PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Thiel (ranked 6966 p4p, 526 weight class) and Takanori Okami (ranked 5708 p4p, 654 weight class). Matthew Thiel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thiel
vs
Okami

170 cm
26
158 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

179 cm
25
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matthew Thiel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Takanori Okami!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Ben Watson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okami throws a big shot that misses.
Thiel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Okami was well out of range. Poor timing from Thiel.

Okami has closed the distance and engaged Thiel in a clinch.
Thiel working aggressively here.
Okami blocks a body shot from Thiel.
Okami fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thiel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thiel lands a left hand that snaps the head of Okami backwards.

Thiel gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Okami regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Thiel.
Thiel looking to sit in guard and control but Okami gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Thiel looking for a sweep. Not yet Thiel, not yet.
Thiel has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Okami has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee asks Okami politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Okami prefers to stall for the moment though.
Okami wants to stand but Thiel is controlling his arm.
Okami in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Thiel is trying to improve his position.

That's two 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.
Thiel can't do much from the bottom here.
Thiel is looking for a sweep.
Thiel struggling a bit here.
Okami taking a breather here.
Thiel is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okami controlling from side mount.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Thiel wants to control but Okami postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd cheers as Thiel lands an impressive looking overhand right. Okami doesn't seem phased though.

Okami gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thiel working aggressively here.
Okami has a couple of punches blocked by Thiel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okami working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Okami.
Okami can't find room to land a body shot as Thiel controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Okami fails to land.
Thiel has a couple of punches blocked by Okami.
Okami prevents a body shot from Thiel.
Okami swings wildly with an uppercut but Thiel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Okami misses with some punches.
A right hand to the body from Thiel.
Okami is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thiel is keeping busy.
Thiel misses with a punch to the body.
Thiel is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Okami gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thiel lands a hook that snaps the head of Okami backwards.
Thiel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Okami - that landed with a thud.
Thiel misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Takanori Okami will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Okami misses with a few strikes there.
Thiel throws a big counter combination but Okami scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Thiel gets tackled into the cage by Okami. Okami maintains the clinch.
Okami looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Okami.
Okami blocks a body shot from Thiel.
Okami lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Okami misses with a punch to the body.
Good body shot from Okami.
Thiel lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Okami.
Okami can't find room to land a body shot as Thiel controls the action.
Okami scores with a hook to the body.
Okami lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thiel or not.
Okami manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okami throws a head punch that misses.
Still in the clinch, Okami scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thiel misses with some punches.
Thiel swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okami goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thiel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Okami lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Okami tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Okami tries to throw a body punch but Thiel avoids it by throwing Okami back against the cage.
Thiel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Okami prevents a body shot from Thiel.
A short right from Thiel.
Okami tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Okami blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thiel lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Okami misses with a body punch.
Okami's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thiel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thiel tries for a takedown. No joy.
Okami can't find room to land a body shot as Thiel controls the action.
Okami lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Okami struggles to land a body shot inside as Thiel controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Okami creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Thiel scores with a shot to the side of Okami's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okami misses with a punch to the body.
Okami softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thiel misses with a punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Okami.
Okami tries to throw a body punch but Thiel avoids it by throwing Okami back against the cage.
Okami goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Okami tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Okami lands a body shot.
Thiel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Okami avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Okami fails to land.
Okami blocking some punches.
Okami misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Okami has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thiel misses with some punches.
Thiel throws a punch but it's blocked by Okami.
Thiel throws a head punch that misses.
Thiel misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okami's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Takanori Okami seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Thiel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Okami throws a head punch that misses.
Okami throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thiels head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Okami.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thiel.
Okami lands a hook that snaps the head of Thiel backwards.
A short uppercut from Thiel.
Okami misses with a punch to the body.
Thiel prevents a body shot from Okami.
Okami swings wildly with an uppercut but Thiel uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Okami on the inside.
Thiel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Okami backwards.
Okami misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thiel lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okami fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Okami is pressed up against the cage. Thiel has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Okami down to the mat. Okami avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Thiel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Okami throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Okami darts in and clinches Thiel up against the cage.
Okami blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Okami lands a body shot in the clinch.
Okami digs a right hand underneath Thiel's ribcage. Thiel let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Okami working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Okami.
Thiel blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Thiel.
Okami lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Okami tries to throw a body punch but Thiel avoids it by throwing Okami back against the cage.
Okami lands a right hand.
Okami wants to stall.
Okami blocking some punches.
Thiel working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takanori Okami showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Okami lands a right hook to the body.
Okami bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Okami clinches.
Thiel tries a body shot but Okami blocks it.
Okami tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thiel's elbow.
Thiel lands a body punch in the clinch.
Okami misses with the head strike.
Okami lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Okami lands a nice uppercut.
Okami scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Thiel tries for a takedown but Okami manages to get underhooks.
Thiel misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okami lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thiel.
Thiel blocks an uppercut.
Thiel throws a punch but it's blocked by Okami.
Okami has a couple of punches blocked by Thiel.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Okami lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okami blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Okami working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Okami.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Thiel.
Okami tries a body shot but Thiel blocks it.
Okami tries to work over Thiel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Okami.
Nice body punch from Thiel.
Okami throws a punch but it's blocked by Thiel.
Okami cracks Thiel with a nice body shot.
Okami tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Okami misses with a punch to the body.
Okami has a couple of punches blocked by Thiel.
Okami lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thiel or not.
Okami has a couple of punches blocked by Thiel.
Thiel works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Thiel tries for a takedown. No joy.
Matthew Thiel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Thiel fails to land.
Okami blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Okami breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Okami closes the distance and pushes Thiel back into the cage.
Thiel blocks an uppercut.
Okami blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Okami working aggressively here.
Thiel lands with a right to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okami blocks an uppercut.
Okami goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Okami fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Okami makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thiel changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Okami fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Thiel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Okami has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thiel swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okami digs a right hand into Thiel's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thiel's gas tank.
Okami misses with a hook from the clinch.
Well,Thiel is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Okami misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Okami blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thiel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thiel throws a head punch that misses.
Okami throws a head punch that misses.
A short left from Okami.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Okami creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Thiel takes a shot to the head.
Takanori Okami is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thiel working aggressively here.
Thiel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Okami misses with a punch to the body.
Thiel tries to throw a body punch but Okami avoids it by throwing Thiel back against the cage.
Thiel tries to work over Okami's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thiel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thiel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Okami blocks a body shot from Thiel.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thiel.
Thiel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thiel is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Okami is defending well.
Okami gets through Thiel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Thiel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Okami lands a nice uppercut.
Thiel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thiel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thiel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Okami blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takanori Okami comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Okami 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight for Takanori Okami!
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight for Takanori Okami!
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight for Takanori Okami!

Takanori Okami wins by unanimous decision!