PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kieth Stokes (ranked 3169 p4p, 2665 weight class) and Magomed Omarov (ranked 130 p4p, 108 weight class). Magomed Omarov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Kieth Stokes's chin.

Stokes
vs
Omarov

170 cm
26
160
3 - 8 - 0

178 cm
26
175
4 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kieth Stokes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Magomed Omarov!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Omarov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stokes.
Omarov moves out of range of the strikes.
Omarov wants to counter with a clinch but Stokes pushes him away.
Omarov stuffs the takedown.
Omarov throws a sloppy head kick and Stokes moves out of range easily.
Stokes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Stokes throws out a loose jab but Omarov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stokes takes a kick to the side of the head.
Stokes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Omarov throws a body shot but no joy.
Omarov throws a right hand that Stokes ducks under and follows up with a left that Stokes also avoids with ease.
Sloppy strikes from Omarov. Those never looked like landing.
Stokes throws a jab but it's blocked by Omarov.
Omarov steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Stokes.
Stokes 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.
Omarov with a jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Omarov lands a glancing blow to the side of Stokes's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Omarov misses with an uppercut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Omarov struggles to land a body shot inside as Stokes controls his hands.
Stokes just leaning against Omarov, taking a breather.
A right hook to the body lands for Stokes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omarov lands a nice uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Omarov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Omarov misses with some punches.
Omarov is pressed up against the cage. Stokes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Omarov down to the mat. Omarov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Omarov misses the shot to the body.
Stokes changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Omarov moves away from the strike by Stokes.
Stokes closes the distance and clinches up with Omarov, looking for a takedown. Stokes pushes Omarov against the cage but Omarov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kieth Stokes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Omarov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Stokes ducks under a wild hook from Omarov.

Stokes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stokes winds up and cracks Omarov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Stokes prevents Omarov from improving his position.
Omarov moves into full guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stokes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Stokes wants to control from the top but Omarov keeps moving.
Omarov looking to control.
Stokes looking to pass the guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Omarov looking for a sweep. Not yet Omarov, not yet.
Stokes stops Omarov from standing up.
Omarov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stokes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Omarov is trying to control the position but Stokes postures up.
Omarov looking for a sweep. Not yet Omarov, not yet.
Omarov keeping moving, preventing Stokes from controlling successfully.

Omarov has his foot on Stokes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stokes works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Omarov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Stokes scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Omarov tries to get to full guard but Stokes has control of the leg.
Stokes is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Omarov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stokes is working away from the top position though.
Stokes tries to pass to full mount but Omarov defends it.
Stokes scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Stokes uses his free foot to push down on Omarov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Omarov.
Omarov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Stokes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stokes controlling the pace for now.
Omarov wants to control but Stokes is having none of it.
Omarov sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Omarov is staying active underneath Stokes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stokes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Omarov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stokes lands with a punch from half guard.
Stokes slows the pace down in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Magomed Omarov will probably get the nod.
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.

Omarov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stokes, pushing him back against the cage.
Omarov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stokes is trying to pull guard but Omarov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Stokes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stokes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Stokes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stokes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Stokes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Omarov.
Omarov looks to land a combination but Stokes avoids it well.
Stokes digs a good body shot into Omarov's ribs.
Omarov misses with a looping right.
Omarov misses with an uppercut.
Magomed Omarov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stokes connects with a body shot.
Omarov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stokes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Omarov. Stokes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Omarov checks a leg kick nicely.
Jab from Stokes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stokes shoots in and drives through. Omarov sprawls well.
Stokes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokes sizes up Omarov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Omarov ducks under a wild hook from Stokes.
Omarov swings for the body but Stokes moves out of range.
Stokes tries to counter with a takedown but Omarov is quick to defend against it.
The crowd cheers as Omarov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Stokes doesn't seem phased though.
Stokes connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Stokes throws a poor cross that misses
and Omarov counters with a nice uppercut.
Omarov lands a nice hook to Stokes's body. Stokes takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Omarov closes the distance and clinches.
Omarov looking for a takedown.
Omarov taking a breather.
Stokes jumps guard but Omarov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kieth Stokes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Omarov letting Stokes take a breather here.

