PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tomas Marley (ranked 156 p4p, 9 weight class) and Vincent Oketch (ranked 90 p4p, 4 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Vincent Oketch enters the cage!

Marley
vs
Oketch

170 cm
35
140 lbs
24 - 15 - 0

170 cm
34
134 lbs
33 - 21 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
Aspire Clothing

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 24 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tomas Marley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vincent Oketch!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oketch drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Oketch won't allow Marley to sweep him here.
Oketch trying to control the position from guard on top but Marley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Oketch is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Marley controlling Oketch's posture.
Oketch trying to control the position from guard on top but Marley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marley is adopting a defensive guard.
Marley looking for a sweep. Not yet Marley, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oketch tries to free his leg and advance position but Marley is retaining full guard.
Marley is trying to control the position but Oketch postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Marley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marley looks to land a right hand but Oketch moved out of range.
Marley throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Oketch walks into a left hand.

Oketch gets caught napping as Marley dives in and scores a takedown. Oketch manages to retain guard.
Marley controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Oketch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Marley content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oketch can't keep his opponent in guard - Marley advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Marley is just content to waste time from the top position. Oketch takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Oketch is pulling down on Marley's head to control his posture.

Oketch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oketch keeping full guard, as Marley tries to pass.
Marley trying to control the position from guard on top but Oketch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Oketch keeping full guard, as Marley tries to pass.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Oketch fails with the takedown.
Oketch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Marley throws out a loose jab but Oketch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marley tries for a takedown but Oketch circles away easily
and Oketch counters with a stiff right hand.
Oketch moves out of range of the leg kick from Marley.
Marley tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Oketch was well out of range. Poor timing from Marley.
Oketch moves away from the strike by Marley.
Decent striking displayed by Marley there.

Oketch gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Marley stands and throws Oketch's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Oketch tries to bench press Marley off him but Marley keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Good standup being displayed there by Marley as he connects with a hook.

Marley looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Marley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Oketch can do to turn this around?

Oketch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marley defends it easily.
Marley trying to control the position from guard on top but Oketch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Oketch looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Marley has picked Oketch up and slammed him! Oketch can't keep hold of the triangle and Marley manages to pass to side control!
Oketch is trying to control Marley's posture but Marley avoids it.
Marley controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oketch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
A lull in the action here as Marley stalls from top position.
Oketch wants to control but Marley postures up.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Marley working away.
A lull in the action here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Marley walks into a stiff left hand from Oketch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Marley.
Oketch blocks a jab.
Oketch avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Oketch flicks out a counter leg kick but Marley steps away.
Marley misses with a left hand
and Oketch counters with a nice uppercut.
Marley misses with an uppercut.
Marley misses with a hook
and Oketch counters with a series of strikes. Marley will be more careful next time no doubt.
Marley lands with a good body shot.
Marley swings widly with a right hand
and Oketch counters with a nice body shot.
Marley is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Oketch checks a low kick from Marley.
Oketch feints the counter takedown.
Marley connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marley throws a jab but it's blocked by Oketch.
Marley throws a right hand that misses
and Oketch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marley misses with a shot to the body
letting Oketch counter with a right hand.

Marley shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Oketch manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Marley slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Tomas Marley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oketch is being controlled here.
Oketch wants to control but Marley postures up.
Marley looking to control but instead Oketch has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Oketch looking for submissions off his back.
Oketch on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomas Marley dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Oketch shoots in for a takedown but Marley shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Marley throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Oketch was covering up waiting for the punch and Marley finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Oketch has an active guard here but Marley has managed to pass into half guard.
Marley wants to take a breather but Oketch is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marley tries to pass the half guard into mount. Oketch knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Marley seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oketch is not content to let Marley control the position.

Oketch looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Oketch is trying to maintain the position but Marley is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Oketch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Oketch slips under a jab.
Marley throws the kick towards the body but Oketch avoids it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Oketch! But no joy.

Marley closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Oketch's guard.

Oketch is looking for a triangle here but Marley uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Oketch is not content to let Marley control the position.
Vincent Oketch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marley working away.
Marley lands a decent elbow from side control.
Marley takes a little break here. Oketch wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Marley trying to control the position but Oketch is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Oketch is looking to regain half guard here but Marley keeps moving and retains side control.

Marley tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Marley remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomas Marley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marley has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:26
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomas Marley!
Tomas Marley took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Conviction for their support in the buildup to the fight.