PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Okabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darin Blood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Okabe
vs
Blood

177 cm
25
181 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

183 cm
25
184 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenji Okabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darin Blood!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okabe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blood manages to avoid it.
Blood misses with a looping left.
Blood takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Okabe swats away the attempt to clinch by Blood.
Blood avoids the body shot from Okabe.
Okabe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Okabe lands with a cross.
Okabe on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Blood. Blood obviously looking to wear him down.
Blood ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blood walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Blood is looking to clinch.
Okabe misses with a body shot
and Blood counters with a good low kick that Okabe was not able to check.
A slow jab from Blood misses its intended target.
Kenji Okabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Okabe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Blood counters with a nice body kick.
Okabe scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Blood lands a glancing blow to the side of Okabe's head.
Nice cross by Okabe.

Okabe tries to sprawl but Blood drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Okabe wants to control the action here but instead Blood manages to pass to full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Okabe bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Blood is looking to sweep but instead, Okabe has passed into half guard.
Okabe works his way into side control.

Okabe is trying to get an arm triangle but Blood is defending well.
Okabe is trying to ground and pound but Blood uses the momentary lack of control by Okabe to regain half guard.
Blood is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blood manages to get to full guard.
Okabe won't allow Blood to sweep him here.
Okabe works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Okabe is keen to just control but Blood is a slippery customer.
Okabe scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Okabe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Blood is trying to get back to full guard.
Okabe tries to pass to full mount but Blood defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okabe working over Blood with some ground and pound. Blood looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Blood tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Okabe has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Okabe with a couple of short strikes.
Okabe working away from the top, dropping strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okabe is in the full mount, landing strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Okabe is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Blood has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Blood!
Okabe is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Okabe dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Okabe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blood.
Blood slips under a jab from Okabe.

Okabe closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Blood's guard.

Okabe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Blood has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Okabe has managed to get both his arms back between Blood's legs - danger averted.
Blood keeping moving, preventing Okabe from controlling successfully.

Blood is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Okabe passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Okabe tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Okabe has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kenji Okabe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blood sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Okabe lands strikes from half guard.
Okabe thows a huge punch but Blood dodges it nicely.
Blood tries to roll over but Okabe keeps him under control.
Blood trying to control but Okabe postures up.
Blood is refusing to be controlled, as Okabe sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okabe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Okabe is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Blood doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Okabe.
Okabe wants to pass to mount but Blood is defending the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Okabe works his way into side control.
Okabe trying to control the action but Blood is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blood tries to buck Okabe off but Okabe is having none of it.

Okabe is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Blood has escaped the position, nice work there.

Okabe tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Okabe has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Blood gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Blood can't escape the position.
Okabe with the ground and pound from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blood really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Okabe wants to finish this one by submission but Blood is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Okabe.

Okabe looking to secure an arm triangle but Blood defends it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okabe lands a nice shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okabe is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Okabe lands a heavy elbow.
Okabe in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Blood has given up his back. Will we see Okabe going for some submissions?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Okabe dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Okabe connects with a crisp jab.
Okabe shoots for a double leg takedown but Blood sprawls well. He's pushed Okabe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Okabe keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Okabe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Blood sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Okabe somewhat.
Blood moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blood swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Okabe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Blood throws a head kick but Okabe moves out of range.
Okabe misses with a body shot.

Okabe gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Blood to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Blood preventing the sweep.
Darin Blood has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kenji Okabe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okabe pulls Blood in close to prevent any damage.
Blood throwing strikes but missing.
Okabe seems keen to control Blood's posture.
Blood stopping the sweep attempt from Okabe.
Okabe seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blood throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Okabe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Blood must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Okabe is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Blood looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Okabe just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blood is looking to clinch but Okabe is avoiding it.
Okabe lands a slapping body shot.
Blood uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Okabe.

Blood gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Okabe to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Blood trying to control the position.
Okabe wants to pass the guard but Blood is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kenji Okabe.
Well Okabe has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenji Okabe!