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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juha Niska (ranked 2626 p4p, 2028 weight class) and Desmond Okafor (ranked 370 p4p, 298 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 193 cm
36
212
25 - 18 - 0 |
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202 cm
38
215
13 - 7 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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 25 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Juha Niska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Desmond Okafor!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okafor with a nice cross.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Okafor.
Niska forces Okafor back against the cage and clinches.
Okafor working aggressively here.
Okafor stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Niska avoids a wild elbow strike from Okafor.
Niska is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Niska manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Niska seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Okafor misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okafor creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Okafor lands with a short shot to the head.
Niska takes a shot to the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Niska.
Okafor swings wildly with an uppercut but Niska uses good head movement to avoid it.
Niska scores with a shot to the side of Okafor's head.
Okafor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Niska controlling the action here for a moment.
Okafor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Niska's elbow.
We've been informed that Okafor has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Niska taking a breather.
Okafor misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Okafor throws an elbow but misses.
Niska can't get the takedown.
Niska stalling.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okafor content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Niska dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Okafor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Okafor scores with a shot to the side of Niska's head.
Niska crunches a lovely knee into Okafor's ribcage.
Niska stalling.
Niska displaying some good clinch control by pressing Okafor up against the cage.
Niska misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Niska.
The referee is keeping an eye on Niska - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Okafor misses with a hook from the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Okafor fails to land.
The referee is keeping an eye on Niska - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Okafor misses with a punch on the inside.
Okafor lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Niska backwards.
Okafor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Okafor misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Niska.
A short right from Okafor on the inside.
Okafor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Niska takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Niska holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Juha Niska.
Niska blocks a head kick by Okafor.
Crunch! Okafor slams his shin into Niska's torso.
A looping hook to the body misses from Okafor. Niska does a little dance to reset his feet.
Niska fires out a quick counter leg kick but Okafor just manages to avoid it.
Okafor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Okafor swings for the body but Niska moves out of range.
Niska looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Niska drives through and clinches with Okafor against the cage.
Niska is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Okafor is keeping busy.
Okafor looking to throw knees to the head but Niska is blocking nicely.
Okafor misses with a punch to the body.
Okafor misses with an elbow strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okafor misses with a punch on the inside.
Niska blocks an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Desmond Okafor dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Niska misses with a lunging right hand
and Okafor makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Okafor throws a good cross that connects.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Niska breaks from the clinch.
Okafor tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Niska is able to avoid easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Niska misses its target.
Niska stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Okafor throws a poor cross that misses
and Niska makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Niska staying out of range there.
Niska went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Okafor tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Okafor.
Niska moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Desmond Okafor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Okafor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Niska moves away.
Okafor lands a nice shot that snaps Niska's head back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Okafor lunges at Niska with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Niska's hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Okafor tries to clinch but Niska moves out of range.
Niska uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Okafor.
Okafor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Okafor misses with a wild body shot.
Okafor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Niska manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Niska looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Okafor looks to throw the jab but Niska is out of range.
Niska has been working on his balance at Sparks gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Okafor.
Niska clinches with his opponent.
The referee calls for Niska to work.
Okafor has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Niska blocking some punches.
Niska blocks a body shot from Okafor.
A short left from Okafor.
Okafor misses with some punches.
Niska is struggling to control the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niska stalling the fight.
Niska tries for a takedown. No joy.
Niska is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Niska lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Niska lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Okafor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Niska misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Okafor.
The referee is keeping an eye on Niska - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Okafor lands a right hand that snaps the head of Niska backwards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Niska.
Okafor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okafor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Okafor.
Okafor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Okafor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Okafor blocks a body shot from Niska.
Okafor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Okafor has a couple of punches blocked by Niska.
Niska pushes Okafor back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Okafor misses with a hook to the ribs.
Come on Niska - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Niska gets through Okafor's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Niska is trying to stall.
Niska has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Okafor regains guard immediately.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niska slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Okafor trying to remain calm as Niska controls from the top position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Okafor can do anything to dispel that myth.
Niska seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Okafor for as long as he can get away with.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Juha Niska will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Okafor is looking to slow Niska down with leg kicks.
Okafor listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Niska tries to clinch there but Okafor circles away.
Okafor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Niska looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Okafor thuds a left hand into Niska's body.
Jab by Okafor.
A cross from Okafor lands.
Niska misses with a takedown attempt - Okafor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niska takes one to the side of the head.
Okafor is looking to clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Niska takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Niska slips under a jab.
Niska throwing a counter right hand but Okafor manages to avoid it.
Okafor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Okafor misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Niska makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Okafor really felt that one!
Niska avoids the body shot from Okafor.
Niska misses the shot to the body.
Okafor looks to land a right hand but Niska moved out of range.
Okafor looks to score with a jab to the body but Niska is just out of range.
Desmond Okafor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Okafor with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Okafor misses with a left hand
and Niska connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Niska looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Okafor tests Niska's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Okafor lands with a right hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niska closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niska leaning his opponent against the cage.
Okafor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Okafor throws a head punch that misses.
Niska blocking some punches.
The referee calls for Niska to work.
Niska pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Niska displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Okafor throws out the jab.
Niska on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Niska slips a straight right by Okafor.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niska on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Donk. Okafor catches Niska right on the button with a cross.
Okafor takes a swing at Niska's ribcage but misses.
Sloppy strikes from Niska. Those never looked like landing.
Okafor misses with a right hand
and Niska makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Okafor as he connects with a hook.
Okafor lands a leg kick that knocks Niska off balance momentarily.
Niska swats away the attempt to clinch by Okafor.
Okafor connects with a right hand. Niska shakes it off.
Okafor lands with a good body shot.
Okafor moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fight stays on the outside here - Okafor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Niska uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Okafor.
Okafor misses with a head kick.
Niska lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Okafor.
Okafor stuffs the takedown.
Desmond Okafor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Okafor swings for the body but Niska moves out of range.
Niska was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Okafor throws a body shot but no joy.
Okafor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Niska uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Okafor.
Niska throws a counter high kick but Okafor was just alert enough to avoid it.
Okafor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Niska wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Okafor fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
And that's the end of the fight!
Desmond Okafor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Okafor 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Desmond Okafor!
Desmond Okafor bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
50% |
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