PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ghazi Okah (ranked 249 p4p, 39 weight class) and Rickson Moura (ranked 297 p4p, 45 weight class). Okah comes to the cage accompanied by Rock Stone. Moura is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Rickson Moura Entrance Song. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Okah
vs
Moura

195 cm
25
212 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

185 cm
26
215 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Aspire Clothing

Urban Fighter
IniTech Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ghazi Okah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rickson Moura!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okah misses with a right hand
and Okah takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Okah has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Wild Beasts Zoo in the buildup to the fight.
Moura digs a good body shot into Okah's ribs.
Okah just misses with a punch to the body.
Moura scores with a hook to the body. Okah takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Moura rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Okah to counter with a crisp jab.
Moura lands with a shot to the body.
Okah misses with a kick to the body

and Moura counters with a shoot takedown. Okah fights it but they end up in guard.

Okah manages to escape and get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters circle momentarily. Okah darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Okah fails to land.
Moura tries to pull guard but Okah won't allow it.
Moura jumps guard but Okah stands there with Moura around his waist. Moura gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Moura fails to land.
A short left from Okah.
Okah misses with some punches.
Okah tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Okah lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Moura tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Okah just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ghazi Okah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Moura.
Okah tries to work over Moura's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Moura jumps guard but Okah stands there with Moura around his waist. Moura gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Moura is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Okah is defending well.
Okah lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Moura.

Okah breaks the clinch.
Okah feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Moura's calf.
A looping hook to the body misses from Okah. Moura does a little dance to reset his feet.
Moura with the counter takedown but Okah avoids it easily.
We've been informed that Moura has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Okah.
Okah scores with a jab to the body.
Okah scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big right from Moura misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Okah misses its target.
Okah feints and then cracks Moura's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Moura down.
Okah throws a low kick but it's checked well by Moura.
Moura scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Okah keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Okah is looking to counter punch.
Moura tries for a takedown but Okah circles away easily
enabling Okah to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moura thuds a left hand into Okah's body.
Okah fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Moura on the side of the head.
Moura moves out of range of the leg kick from Okah.
Moura drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Okah defends it well.
Okah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Moura was well out of range. Poor timing from Okah.
Okah lunges at Moura with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Moura's hand.
Okah throws a predictable looking body shot
and Moura cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Moura takes one to the chin there.
A shot to the body from Moura misses
and Okah counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moura shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Okah counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Okah fails to land with a series of punches.
Okah punishes Moura's body with a nice straight punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okah lands with a kick to the ribs.
Okah throws a leg kick which misses Moura's front leg but catches the back leg as Moura tries to avoid it.
Moura connects with a body shot that sends Okah's belly button to the back.
Okah is looking to slow Moura down with leg kicks.
Okah loads up on a big right hand but Moura slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghazi Okah dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Okah throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Moura is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Okah rather than just go for the knockout.
Moura rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Okah counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Moura just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Okah.
Okah missing with a left hand there. Moura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Okah throws a lazy uppercut

and Moura counters with a takedown into side control.
Okah gets back to half guard.
Okah is holding on to half guard well.
Moura looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Okah with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah manages to get to full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Okah holds on and takes a little breather.
Moura working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Moura distracts Okah with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Okah is looking to stand up but Moura isn't so interested in that idea.
Okah avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Moura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Okah working a defensive guard here.
Moura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Okah preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Moura is fighting to break Okah's control of his arms but Okah is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Moura has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Moura throwing strikes but missing.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Okah manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Okah looks to score with a jab to the body but Moura is just out of range.
Moura drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Okah defends it well.
Moura ducks right into an uppercut from Okah.
A big left from Okah misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okah avoids the body shot from Moura.
Moura blocks a jab.
Okah throws an off balance right hand
and Moura counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Moura shoots in for a takedown but Okah shows good takedown defense.
Okah was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Okah delivers a nice body kick.
Moura shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Okah but Okah pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Moura shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Okah defends it nicely.
Ghazi Okah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Moura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okah tests Moura's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Okah is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Moura misses with a looping left.
Okah misses with a body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Okah pinned against the cage. Okah gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghazi Okah dominated that second round.
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!

Moura avoids a kick to the body.
Okah throws a right hand that misses

and Moura counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Okah tries to kick Moura off in order to stand up. Moura Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Okah tries to improve position but can't.
Okah struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moura creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Okah sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Okah is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Moura's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Okah is trying is best to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moura not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Okah keeping hold of Moura's head, controlling as best he can.
Moura missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Okah wants to get back to full guard.
Moura drops an elbow to the side of Okah's head.
Moura missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Okah keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Moura is thwarting Okah's attempts to control the position.
Moura scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Okah keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okah is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Moura slips a nice elbow through Okah's hands, connecting with Okah's forehead.
Moura wants to take a breather but Okah is having none of it.
Moura working over Okah with some ground and pound. Okah looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Moura is nestled in close to Okah, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Okah is looking to control Moura's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Okah avoid being mounted?
Moura working the head and body with strikes.
Okah is doing well to control the position and prevent Moura from advancing to side control.
Moura landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Moura connects with a nice short shot to Okah's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moura with the ground and pound but Okah uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Moura trying to control but Okah is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Moura's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Moura makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Moura content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Okah working a defensive guard but Moura manages to pass into side control anyway.
Okah is trying to control Moura's posture but Moura avoids it.
Moura working the body and head with strikes.
Okah is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moura is working Okah over with some ground and pound from side control.
Okah is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Okah's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Moura tries to advance position but instead Okah slips a leg back in to half guard.
Moura is thwarting Okah's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Okah is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rickson Moura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ghazi Okah is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickson Moura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Okah has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ghazi Okah!
Our winner, Ghazi Okah, 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.