Stokes pulls Omarov into guard.
Stokes looking to control.
Omarov throwing strikes from guard but Stokes blocks nicely.
Omarov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stokes's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Omarov distracts Stokes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stokes wants to sweep here but Omarov controlling him for the moment.
Omarov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Omarov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Omarov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Stokes is trying to stand.
Omarov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Stokes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Omarov.
Omarov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Stokes has one foot on Omarov's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Stokes lands a jab to the nose.
A big right from Stokes misses.
Omarov has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
The fighters circling - Stokes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Omarov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Omarov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Stokes looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Omarov has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Stokes is on him like a limpet, forcing Omarov back against the cage.
Omarov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stokes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short uppercut from Stokes.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Omarov.
Omarov lands a nice uppercut.
Stokes stalling in the clinch but Omarov improves position.
Omarov can't find room to land a body shot as Stokes controls the action.
Stokes misses with a punch on the inside.
Omarov swings wildly with an uppercut but Stokes uses good head movement to avoid it.

Stokes breaks from the clinch.
Omarov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stokes cracks Omarov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Omarov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Omarov darts in and clinches Stokes up against the cage.
Omarov throws a punch but it's blocked by Stokes.
Omarov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Omarov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stokes misses the shot to the body.
Omarov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stokes.
A little jabbing left from Omarov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Stokes throws a shot from downtown. Omarov moves away and avoids it.
Omarov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Stokes throws a hook to the side of Omarov's head but Omarov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Omarov connects with a body shot that sends Stokes's belly button to the back.
Stokes is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Omarov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stokes.
Stokes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Omarov punishes Stokes's body with a nice straight punch.
Stokes avoids a kick to the body.
A swing and a miss from Stokes.

Stokes looking to score a takedown here. Omarov is defending well but Stokes drives through and ends up in Omarov's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Magomed Omarov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Stokes misses with a wild body shot.
Stokes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Omarov.
Stokes avoids the body shot from Omarov.
Stokes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Omarov can pounce on him.
Omarov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stokes takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Omarov ducks under a wild hook from Stokes.
Omarov only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Stokes staying out of range there.
Omarov slips a jab from Stokes.
Omarov slips a jab from Stokes.
Stokes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stokes throws out a loose jab but Omarov uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Omarov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stokes circles away quickly and effectively.
Omarov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stokes slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Stokes jabs Omarov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Stokes avoids the head kick by Omarov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokes fails with a takedown attempt.
Omarov misses with a body shot.
Stokes attempts a counter takedown but Omarov avoids it well and moves away.
Omarov throws a jab when Stokes was well out of range.
Stokes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stokes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Omarov throws out the jab.

Stokes scores with a takedown into Omarov's guard.

Omarov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Omarov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Omarov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stokes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Stokes breaks the clinch.
Stokes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Omarov unleashes a big counter combination but Stokes bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Omarov throws out a powerful jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Omarov looks to score with a jab to the body but Stokes is just out of range.
A big left from Stokes misses.
Stokes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Omarov.
Omarov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stokes.
Omarov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Stokes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Omarov blocks a jab.
Omarov looks to land a right hand but Stokes moved out of range.
A shot to the liver by Omarov. Beautiful body shot.
Omarov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stokes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Omarov throws a hook but Stokes avoids it easily.
Stokes lands a jab to Omarov's midsection.
Stokes throws a body punch but Omarov moves out of range.
Omarov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Omarov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big right from Omarov misses.
Stokes tries to counter with a takedown but Omarov is quick to defend against it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes just misses with a punch to the body.
Omarov avoids the body shot from Stokes.
Stokes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Omarov misses with a kick to the body

and Stokes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Omarov won't be happy with that.
Omarov is trying to improve his position.
Stokes has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Omarov!
Omarov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Omarov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Omarov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Omarov controls Stokes momentarily but Stokes frees himself.
Stokes stopping the sweep attempt from Omarov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stokes stays in close to Omarov's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stokes trying to control the position from guard on top but Omarov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Omarov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stokes stays in close to Omarov's body and controls the position.
Stokes tries to free his leg and advance position but Omarov is retaining full guard.
Stokes preventing the sweep.
Stokes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Stokes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Omarov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kieth Stokes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Magomed Omarov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stokes with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magomed Omarov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Omarov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Magomed Omarov!