PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ghazi Okah (ranked 658 p4p, 105 weight class) and Ludvig Ericsson (ranked 1556 p4p, 227 weight class). Okah comes to the cage accompanied by Rock Stone. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Okah
vs
Ericsson

195 cm
31
210 lbs
23 - 10 - 1

186 cm
35
212 lbs
27 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 23 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Ghazi Okah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ludvig Ericsson!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Phil Schofield and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Okah gets a clinch.
Okah blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ericsson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Okah backwards.
Ericsson scores with a shot to the side of Okah's head.
Okah misses with a body punch.
Ericsson throws a punch but it's blocked by Okah.
Ericsson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Okah lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ericsson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ericsson tries to throw a body punch but Okah avoids it by throwing Ericsson back against the cage.
Ericsson misses with a body punch.
Okah misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ericsson misses with the head strike.
Ericsson lands with a left to the head.
Okah lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ericsson.
Okah fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ericsson can't find room to land a body shot as Okah controls the action.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Okah blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ericsson.
Ericsson blocks a body shot from Okah.
Okah struggles to land a body shot inside as Ericsson controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice body punch from Okah - that landed with a thud.
Okah tries to throw a body punch but Ericsson avoids it by throwing Okah back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Okah.
Ericsson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Okah tries a body shot but Ericsson blocks it.
Ericsson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Okah misses with a punch on the inside.
Ericsson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Okah backwards.
Ericsson swings wildly with an uppercut but Okah uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ericsson tries to pull guard but Okah holds him up against the cage and eventually Ericsson drops back down to his feet.
Ericsson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short left from Ericsson.
Ericsson is looking to break free of the clinch but Okah has double underhooks.
Okah misses with the head strike.
Okah blocks a body shot from Ericsson.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okah tries a body shot but Ericsson blocks it.
Ericsson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Okah backwards.
Ericsson lands a right hand.
Ericsson throws a head punch that misses.
Ericsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ericsson has a couple of punches blocked by Okah.
Okah doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Okah lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Ericsson.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Okah.
Okah misses with some punches.
Okah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ericsson's elbow.
Ericsson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Okah blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ericsson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Okah swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ericsson tries to throw a body punch but Okah avoids it by throwing Ericsson back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Ericsson fails to land.
Okah struggles to land a body shot inside as Ericsson controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okah tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ericsson gets through Okah's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Okah misses with a short punch on the inside.

Ericsson breaks from the clinch.
A head kick by Okah misses
and Ericsson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Okah scores with a punch to the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ericsson is defended easily by Okah.
Ericsson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ghazi Okah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ludvig Ericsson.
Ericsson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Ericsson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Okah to the mat! Okah manages to get full guard.
Okah looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ericsson stopping the sweep attempt from Okah.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Okah is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ericsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Okah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Okah is on top in guard.

Okah tries to free his leg and advance position but Ericsson is retaining full guard.
Ericsson wants to sweep but no luck.
Ericsson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Okah controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Okah misses the shot to the body.
Ericsson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Okah tries to avoid it but Ericsson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Okah to the ground. Okah escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Okah misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ericsson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Okah. Ericsson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ericsson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ghazi Okah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ericsson shoots in and gets a takedown into Okah's guard.
Ericsson is looking to work some ground and pound but Okah has wrist control.
Okah is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ericsson works over Okah with some ground and pound from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okah bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ericsson's guard.

Okah stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ericsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ericsson looking to control but Okah passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah is trying to control. Ericsson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ericsson trying to control from the bottom.
Okah is trying to control. Ericsson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ericsson is pressing down on Okah's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ericsson is looking to sweep but instead, Okah has passed into half guard.
Okah content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ericsson is refusing to be controlled, as Okah sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ericsson is looking to improve his position.
Ludvig Ericsson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Okah is trying to control. Ericsson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Okah looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Okah looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ericsson moves into full guard.
Okah controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Okah. Ericsson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ericsson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Okah tries to avoid it but Ericsson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Okah to the ground. Okah escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Okah misses with a looping right.
Okah seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Ericsson moves forwards but Okah connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ericsson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Okah counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ghazi Okah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ludvig Ericsson.
Ericsson darts in looking for a takedown but Okah gets double underhooks and turns Ericsson into the cage.
Okah throws out a powerful jab.
Ericsson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Okah tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ericsson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Okah's half guard.
Okah tries to get to full guard but Ericsson has control of the leg.
Okah is trying to control but can't.
Okah keeping hold of Ericsson's head, controlling as best he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ericsson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ericsson is keen to just control but Okah is a slippery customer.
Okah has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ericsson is working away from the top position though.
Okah has hold of Ericsson's hands but Ericsson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghazi Okah dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Okah lands a jab to the head.

Okah clinches.
Ericsson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ericsson struggles to land a body shot inside as Okah controls his hands.
Ericsson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ericsson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ericsson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Okah's elbow.
A shot in the inside from Ericsson.
Okah swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Okah lands a shoulder strike.
Ericsson misses with a punch to the body.
Okah misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ericsson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Okah backwards.

Ericsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Okah gets caught napping as Ericsson dives in and scores a takedown. Okah manages to retain guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okah avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Okah wants to sweep here but Ericsson controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okah managing to control the position.
Ericsson postures up.
Okah has his hands on Ericsson's head, controlling the position.
Ericsson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Okah has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Okah throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ericsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ghazi Okah is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ericsson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Okah looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Okah is holding Ericsson down, trying to stall.
Ericsson looks up at the clock and then as Okah takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ericsson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ericsson is trying to ground and pound but Okah uses the momentary lack of control by Ericsson to regain half guard.
Ericsson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ericsson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Okah's head.
Okah trying to hold on to Ericsson's head to control him but Ericsson postures up.
Okah is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Okah wants to control but Ericsson is keeping busy.
Ericsson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Okah makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Okah.
Ericsson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ericsson wants to control from the top but Okah keeps moving.

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.
Okah is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Okah is pressing down on Ericsson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ericsson is holding on for now.
Ericsson wants to improve his position but Okah is controlling well.
Okah trying to control the action but Ericsson is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ericsson tries to roll over but Okah keeps him under control.
Okah stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ludvig Ericsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ericsson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ludvig Ericsson!