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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kobe Okoro (ranked 116 p4p, 266 weight class) and Masa Saitoh (ranked 16 p4p, 40 weight class). Okoro comes to the cage accompanied by TOP OF MY GAME. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 192 cm
31
211
14 - 6 - 0 |
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182 cm
32
205
26 - 12 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kobe Okoro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Masa Saitoh!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab from Okoro.
Saitoh shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Okoro quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Saitoh circles away from the clinch attempt
and Saitoh makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Saitoh drives through with a takedown into guard.
Okoro wriggles free and stands up.
Okoro takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
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!
Saitoh swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Okoro looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Saitoh misses with a lunging right hand
and Okoro counters with a stiff right hand.
It looks like Masa Saitoh has been cut.
Saitoh closes the distance and clinches.
Saitoh is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitoh is trying to push Okoro away but Okoro has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Okoro.
Saitoh lands an uppercut.
Saitoh goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Saitoh avoiding damage as Okoro throws knees to the body.
Saitoh tries to work over Okoro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Saitoh tries a body shot but Okoro blocks it.
A right hand to the body from Saitoh.
Saitoh tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Okoro's elbow.
Okoro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Okoro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Okoro pushes Saitoh back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Saitoh tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Okoro lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Saitoh misses with a body punch.
A short uppercut from Saitoh.
Saitoh takes a shot to the head.
Saitoh tries to work over Okoro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Saitoh tries a body shot but Okoro blocks it.
Okoro looking to throw knees to the head but Saitoh is blocking nicely.
Okoro misses with a punch to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okoro scores with a shot to the side of Saitoh's head.
Saitoh goes for a takedown attempt but Okoro pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kobe Okoro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masa Saitoh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Okoro cracks Saitoh with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Okoro connects with a crisp jab.
Okoro looks to land a left hand but Saitoh moved out of range nicely.
Saitoh uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Okoro.
Saitoh throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Okoro sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Saitoh is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Okoro was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Saitoh pushes Okoro up against the cage in a clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh misses with a body punch.
Okoro working aggressively here.
Okoro blocking some punches.
Saitoh throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Okoros head.
Okoro lands with a right to the head.
Okoro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Saitoh.
Saitoh tries a body shot but Okoro blocks it.
Okoro wants to break the clinch but can't.
Okoro lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Okoro lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Saitoh changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Okoro fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Okoro dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Saitoh. That did some damage!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh misses with a looping right.
Okoro misses with a hook. Saitoh ducked under it nicely.
Okoro changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Okoro lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okoro takes one to the chin there.
It looks like Kobe Okoro has been cut.
Saitoh throws a looping overhand right but Okoro ducks down to avoid it.
Okoro connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Okoro on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Okoro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saitoh moves away.
Okoro connects with an inside leg kick.
Masa Saitoh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Okoro misses with the body kick
and Saitoh counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Saitoh.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kobe Okoro dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Saitoh closes the distance and clinches up with Okoro, looking for a takedown. Saitoh pushes Okoro against the cage but Okoro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A big left from Saitoh misses.
Saitoh needs to keep his hands up - Okoro had a free shot at his head there.
Okoro bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Saitoh goes for a double leg but Okoro avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Okoro continues to drive forward.
Okoro thinks about countering with a body kick.
Saitoh scores with a nice strike.
Okoro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saitoh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okoro throws a body punch but Saitoh moves out of range.
A nice side step and Saitoh releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Saitoh just misses with a punch to the body.
Okoro looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Okoro scores with a jab to the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitoh gets a double leg takedown into Okoro's guard.
Saitoh with a flurry of punches that miss.
Okoro has Saitoh pulled in close to control his posture.
Saitoh chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okoro is adopting a defensive guard.
Saitoh loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Saitoh lands a couple of elbows.
Saitoh in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Okoro seems keen to control Saitoh's posture.
Okoro is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kobe Okoro is winning the standup battle so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Okoro. No joy for Saitoh on that attempt.
Kobe Okoro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masa Saitoh.
Okoro takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Saitoh shoots and misses
and Okoro counters with a left to the body.
Saitoh on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Saitoh with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Okoro to score with a decent uppercut.
That has opened up Masa Saitoh's cut even more.
Okoro misses with a body kick.
Okoro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Saitoh looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saitoh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saitoh misses with an uppercut
and Okoro counters with a nice body kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Okoro. No joy for Saitoh on that attempt.
Saitoh is breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Okoro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kobe Okoro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saitoh throws a jab when Okoro was well out of range.
Okoro lands a nice looking body shot.
A nice leg kick from Okoro, right into the meat of the thigh.
Okoro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Saitoh swings widly with a right hand
and Okoro counters with a straight right hand.
Okoro throws the left hand but Saitoh avoids the punch easily.
Okoro tries to clinch but Saitoh is having none of it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitoh cracks Okoro with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Okoro misses with a low kick as Saitoh jumps back.
A countering left hand to the body from Saitoh misses.
Okoro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saitoh uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Okoro.
Saitoh misses with a hook
and Okoro counters with a nice low kick that buckles Saitoh's knee momentarily.
Okoro misses with a looping right.
Saitoh appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Okoro scores with a nice right hand.
The cut above Masa Saitoh's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big left from Saitoh misses.
Saitoh tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Okoro counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Saitoh thinking.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kobe Okoro dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Okoro misses with a double jab.
Saitoh is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Okoro with a body shot.
Masa Saitoh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Okoro is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Okoro throws a jab when Saitoh was well out of range.
Saitoh loads up on a big right hand but Okoro slips the punch.
A counter left hand to the body from Okoro misses its target.
Okoro throws a jab but it's blocked by Saitoh.
Saitoh slips a jab from Okoro.
Okoro moves away from the strike by Saitoh.
Okoro appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Okoro misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okoro takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Saitoh doesn't manage to clinch there - Okoro circles away.
Saitoh throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Okoro tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Saitoh is in Okoro's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoro managing to control the position.
Saitoh has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Saitoh wants to control from the top but Okoro keeps moving.
Okoro trying to control the position here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saitoh accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Okoro is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Okoro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Okoro keeps Saitoh at a distance using the push kick.
Saitoh takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Okoro!
Okoro slaps away a takedown attempt from Saitoh, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Okoro sends Saitoh crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Okoro is motioning to the referee to let Saitoh up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Saitoh is rocked!
and Okoro counters with a massive uppercut that badly hurts Saitoh! He's just covering up as Okoro starts to tee off till the referee steps in and stops the fight!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kobe Okoro!
A very excited looking Kobe Okoro made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
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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
66% |
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