PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoshito Okamoto (ranked 22365 p4p, 21837 weight class) and Theodore Rothschild (ranked 592 p4p, 667 weight class). Theodore Rothschild is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Okamoto
vs
Rothschild

188 cm
25
217
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
28
215
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Carnage 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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yoshito Okamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Theodore Rothschild!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rothschild lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick from Okamoto lands but Rothschild takes it in his stride.
Okamoto has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Okamoto there as he acknowledges the shot.
Okamoto has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Okamoto uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rothschild has time to react.
Okamoto scores with a hook to the body. Rothschild takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rothschild blocks a head kick by Okamoto.
Okamoto throws a sloppy head kick and Rothschild moves out of range easily.
Rothschild moves out of range as Okamoto strikes.
Rothschild walks into a straight right hand from Okamoto.
Okamoto misses with an uppercut.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Okamoto checks a leg kick.
Rothschild staying out of range there.
A jab from Okamoto misses.
Rothschild only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Okamoto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rothschild jabs at Okamoto's body.
Okamoto throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rothschild on the side of the head.
Rothschild takes a swing at Okamoto's ribcage but misses.
Rothschild punishes Okamoto's body with a nice straight punch.
Rothschild fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Okamoto.

Okamoto dives in and scores a takedown into Rothschild's guard.
Rothschild keeping moving, preventing Okamoto from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Okamoto drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rothschild dives on top into guard.

Okamoto working for submissions but it's allowed Rothschild to get to half guard.
Rothschild prevents Okamoto from improving his position.
Okamoto is working hard here to advance position.
Rothschild passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto is trying to improve his position.
Okamoto is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rothschild off and has taken his back!

Rothschild is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Okamoto gets his way!

Okamoto looking for the choke but no joy.
Rothschild felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Okamoto has the hooks in. Rothschild is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Okamoto seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Rothschild's chin but Rothschild turns very nicely into Okamoto's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Rothschild.
Okamoto is trying to hold Rothschild in close to prevent damage but Rothschild has managed to pass into half guard.
Okamoto keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Rothschild prevents Okamoto from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Okamoto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Okamoto has a hand on Rothschild's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Rothschild takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Okamoto is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okamoto bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rothschild keeping moving, preventing Okamoto from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yoshito Okamoto will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Okamoto misses with a left hand
and Rothschild counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Yoshito Okamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rothschild thumps Okamoto with a low kick.
Rothschild motions for Okamoto to come forward. Rothschild throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rothschild misses the jab.
Rothschild is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Okamoto rather than just go for the knockout.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Okamoto.
Rothschild misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okamoto.
Okamoto throws a lazy right hand but Rothschild sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Okamoto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rothschild connects with a leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Okamoto.
Rothschild uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Okamoto.
Okamoto moves out of range of the strikes.
A counter left hand to the body from Okamoto misses its target.
Rothschild with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Okamoto.
Rothschild changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Okamoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Okamoto closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rothschild quickly recovers to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Okamoto is looking for a kimura but Rothschild is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Okamoto to get the leverage.
Okamoto is trying to control the action in half guard but Rothschild is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Okamoto is working for an americana but Rothschild has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Okamoto was thinking about the submission.
Okamoto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rothschild can't do much from the bottom here.

Okamoto goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rothschild rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Okamoto's guard! Nice work there by Rothschild!
Okamoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Okamoto keeping full guard, as Rothschild tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Okamoto looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rothschild passes into side control.
Okamoto manages to get back to half guard.
Rothschild seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Let's hope that Rothschild has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Okamoto looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Okamoto has an active guard here but Rothschild has managed to pass into half guard.
Yoshito Okamoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Okamoto has a hand on Rothschild's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Rothschild takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Okamoto wants to hold on but Rothschild pushes him away.
Okamoto is looking to get to half guard.
Rothschild tries to control but Okamoto wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothschild content just to control the position here.
Rothschild can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Okamoto is looking to escape.
Okamoto is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Theodore Rothschild showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rothschild slips under a jab from Okamoto.
Okamoto tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Okamoto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Okamoto trying to control the position but Rothschild is working away.

Okamoto goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rothschild has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Okamoto but great work by Rothschild.
Okamoto being controlled for a moment.
Okamoto is trying to improve his position.
Okamoto regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okamoto is trying to get back to full guard.

Okamoto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rothschild pulls his head out easily.
Okamoto is looking to improve his position.
Okamoto is trying to maintain the position but Rothschild is very close to passing his half guard.
Okamoto tries to get to full guard but Rothschild has control of the leg.
Okamoto makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Okamoto.

That's two 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.

Okamoto working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rothschild has passed into half guard!
Okamoto tries to roll over but Rothschild keeps him under control.
Rothschild takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Okamoto is looking for a sweep. Rothschild is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Okamoto wants to get back to full guard but Rothschild has mounted him!
Okamoto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Okamoto manages to reverse the position and now he's in Rothschild's guard. Nice work there by Okamoto.
Okamoto being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto trying to control but Rothschild is working from the bottom.
Rothschild is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Okamoto looking to sit in guard and control but Rothschild gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Okamoto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rothschild defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Theodore Rothschild.
I think Rothschild 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!