PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yakubu Okoroji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Sokolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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 Sergei Sokolov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Okoroji
vs
Sokolov

182 cm
32
183 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

183 cm
25
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
World class MT
Granite chin

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 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yakubu Okoroji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Sokolov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okoroji fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sokolov avoids it really well and circles away.
Okoroji throws a series of punches but Sokolov moves out of range.
Okoroji misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sokolov tries to clinch
and Okoroji counters with a three punch combo that has Sokolov backing up. Sokolov nods at Okoroji to acknowledge the strikes.
Okoroji fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sokolov avoids it really well and circles away.
Sokolov tries to clinch up

and Okoroji counters with a takedown into side control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sokolov parries the strikes from Okoroji easily there. Okoroji is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Sokolov to escape.

Okoroji tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Okoroji has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Sokolov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Okoroji 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.
Okoroji tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sokolov is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Okoroji is trying to get an arm triangle but Sokolov is defending well.
Okoroji grinds an elbow into Sokolov's temple.

Okoroji is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sokolov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Okoroji lands a nice forearm strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji throws a strike aimed at the side of Sokolov's head but Sokolov avoids it well.
Okoroji in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Okoroji throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sloppy strikes there by Okoroji.

Okoroji is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sokolov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sokolov dodges the ground and pound from Okoroji.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sokolov defending against the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Sokolov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sokolov is avoiding damage well.
Sokolov is not content to let Okoroji control the position.

Okoroji working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sokolov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Okoroji looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Okoroji looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov is looking for a sweep.

Okoroji wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sokolov, who protects the arm well.
Okoroji in side control lands a decent elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okoroji takes a little break here. Sokolov wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Okoroji connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sokolov some visible discomfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yakubu Okoroji dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sokolov wants to clinch
and Okoroji counters with an inside leg kick.

Okoroji has taken the fight to the clinch.
Okoroji has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sokolov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sokolov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Okoroji in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sokolov tries to land a knee to the head but Okoroji blocks with his arms.
Okoroji looking for a takedown.
Sokolov prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yakubu Okoroji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sokolov landing knees to the head.
Sokolov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Okoroji's defenses.
Sokolov missing with knees to the body.
Okoroji tries for a takedown but Sokolov manages to get underhooks.
Okoroji is looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoroji has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sokolov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sokolov lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sokolov lands an elbow inside.
Okoroji wants a takedown.
Okoroji avoiding damage as Sokolov throws knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Sokolov.
Sokolov stops a takedown attempt from Okoroji.
Sokolov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sokolov is pressed up against the cage. Okoroji has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sokolov down to the mat. Sokolov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Sokolov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Okoroji tries for a takedown but Sokolov manages to get underhooks.
Sokolov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Okoroji.
Okoroji is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sokolov lands an elbow that stopped Okoroji in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Yakubu Okoroji has been cut.
Okoroji avoiding damage as Sokolov throws knees to the body.
Okoroji wants a takedown but no success here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sokolov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Okoroji looking for a takedown.
Sokolov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Okoroji is defending well for now.
Sokolov lands a damaging elbow.

Okoroji gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Sokolov wants to sweep here but Okoroji controlling him for the moment.
Sokolov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Okoroji drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sokolov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Okoroji has Sokolov in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Okoroji is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sokolov is aware though and is defending well.
Sokolov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sokolov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yakubu Okoroji overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sokolov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Okoroji has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sokolov has managed to get both his arms back between Okoroji's legs - danger averted.
Okoroji preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Okoroji wants to sweep here but Sokolov controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokolov postures up in Okoroji's guard and throws a big left but Okoroji blocks it.
Sokolov works over Okoroji with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov is in close to Okoroji's body, working some short punches and elbows.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Okoroji is on top in guard.
Sokolov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Okoroji postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Okoroji pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sokolov is keeping the position for now.
Okoroji throwing strikes but missing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okoroji slips nicely into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okoroji looks to land a strike but Sokolov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sergei Sokolov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Yakubu Okoroji's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sokolov looks to clinch

and Okoroji decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sokolov's guard.
Okoroji wants to control from the top but Sokolov keeps moving.
Okoroji stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sokolov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Okoroji won't allow Sokolov to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Okoroji accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sokolov keeping full guard, as Okoroji tries to pass.
Okoroji won't allow Sokolov to get back to his feet.
Okoroji wants to control from the top but Sokolov keeps moving.
Okoroji slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okoroji controls the position from side control.
Sokolov is not content to let Okoroji control the position.
Sokolov wants to control but Okoroji postures up.
Sokolov is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Okoroji off and has taken his back!
Sokolov connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Okoroji to escape the position.
Sokolov gets his hands free as Okoroji looks to control.

Sokolov looking for the RNC.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sokolov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Poor strikes thrown by Sokolov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Okoroji is looking to get to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sokolov thowing shots but they're missing.
Okoroji tries to lock up and control but Sokolov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Okoroji is trying desperately to improve position.
Sokolov scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji gets back to half guard.
Okoroji is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sokolov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sokolov's back!
Okoroji is controlling the position but Sokolov somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Okoroji trying to advance position but Sokolov counters by regaining guard.
Sokolov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sokolov is looking to stand up but Okoroji isn't so interested in that idea.
Okoroji pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sokolov is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokolov keeping moving, preventing Okoroji from controlling successfully.
Sokolov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sokolov looking for a sweep. Not yet Sokolov, not yet.
Sokolov keeping moving, preventing Okoroji from controlling successfully.
Okoroji stops Sokolov from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okoroji trying to control but Sokolov is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Yakubu Okoroji.

Okoroji shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sokolov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yakubu Okoroji showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Okoroji has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yakubu Okoroji!
Yakubu Okoroji seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.