PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lorenzo Strickland (ranked 3650 p4p, 3333 weight class) and Yushin Okami (ranked 399 p4p, 372 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Strickland
vs
Okami

188 cm
25
190
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
190
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 St Petersburg, Lorenzo Strickland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yushin Okami!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Strickland gets a clinch.
Strickland misses with the head strike.
Okami drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Okami wants to take the fight to the mat but Strickland manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Okami has hold of one of Strickland's legs. Strickland is fighting the takedown attempt but Okami gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Okami works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Okami is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Okami in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Okami looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strickland is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Okami controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strickland is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Okami sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Okami controlling from the full mount.

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.
Strickland's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Okami content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okami's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that Okami 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
We've been informed that Okami has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
It looks like Okami 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yushin Okami dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Strickland moves into the clinch.
Strickland lands with a right to the head.
Okami is looking to take this one to the mat.
Strickland digs a right hand underneath Okami's ribcage. Okami let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Strickland lands a shot to the body.
Strickland scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Okami goes for a takedown attempt but Strickland pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Strickland moves into the clinch successfully.
Nice body punch from Strickland - that landed with a thud.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okami is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Strickland gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lorenzo Strickland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yushin Okami.
Strickland prevents the takedown attempt.
Strickland prevents the takedown attempt.
Okami is working for takedown but Strickland is calmly controlling the position for now.
A nice right hand lands inside from Strickland.
Okami is breathing heavily.
Strickland working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Strickland softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okami has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Strickland avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Strickland lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Okami takes a shot to the head.
Strickland lands with a right to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Strickland.
Strickland gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Okami.
Strickland scores with a nice hook to the head.
Strickland working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Strickland is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Okami can do to turn this around?
Strickland lands with a right to the head.
Strickland lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Okami or not.
Strickland pushes Okami back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Strickland working some nice short punches in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Strickland creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Okami tries for a takedown. No joy.
Strickland throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Strickland makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Strickland lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Strickland lands a nice shot to the body.
Strickland lands a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strickland lands a hook to the side of the head.
Okami has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Strickland avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Strickland.
Lorenzo Strickland has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Strickland lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Strickland.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Strickland.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Strickland.
A nice left hand lands by Strickland.

Okami is rocked!
Strickland dips a shoulder and cracks Okami with a mighty uppercut! Okami falls back against the cage and Strickland unloads with a barrage of strikes! Okami is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Strickland screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lorenzo Strickland!