PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rick Owens (ranked 5002 p4p, 5156 weight class) and Ksiolajidebt Olatunji (ranked 573 p4p, 578 weight class). Rick Owens has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Owens
vs
Olatunji

190 cm
23
185
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
21
187
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rick Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ksiolajidebt Olatunji!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Owens tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Olatunji defends well and Owens ends up having to push Olatunji into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Olatunji.

Owens has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Olatunji uses from the top position.
Olatunji content to stall in guard here.
Olatunji preventing the sweep.

Owens is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Olatunji must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Owens is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Olatunji is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Owens looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olatunji showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Olatunji wants to pass the guard but Owens is keeping the position.
Olatunji stays in close to Owens's body and controls the position.
Olatunji has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Owens is proving hard to escape from.
Owens managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.

Owens is working an open guard so Olatunji takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Olatunji forces Owens back against the cage and clinches.
Olatunji stalling in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Olatunji.
Owens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Owens is trying to break the clinch but Olatunji has him pressed against the cage.

Olatunji breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Owens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Olatunji's waist but Olatunji gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Owens off to one side.

Olatunji has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olatunji has Owens pressed against the cage.
Olatunji prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Owens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stalling in the clinch from Olatunji.

Owens jumps into guard, dragging Olatunji to the mat.
Olatunji slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
It looks like Olatunji might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Olatunji's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Owens pushes Olatunji off and gets back to his feet.
Owens tries for a takedown but Olatunji sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Olatunji gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Olatunji breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Olatunji closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Owens quickly recovers to half guard.
Olatunji wants to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ksiolajidebt Olatunji 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.

Olatunji takes the fight into the clinch.

Owens manages to pull guard.
Olatunji has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Owens is proving hard to escape from.
Olatunji is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens wants to sweep but no luck.
Rick Owens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Olatunji decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Olatunji throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Olatunji moves into the clinch successfully.
Owens is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Olatunji is defending well.
Owens takes a shot to the head.
Owens avoiding damage as Olatunji throws knees to the body.

Olatunji pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owens lands with a straight right. Olatunji didn't see that one coming.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Olatunji lands with a short shot to the head.
Olatunji misses with a knee strike.
A short left from Olatunji.
Owens is looking to control Olatunji's arms but Olatunji gets an underhook and turns him. Now Owens has his back to the cage.
Olatunji lands with a left to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Olatunji is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Owens is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Olatunji gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Owens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right handed body shot lands from Olatunji.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Olatunji stalling against the cage.
Olatunji stalls.
Ksiolajidebt Olatunji seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Olatunji breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jab from Owens.
Owens has his takedown stuffed

and Olatunji counters by clinching up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Olatunji creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Olatunji's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Olatunji clinches.
Olatunji lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Owens backwards.
Owens wants to break the clinch but can't.
Olatunji stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Owens with a knee to the head.
Olatunji is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Olatunji looking to throw knees to the head but Owens is blocking nicely.
Knees in the clinch landing for Olatunji.
Olatunji has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Olatunji leaning his opponent against the cage.

Olatunji breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Olatunji moves into range and clinches up with Owens.
Owens has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Olatunji avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short right from Olatunji on the inside.
Olatunji lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Owens or not.

Olatunji breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Olatunji gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Owens tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A left hand lands to the body for Olatunji.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ksiolajidebt Olatunji showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Olatunji has Owens up against the cage in a clinch.
Owens is looking to break free of the clinch but Olatunji has double underhooks.

Olatunji breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Owens gets a clinch.
Owens taking a breather.
A right hook to the body lands for Olatunji.

Olatunji turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
You can see the frustration on Owens's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owens is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Olatunji is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Olatunji decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Olatunji darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Olatunji looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Owens with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Owens is trying to maintain the position but Olatunji is very close to passing his half guard.

Olatunji decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Olatunji defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Owens.
Olatunji changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Owens tries to keep at a distance but Olatunji has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Olatunji.

Olatunji manages to break the clinch.

Owens gets tackled into the cage by Olatunji. Olatunji maintains the clinch.
Owens is trying to break the clinch but Olatunji has him pressed against the cage.
Olatunji works on Owens's body with a couple of short punches.
Olatunji will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Owens up against the cage.

Olatunji pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Olatunji throws a combination. Owens tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Owens is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens drops his hands momentarily and Olatunji needs no second invitation. He sets himself and throws a perfect high kick, that clips Owens just on the top of the head. Owens drops like a sack of potatoes to the canvas, out cold! Oooooooh yeah! Stick a fork in Owens - he's done!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Ksiolajidebt Olatunji!