PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jay Scott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takuya Okuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Scott
vs
Okuma

167 cm
23
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jay Scott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Takuya Okuma!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Scott fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Okuma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Scott gets a clinch.
Okuma connects with a nasty looking knee right to Scott's face.
A short right from Scott on the inside.
Okuma lands a knee to the body.
Scott is looking to break free of the clinch but Okuma has double underhooks.
Okuma managing to block the knees to the body from Scott.
Okuma scores a nice knee to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scott is trying to pull guard but Okuma has him pressed against the cage.
Okuma lands an elbow that stopped Scott in his tracks for a moment.
Scott goes for a takedown attempt but Okuma pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Scott. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Okuma moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okuma lands a shoulder strike.
Okuma tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Scott tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Okuma managing to block the knees to the body from Scott.
Scott wants to break free but Okuma has control.

Okuma has hold of one of Scott's legs. Scott is fighting the takedown attempt but Okuma gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Scott keeping moving, preventing Okuma from controlling successfully.
Okuma must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Okuma postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Okuma working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Okuma landing with the ground and pound.
Scott is trying to control the position but Okuma postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Okuma accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Okuma trying to control the position from guard on top but Scott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Scott looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Okuma drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Scott manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Okuma has Scott in his guard.

Okuma 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.
Scott is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okuma keeping moving, preventing Scott from controlling successfully.
Scott showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Scott with a flurry of punches that miss.
Scott trying to control but Okuma is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Okuma tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Scott postures up in Okuma's guard and throws a big left but Okuma blocks it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Scott tries to clinch up.
Okuma is looking for the big counter here.
Scott blocks a head kick by Okuma.
Scott takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Scott misses with a hook
and Okuma counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Scott tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Okuma counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Scott tries to close the distance and clinch but Okuma swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Okuma throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Scott tries to clinch but Okuma moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takuya Okuma dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Okuma throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Scott.
Scott tries to clinch up but Okuma circles away and keeps his distance.

Okuma closes the distance and clinches.
Okuma throws an elbow but it misses.
Okuma looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Scott takes an elbow to the forehead.
Okuma lands an elbow inside.
Okuma tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Scott avoids it.
Okuma tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Okuma turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Scott avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Okuma.
Scott takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scott manages to work his way to half guard, despite Okuma's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott wants to get back to full guard.
Scott wants to control but Okuma is keeping busy.
Okuma sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Scott defending well though.
Okuma thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Okuma lands strikes from half guard.
Scott is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Okuma scores with a couple of nice shots.
Okuma lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Scott missing with punches from the bottom.
Scott blocking the ground and pound attempt from Okuma.
Scott is pressing down on Okuma's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Scott seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okuma makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Okuma trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Okuma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Scott 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Okuma postures up and lands a big shot to Scott's brow.
Okuma landing with the ground and pound.
Okuma throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Okuma lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Scott is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Okuma tries to get to full guard but Scott has control of the leg.
Okuma is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Scott decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Scott moves to clinch but Okuma breaks away
and Okuma counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okuma tries to clinch but Scott is having none of it.
Scott throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Okuma.
Jay Scott is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Scott ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okuma moves away.
A jab from Okuma does it's job there.
Scott takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Scott connects with a high kick.
Scott is looking to clinch but Okuma is avoiding it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Scott. Okuma does a little dance to reset his feet.
Okuma is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Scott with a body shot.

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

Takuya Okuma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Okuma ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Okuma with a hook.
Scott misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Okuma counters with a stiff right hand.
Scott pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Scott fails with an attempt to clinch.
Okuma looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Okuma goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Okuma. Scott shrugs it off though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scott looks to clinch
and Okuma makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Okuma has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Scott fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Okuma is looking for the big counter here.
Scott scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott throws the left hand but Okuma avoids the punch easily.
Okuma is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Okuma throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Scott's head.
Scott tries to close the distance and clinch but Okuma swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Scott closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Scott takes a knee to the side of the body.
Okuma has Scott pressed against the cage.

Scott pulls guard successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Scott looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okuma content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Okuma scoring with punches to the head and body.
Okuma is in close to Scott's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Okuma postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Okuma lands a couple of elbows.
Scott working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Okuma.
Okuma scoring with punches to the head and body.
Okuma is in close to Scott's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Okuma lands a couple of elbows.
Okuma works over Scott with some ground and pound from guard.
Okuma cracks Scott with a solid left hand.
Okuma chips away with some ground and pound.
Jay Scott has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott trying to control the position.
Okuma scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Okuma throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Okuma's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Okuma lands a couple of digs.
Takuya Okuma is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Scott is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Okuma lands the left hand.
Scott takes one to the side of the head.
Scott tries to bum rush Okuma with a series of wild strikes but Okuma uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okuma tests Scott's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Okuma stalks Scott and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Scott's face. Scott staggers backwards, shaken.
Okuma throws a sloppy head kick and Scott moves out of range easily.

Scott feints and as Okuma raises his hands in defense, Scott changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Okuma looking to hit a scissor sweep but Scott is one step ahead there.
Scott is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takuya Okuma comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Okuma has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takuya Okuma!