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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave Handerson (ranked 200 p4p, 150 weight class) and Moses Okafor (ranked 29 p4p, 21 weight class). Handerson comes to the cage accompanied by America - A Horse With No Name. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Moses Okafor was going to win. Let's see if he was right.
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| 198 cm
27
255
19 - 4 - 0 |
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196 cm
28
271
17 - 8 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dave Handerson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Moses Okafor!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handerson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Okafor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Okafor misses with a right hand
and Handerson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Handerson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Okafor's head.
Handerson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Okafor throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Okafor trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Okafor wants to control but Handerson passes easily into half guard.
Handerson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Handerson wants to pass the guard but Okafor is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Handerson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Okafor does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Okafor is looking to control Handerson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Okafor avoid being mounted?
That's one minute gone in the round.
Handerson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Okafor defending well though.
Handerson stalling away here and it's allowed Okafor to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Handerson postures up.
Handerson throws a big elbow that misses.
Handerson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Okafor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Handerson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Handerson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Handerson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okafor trying to keep a closed guard but Handerson is proving a slippery customer.
Handerson passes Okafor's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Handerson 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.
Handerson is working for a kimura but Okafor is defending it quite comfortably.
Okafor trying to control here.
Okafor on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Handerson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Okafor works his way to full guard. Good work.
Okafor keeping full guard, as Handerson tries to pass.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handerson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Handerson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Okafor has control of Handerson's left arm, preventing Handerson from doing any damage.
Okafor is trying to keep Handerson in close.
Okafor keeping full guard, as Handerson tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Okafor striking off his back but it's not causing Handerson any problems.
Handerson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Okafor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Handerson stands up over Okafor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Handerson postures up.
Handerson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Handerson works over Okafor with some ground and pound from guard.
Handerson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Handerson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Okafor trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Okafor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Handerson pushes down on Okafor's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Handerson prevents Okafor from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Handerson is thwarting Okafor's attempts to control the position.
Okafor told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Handerson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Dave Handerson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.
Okafor misses with a lunging right hand
and Handerson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Okafor throws a right hand that Handerson ducks under and follows up with a left that Handerson also avoids with ease.
Okafor on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Okafor gets a clinch.
Okafor scores with a shoulder strike.
Handerson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Handerson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Okafor.
Okafor swings for the body but Handerson moves out of range.
Handerson misses with a wild body shot.
Moses Okafor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Handerson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Okafor.
Handerson misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okafor with a hook.
Handerson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Okafor throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Handerson, as that shot connected.
Handerson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Handerson is trying to control the action in half guard but Okafor is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Handerson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Okafor defending well though.
Handerson is nestled in close to Okafor, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Handerson trying to control the action but Okafor is working from the bottom.
Handerson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Okafor on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Handerson drops an elbow to the side of Okafor's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okafor tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Handerson has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Handerson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Okafor is now in Handerson's guard. A big mistake from Handerson there, giving up the dominant position!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handerson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Handerson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Handerson pushes down on Okafor's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Handerson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Handerson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Handerson is stalling here. Okafor is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Handerson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Okafor has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okafor is looking to take a break and control but Handerson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Okafor tries to move into full mount but can't pass Handerson's legs.
Handerson is not content to let Okafor control the position.
Handerson gets back to half guard.
Handerson is not content to let Okafor control the position.
Handerson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
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.
Handerson wants to control but Okafor is keeping busy.
Handerson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Handerson looking for submissions off his back.
Okafor throwing shots but Handerson is blocking nicely.
Okafor is trying to control. Handerson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Handerson trying to control here.
Dave Handerson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Okafor throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Handerson to regain full guard.
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 Dave Handerson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Handerson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Okafor.
Okafor gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Handerson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Handerson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Handerson here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Handerson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Okafor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Handerson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Okafor's head.
Handerson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Okafor is keeping the position for now.
Handerson distracts Okafor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okafor wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Okafor keeping moving, preventing Handerson from controlling successfully.
Handerson throws a big right hand that misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Okafor pulls Handerson in close to prevent any damage.
Handerson is working Okafor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Okafor trying to control the position here.
Handerson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Okafor is keeping the position for now.
Okafor trying to keep a closed guard but Handerson is proving a slippery customer.
Handerson connects with a couple of short punches.
That's two 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.
Handerson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Okafor is keeping the position for now.
Okafor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Handerson stops Okafor from standing up.
Handerson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Handerson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Handerson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Handerson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Okafor can do to turn this around?
Handerson throws a big elbow that misses.
Handerson wants to control from the top but Okafor keeps moving.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Okafor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Handerson counters with a nice uppercut.
Okafor swings for the body but Handerson moves out of range.
Dave Handerson is winning the standup battle so far.
Handerson misses with a lunging right hand
and Okafor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Okafor takes a swing at Handerson's ribcage but misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handerson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Okafor moves away.
Handerson connects with the punch.
A shot to the body from Handerson misses
and Okafor counters with a stiff right hand.
Handerson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Handerson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Okafor misses with a lunging right hand
and Handerson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Handerson lands a nice looking body shot.
Handerson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice cross by Handerson.
Okafor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Handerson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Handerson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Okafor sprawls and moves away.
Okafor is looking to clinch but Handerson is avoiding it.
Handerson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Handerson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Okafor was well out of range. Poor timing from Handerson.
Handerson lands with a cross.
Okafor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Okafor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Okafor takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Okafor tries to clinch but Handerson is having none of it.
Handerson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Handerson throws a lazy right hand but Okafor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Handerson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Handerson fails with the takedown
and Handerson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Handerson misses with a body shot.
Okafor throws an off balance right hand
and Handerson counters with a shoot takedown. Okafor fights it but they end up in guard.
Handerson wants to control from the top but Okafor keeps moving.
Handerson postures up in Okafor's guard and throws a big left but Okafor blocks it.
And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Handerson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Handerson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Handerson!
Dave Handerson decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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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
41% |
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