PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Oketch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diagoro Yabaisama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yabaisama has chosen Liquid Swords as his entrance music. 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?

Oketch
vs
Yabaisama

170 cm
25
140 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

163 cm
24
145 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Perkele!
Conviction

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250
Machine Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vincent Oketch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Diagoro Yabaisama!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yabaisama takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Oketch misses with an attempted mid kick.
Oketch loads up on a big right hand but Yabaisama slips the punch.
Yabaisama lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Yabaisama darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A big left from Yabaisama misses.
Oketch fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Yabaisama on the side of the head.
A solid body kick from Oketch.

Yabaisama clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Oketch.
Yabaisama scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Yabaisama misses with a short punch on the inside.
Oketch misses with a hook from the clinch.

Oketch has picked Yabaisama up - he's going for a ride! Oketch dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Oketch's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yabaisama trying to control here.
Yabaisama is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Oketch content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yabaisama is in trouble now - Oketch has advanced to mount!
Oketch controlling the pace for now.
Oketch lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Yabaisama tries to lock up and control but Oketch gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Yabaisama is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oketch takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Oketch seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Yabaisama for as long as he can get away with.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yabaisama keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Yabaisama is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Yabaisama sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oketch trying to control from half guard but Yabaisama is working away.
Oketch prevents Yabaisama from improving his position.
Yabaisama is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Yabaisama is pressing down on Oketch's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Oketch controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Oketch trying to control the position from guard on top but Yabaisama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yabaisama sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yabaisama throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yabaisama takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Oketch connects with a jab.
Yabaisama throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Oketch dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Oketch closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Yabaisama quickly recovers to half guard.
Oketch takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Yabaisama is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Oketch controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yabaisama is trying is best to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oketch wants to pass the guard but Yabaisama is defending well.
Yabaisama is staying active underneath Oketch, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Yabaisama has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Oketch is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Oketch gets a double leg takedown into Yabaisama's guard.
Yabaisama is trying to keep Oketch in close.
Yabaisama is pulling down on Oketch's head to control his posture.
Oketch is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oketch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yabaisama trying to control the position.
Yabaisama has control of Oketch's left arm, preventing Oketch from doing any damage.
Oketch controlling from the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vincent Oketch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yabaisama connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oketch closes the distance and clinches up with Yabaisama, looking for a takedown. Oketch pushes Yabaisama against the cage but Yabaisama circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yabaisama slaps away a takedown attempt from Oketch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A slow jab from Oketch misses its intended target.
A nice side step and Yabaisama releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Oketch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yabaisama can do to turn this around?
A chopping leg kick lands by Oketch.
Yabaisama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Oketch cracks Yabaisama with an open hand slap.
Yabaisama looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Yabaisama scoring well with a low kick there.
Yabaisama uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Oketch.
Yabaisama misses with a hook.
Yabaisama moves away from the strike by Oketch.
Yabaisama ducks under a wild hook from Oketch.
Yabaisama fails to land with a series of punches.
Yabaisama just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromOketch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yabaisama moves out of range of the body kick from Oketch.
Diagoro Yabaisama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Oketch scores with a kick to the body.

Oketch shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oketch is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Oketch dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Oketch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Oketch connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Yabaisama misses with a looping left.
Oketch connects with a nice looking jab.
Vincent Oketch is winning the standup battle so far.
A telegraphed right hand from Yabaisama misses the target.
Oketch looks for the body kick but Yabaisama saw that one coming.
Oketch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yabaisama fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Oketch checks it well.
Oketch slips under a jab.
Oketch throws the left hand but Yabaisama avoids the punch easily.
Yabaisama flicks out a counter leg kick but Oketch steps away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oketch lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Yabaisama takes one on the button.
Oketch throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Yabaisama.
Yabaisama looks to score with a jab to the body but Oketch is just out of range.
Oketch scores with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oketch throws a head kick but Yabaisama moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Oketch there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Yabaisama ducks under a wild hook from Oketch.
Oketch uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yabaisama.
Oketch shoots in but Yabaisama avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yabaisama is looking to chop away at Oketch's legs.
Oketch takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Yabaisama lands a nice hook to Oketch's body. Oketch takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Oketch misses with an uppercut. Yabaisama saw that one coming.
Yabaisama avoids the head kick by Oketch.
A head kick misses from Oketch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Oketch looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Diagoro Yabaisama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Oketch.
Danga de danga de dang - Oketch scores with a four punch combination!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Oketch clinches with his opponent.
Yabaisama throws a punch but it's blocked by Oketch.
Yabaisama manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Yabaisama lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch on the inside from Yabaisama fails to land.
Yabaisama digs a right hand underneath Oketch's ribcage. Oketch let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Oketch blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Oketch misses with the head strike.
Oketch blocking some punches.
Yabaisama on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yabaisama lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Oketch throws a head punch that misses.
Vincent Oketch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oketch blocks an uppercut.
Oketch managing to block the knees to the body from Yabaisama.
Yabaisama can't find room to land a body shot as Oketch controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Oketch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Oketch managing to block the knees to the body from Yabaisama.
Oketch blocks an uppercut.
Yabaisama has Oketch pushed against the cage.
Yabaisama pushes Oketch back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oketch blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Oketch is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Yabaisama is defending well for now.
Yabaisama tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yabaisama looking to slow down the pace here.
Yabaisama lands a left hand.
Oketch managing to block the knees to the body from Yabaisama.
Yabaisama lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Yabaisama tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yabaisama trying to control the position but instead, Oketch has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yabaisama into the cage.
Yabaisama swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yabaisama can't find room to land a body shot as Oketch controls the action.
Oketch lands with a short shot to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Oketch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Oketch.

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 Vincent Oketch.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Oketch, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vincent Oketch!
A very excited looking Vincent Oketch made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.