hand that misses.
Okoroji trying to control the position from guard on top but Bashorov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bashorov is on top in guard.

Okoroji keeping moving, preventing Bashorov from controlling successfully.
Bashorov postures up.
Okoroji bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bashorov's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji is looking to work some ground and pound but Bashorov has wrist control.
Bashorov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bashorov keeping full guard, as Okoroji tries to pass.
Bashorov looking for a sweep. Not yet Bashorov, not yet.

Bashorov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Okoroji works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bashorov wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Okoroji is looking to advance position but Bashorov won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Okoroji with the ground and pound but Bashorov uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Bashorov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Okoroji manages to get himself to full guard.

Bashorov wants to control from the top but Okoroji keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Okoroji trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yakubu Okoroji 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.

Okoroji throws a right and a left that both miss.
A little feinted left hand from Bashorov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Okoroji tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bashorov swivels and escapes.
Bashorov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Okoroji staying out of range there.
Okoroji on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bashorov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Okoroji is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Bashorov misses with an uppercut. Okoroji saw that one coming.
Bashorov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Okoroji fails to land with a series of punches.
Okoroji misses with a wild body shot.
Yakubu Okoroji is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Okoroji, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bashorov misses with a combination

and Okoroji counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Bashorov!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The strikes coming from Okoroji are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Okoroji is trying to get an arm triangle but Bashorov is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Bashorov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashorov regains half guard.
Okoroji tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bashorov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Okoroji performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bashorov tries to roll over but Okoroji keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Okoroji throwing shots but Bashorov is blocking nicely.
Okoroji tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Bashorov.
Bashorov won't allow Okoroji to pass to mount.
Bashorov is looking to control Okoroji's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bashorov avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Okoroji shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Okoroji was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bashorov regains half guard there - taking advantage of Okoroji's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Okoroji is looking to advance position but Bashorov won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashorov trying to get back to full guard but Okoroji takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Bashorov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Okoroji has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bashorov's face.
Okoroji wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Bashorov is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji wants to stand but Bashorov is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Bashorov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Okoroji is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bashorov has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bashorov!
Okoroji utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bashorov trying to control but Okoroji is working from the bottom.
Okoroji is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Okoroji might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bashorov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yakubu Okoroji showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bashorov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Okoroji misses with a series of wild punches.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Okoroji.
Okoroji wants to clinch up but Bashorov keeps it at a distance.
Okoroji has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Okoroji throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice uppercut there from Bashorov.
Bashorov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looks like Bashorov has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Okoroji lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bashorov circles away quickly and effectively.
Okoroji moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bashorov misses with a wild body shot.
Good exchange - Bashorov coming out on top.

Bashorov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Okoroji to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bashorov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Okoroji is one step ahead there.
Okoroji must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoroji trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bashorov wants to sweep here but Okoroji controlling him for the moment.
Okoroji tries to free his leg and advance position but Bashorov is retaining full guard.

Bashorov is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Okoroji frees his head nicely. Oh but Bashorov has switched to an armbar! Okoroji is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Karim Bashorov!
A relieved looking Karim Bashorov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.