PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tiago Gomes Da Rocha (ranked 3439 p4p, 390 weight class) and Yakubu Okoroji (ranked 23498 p4p, 691 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gomes Da Rocha
vs
Okoroji

188 cm
19
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tiago Gomes Da Rocha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yakubu Okoroji!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Rocha cracks Okoroji with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Da Rocha moves into the clinch successfully.
Da Rocha tries to throw a body punch but Okoroji avoids it by throwing Da Rocha back against the cage.
Okoroji fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Okoroji misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Okoroji looking to slow down the pace here.
Da Rocha blocks a body shot from Okoroji.
Okoroji pushes Da Rocha back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The referee calls for Da Rocha to work.
Okoroji trying to control the position but instead, Da Rocha has worked for underhooks and has pushed Okoroji into the cage.
Good body shot from Okoroji.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okoroji struggles to land a body shot inside as Da Rocha controls his hands.
Okoroji misses with a punch to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Da Rocha.
Da Rocha lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoroji tries to throw a body punch but Da Rocha avoids it by throwing Okoroji back against the cage.
Okoroji doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Da Rocha misses with a punch on the inside.
Okoroji is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Da Rocha lands a nice shot to the body.
Da Rocha working aggressively here.
Okoroji being controlled against the cage.
Okoroji misses with a body punch.
Da Rocha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Come on Da Rocha - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The referee calls for Da Rocha to work.
Okoroji misses with a punch to the body.
Okoroji misses with a hook to the ribs.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Da Rocha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Da Rocha seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Da Rocha lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Okoroji backwards.
Da Rocha is pushing Okoroji up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tiago Gomes Da Rocha.
Okoroji connects with an inside leg kick.
Okoroji throws a nice inside leg kick.
Okoroji takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Da Rocha keeps the fight on the outside.
Okoroji lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Da Rocha throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Okoroji sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Okoroji is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Da Rocha scores with a punch to the head.
Okoroji tries to close the distance and clinch up but Da Rocha swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Okoroji fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Okoroji throws a nice inside leg kick.
Da Rocha takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Da Rocha misses.
Okoroji feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Da Rocha's calf.

Okoroji moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Okoroji.
Da Rocha scores with a shoulder strike.
Da Rocha working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Okoroji looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Okoroji scores with a hook to the body.
Okoroji misses with a body punch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Da Rocha lands a body shot in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Da Rocha.
Da Rocha misses with some punches.
Da Rocha controlling the action here for a moment.
Da Rocha working aggressively here.
Da Rocha pushes Okoroji back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Okoroji struggles to land a body shot inside as Da Rocha controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Da Rocha.
Okoroji misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Okoroji.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Da Rocha lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Da Rocha has a couple of punches blocked by Okoroji.
Okoroji misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Okoroji doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Da Rocha goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Okoroji tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Da Rocha's elbow.
Da Rocha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Da Rocha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Da Rocha lands a body shot in the clinch.
Okoroji is trying to maintain a safe position but Da Rocha gets an underhook and turns Okoroji into the cage.
Okoroji misses with a body punch.
Okoroji blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Da Rocha scores with a shoulder strike.
Okoroji tries to work over Da Rocha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Da Rocha working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Gomes Da Rocha dominated that round.
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.

Okoroji wants to clinch up but Da Rocha keeps it at a distance.

