PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between DeShawn Robinson (ranked 1230 p4p, 1036 weight class) and Yakubu Okoroji (ranked 116 p4p, 93 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Robinson
vs
Okoroji

174 cm
26
149
10 - 4 - 0

165 cm
25
140
8 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

Uncle Rufus Clothing .Co

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, DeShawn Robinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yakubu Okoroji!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Robinson misses.
Robinson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Okoroji displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Robinson throws out the jab.
Robinson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Okoroji.

Okoroji scores with a takedown into Robinson's guard.
Robinson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Robinson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Robinson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Okoroji has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Robinson has managed to get both his arms back between Okoroji's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okoroji looking to control.
Robinson passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robinson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Okoroji is looking for a sweep. Robinson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Okoroji is controlling Robinson's trapped leg to prevent Robinson from advancing to side control.
Robinson passes into side control, despite Okoroji's attempt to control the position.
Robinson tries to advance to mount but can't.
Robinson content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Okoroji struggling a bit here.

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.
Robinson wants to stand but Okoroji has his arm trapped.
Okoroji sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Okoroji manages to get to full guard.
Okoroji is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Robinson won't allow Okoroji to pass to mount.
Okoroji sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Okoroji frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji looking to control but Robinson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Okoroji fails to take his opponent's back.
Okoroji tries to control but Robinson wriggling away.

Okoroji working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Okoroji fails to take his opponent's back.
Okoroji can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Robinson is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Okoroji content just to control the position here.
Okoroji wants to control the pace but Robinson is squirming around nicely.
Robinson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Robinson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Okoroji trying to control but Robinson is having none of it.
Okoroji tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yakubu Okoroji dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Okoroji will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Robinson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Okoroji swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Robinson missing with a left hand there. Okoroji was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Robinson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Okoroji counters with a straight right hand.
Robinson is looking to clinch.
Okoroji now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Robinson loads up on a big right hand but Okoroji slips the punch.
Robinson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Okoroji.
Okoroji tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Robinson defends well and Okoroji ends up having to push Robinson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
DeShawn Robinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yakubu Okoroji.
Okoroji throws a body punch but Robinson moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Robinson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okoroji moves out of range as Robinson throws a body kick.
Robinson leaves Okoroji with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Okoroji takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoroji is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Okoroji fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Robinson to the ground. Okoroji is now in Robinson's guard.
Robinson keeping full guard, as Okoroji tries to pass.
Okoroji throwing strikes but missing.
Okoroji trying to control but Robinson is working from the bottom.
Robinson is pulling down on Okoroji's head to control his posture.
Okoroji stands and throws Robinson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Okoroji is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Robinson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robinson is not content to let Okoroji control the position.
Okoroji moves into full mount!
Yakubu Okoroji has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Okoroji swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Robinson is now in Okoroji's guard. A big mistake from Okoroji there, giving up the dominant position!
Robinson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Robinson trying to control but Okoroji is working from the bottom.
Okoroji looking for a sweep. Not yet Okoroji, not yet.
Okoroji looking to control.
Okoroji has Robinson pulled in close to control his posture.
Robinson wants to get up but he can't break Okoroji's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji looking to hit a scissor sweep but Robinson is one step ahead there.
Robinson tries to free his leg and advance position but Okoroji is retaining full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Okoroji looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Okoroji working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Robinson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Robinson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Robinson stopping the sweep attempt from Okoroji.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Okoroji trying to keep a closed guard but Robinson is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
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 DeShawn Robinson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Okoroji has a takedown stuffed.

Robinson tries to sprawl but Okoroji drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Okoroji is looking for submissions but instead, Robinson has regained full guard.
Robinson keeping full guard, as Okoroji tries to pass.
Okoroji trying to control but Robinson is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okoroji controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robinson keeping moving, preventing Okoroji from controlling successfully.
Okoroji looking to pass the guard.
Robinson trying to keep a closed guard but Okoroji is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
DeShawn Robinson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Okoroji shoots for a double leg takedown but Robinson sprawls well. He's pushed Okoroji's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Okoroji slips under a jab.
Robinson lands with an overhand left.
Okoroji's coach down at MMA Training and Sparring Buddies was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Okoroji's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Robinson.
Okoroji dives in and grabs Robinson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Robinson pushes down on Okoroji's head and hops out.
DeShawn Robinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yakubu Okoroji.
Robinson tries to clinch up but Okoroji circles away and keeps his distance.
Okoroji ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Okoroji fails with the takedown.
A little feinted left hand from Robinson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Okoroji closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Robinson did well to prevent Okoroji getting side control.

Okoroji is working for a kimura but Robinson is defending it quite comfortably.
Okoroji moves into full mount! Robinson won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Robinson is desperately trying to improve his position but Okoroji has a good base and remains in mount.
Robinson is squirming around, avoiding Okoroji's attempts to control the action.

Okoroji swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Robinson is now in Okoroji's guard. A big mistake from Okoroji there, giving up the dominant position!
Robinson postures up.
Okoroji looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Okoroji is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Okoroji is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Okoroji tries to pass the half guard into mount. Robinson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Robinson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Robinson is not content to let Okoroji control the position.
Okoroji wants to pass to mount but Robinson is defending the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Okoroji seems to be looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yakubu Okoroji.
I think Okoroji 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yakubu Okoroji!
Yakubu Okoroji gave a mention to Uncle Rufus Clothing .Co in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).