PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sunshine Okafor (ranked 5039 p4p, 422 weight class) and Mehdi Kanaani (ranked 5504 p4p, 436 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Okafor
vs
Kanaani

175 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sunshine Okafor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mehdi Kanaani!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Dean Styles and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okafor lands a jab to the nose.
Kanaani is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Okafor.
Kanaani looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kanaani swings for the body but Okafor moves out of range.

Kanaani gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kanaani can't break the clinch.
Kanaani can't find room to land a body shot as Okafor controls the action.
A short body shot lands from Kanaani as the two fighters clinch.

Okafor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A good leg kick by Okafor.
Okafor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kanaani throws a shot from downtown. Okafor moves away and avoids it.
Kanaani fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Okafor manages to avoid it.
Okafor throws a leg kick which misses Kanaani's front leg but catches the back leg as Kanaani tries to avoid it.
A jab from Kanaani misses.
Kanaani lands with a right hand.
A left and a right from Okafor both land. Nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice straight punches there by Okafor. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Okafor.
Kanaani lunges at Okafor with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Okafor's hand.
Okafor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kanaani.
Okafor jabs Kanaani right on the nose. Kanaani blinks but takes it well.
Okafor lands a really nice looking cross but Kanaani seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Okafor lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kanaani doesn't seem phased though.
Kanaani punishes Okafor's body with a nice straight punch.
Kanaani ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okafor moves away.
Kanaani throws a lazy right hand but Okafor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kanaani takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Okafor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kanaani manages to avoid it.
Okafor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Okafor with a nice cross.
Sunshine Okafor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kanaani misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Okafor bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kanaani's head backwards.
Kanaani ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okafor moves away.
Okafor misses with a lunging right hand
and Kanaani counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Okafor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kanaani moves away.
Okafor scores with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okafor thuds a left hand into Kanaani's body.
Kanaani ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okafor moves away.
Okafor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kanaani throws a hook but Okafor blocks it.
Okafor defending well as Kanaani loads up on a big left hand.
Okafor misses with a looping left.
Kanaani looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanaani bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Okafor, right into the meat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Okafor enables Kanaani to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Okafor manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kanaani trying to control the position from guard on top but Okafor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kanaani must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kanaani stopping the sweep attempt from Okafor.
Kanaani wants to control from the top but Okafor keeps moving.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Okafor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kanaani manages to get himself to full guard.

Kanaani wants to stand but Okafor is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sunshine Okafor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Okafor 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 1 round of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 10:9
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 10:9
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 10:9

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sunshine Okafor!