Da Rocha clinches up with Okoroji and pushes him back against the cage.
Okoroji tries to throw a body punch but Da Rocha avoids it by throwing Okoroji back against the cage.
Da Rocha misses with some punches.
Okoroji works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Okoroji can't find room to land a body shot as Da Rocha controls the action.
Da Rocha throws a head punch that misses.
Da Rocha cracks Okoroji with a nice body shot.
Okoroji lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Da Rocha misses with a punch on the inside.
Okoroji lands a body shot.
A hook to the body from Da Rocha.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okoroji blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Da Rocha lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Okoroji tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Da Rocha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Okoroji can't find room to land a body shot as Da Rocha controls the action.
Da Rocha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Okoroji can do to turn this around?
Da Rocha lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Rocha stalls.
Da Rocha controlling the action here for a moment.
Okoroji looking to slow down the pace here.
Da Rocha is stalling here.
Okoroji tries to work over Da Rocha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Da Rocha scores with a shoulder strike.
Okoroji's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Still in the clinch, Okoroji scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Okoroji.
Da Rocha misses with a punch on the inside.
Okoroji misses with a hook to the ribs.
Okoroji swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Da Rocha.
Da Rocha lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Okoroji backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji tries to throw a body punch but Da Rocha avoids it by throwing Okoroji back against the cage.
Okoroji blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Da Rocha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Da Rocha throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Okoroji is trying to stall.
Da Rocha blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Da Rocha throws a head punch that misses.
Da Rocha misses with some punches.
Da Rocha working aggressively here.
Okoroji doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Da Rocha lands a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Da Rocha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Okoroji lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Okoroji tries a body shot but Da Rocha blocks it.
Okoroji letting Da Rocha take a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji misses with a body punch.
Okoroji lands a body shot.
Da Rocha lands a hook that snaps the head of Okoroji backwards.
Okoroji tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Okoroji misses with a hook to the ribs.
Okoroji tries to work over Da Rocha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Okoroji misses with a hook to the ribs.
Da Rocha misses with the head strike.
Okoroji blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Okoroji lands a hook to the side of the head.
Okoroji tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Da Rocha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Da Rocha throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Okorojis head.
Okoroji lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Tiago Gomes Da Rocha has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Da Rocha lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Okoroji prevents a body shot from Da Rocha.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Rocha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Okoroji makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Da Rocha.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Da Rocha prevents a body shot from Okoroji.
Okoroji is trying to stall.
Da Rocha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Da Rocha as Okoroji tries to tie him up.
Da Rocha lands a hook that snaps the head of Okoroji backwards.
Da Rocha softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Da Rocha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Okoroji misses with a hook to the ribs.
Okoroji letting Da Rocha take a breather here.
Still in the clinch, Da Rocha scores with a nice short uppercut.
Da Rocha working aggressively here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Da Rocha.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Gomes Da Rocha dominated that second round.
That's time! Da Rocha's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Da Rocha misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okoroji.

Da Rocha closes the distance and clinches.
Da Rocha working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A body shot lands from Da Rocha.
Okoroji is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Okoroji struggles to land a body shot inside as Da Rocha controls his hands.
Okoroji misses with a hook from the clinch.
Okoroji misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Da Rocha.
Da Rocha throws a head punch that misses.
Da Rocha lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Rocha blocks a body shot from Okoroji.
Okoroji pushes Da Rocha back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Okoroji.
A short left from Okoroji.
Okoroji being controlled against the cage.
Da Rocha swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Rocha'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.
Da Rocha has a couple of punches blocked by Okoroji.
Da Rocha lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Okoroji backwards.
Da Rocha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Da Rocha misses with the head strike.
Okoroji tries to work over Da Rocha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Okoroji letting Da Rocha take a breather here.
Okoroji misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Okoroji stalling in the clinch but Da Rocha improves position.
Okoroji prevents a body shot from Da Rocha.
A short right from Da Rocha.
Okoroji tries a body shot but Da Rocha blocks it.
Da Rocha blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Rocha avoiding damage.
Okoroji swings wildly with an uppercut but Da Rocha uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short uppercut from Da Rocha.
Da Rocha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Da Rocha lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Okoroji backwards.
Da Rocha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Da Rocha leaning his opponent against the cage.
Da Rocha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Da Rocha presses Okoroji against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Da Rocha blocking some punches.
Okoroji is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Da Rocha is keeping busy.
Okoroji stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Rocha lands a right hand.
Da Rocha throws a head punch that misses.
Okoroji prevents a body shot from Da Rocha.
Okoroji tries to throw a body punch but Da Rocha avoids it by throwing Okoroji back against the cage.
Okoroji lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Da Rocha or not.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Okoroji tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Da Rocha's elbow.
Da Rocha digs a right hand into Okoroji's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Okoroji's gas tank.
Okoroji lands a hook that snaps the head of Da Rocha backwards.
Okoroji blocks an uppercut.
Okoroji's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Da Rocha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Okoroji is trying to maintain a safe position but Da Rocha gets an underhook and turns Okoroji into the cage.
Da Rocha lands a nice uppercut.
Da Rocha makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Okoroji struggles to land a body shot inside as Da Rocha controls his hands.
Da Rocha lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji scores with a hook to the body.
Da Rocha working aggressively here.
Okoroji misses with a hook to the ribs.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Da Rocha working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Da Rocha lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Yakubu Okoroji has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Okoroji is rocked!
Okoroji doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Okoroji is still on wobbly legs! Can Da Rocha finish him?
Okoroji lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Da Rocha or not.
Okoroji looking to slow down the pace here.
Okoroji pushes Da Rocha back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Okoroji tries to work over Da Rocha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Okoroji seems to have recovered his senses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Okoroji tries a body shot but Da Rocha blocks it.
Da Rocha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Da Rocha blocks a body shot from Okoroji.
Da Rocha stalls.
Okoroji is trying to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiago Gomes Da Rocha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Da Rocha, 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tiago Gomes Da Rocha!