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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zack Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apio Okafor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Okafor has chosen how i could just kill a man as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Apio Okafor enters the cage!
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| 185 cm
20
190 lbs
6 - 3 - 0 |
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195 cm
22
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 1 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin |
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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
6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zack Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Apio Okafor!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
We've been informed that Okafor has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Miller misses with a double jab.
Okafor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Miller was well out of range. Poor timing from Okafor.
Okafor missing with a left hand there. Miller was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A clash of legs there as Miller blocks the low kick.
Okafor swings widly with a right hand
and Miller counters with a nice body shot.
Okafor just misses with a punch to the body.
Miller jabs Okafor right on the nose. Okafor blinks but takes it well.
Miller misses the shot to the body.
Miller seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Okafor.
Miller throws a series of punches but Okafor moves out of range.
Miller misses with the combination.
Miller throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Okafor.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Miller.
Nice shot by Miller.
Miller scores with a shot to the body.
Miller throws a right hand that Okafor ducks under and follows up with a left that Okafor also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Miller, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Okafor dodges the punch combination from Miller.
A looping hook to the body misses from Okafor. Miller does a little dance to reset his feet.
Okafor drops his hands momentarily and Miller takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Okafor throws a head kick that misses.
Okafor moves into the clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okafor prevents Miller from breaking the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Okafor as the two fighters clinch.
Okafor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
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!
Okafor misses with a body punch.
Okafor lands a right hand.
Okafor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A hook to the body from Okafor.
Okafor lands a knee to the body.
Miller managing to block the knees to the body from Okafor.
Okafor gets through Miller's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Miller is trying to break the clinch but Okafor is controlling him.
Okafor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Okafor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Okafor scores with a shoulder strike.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller working aggressively here.
Okafor lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Miller swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Okafor missing with knees to the body.
Miller is trying to break free.
Okafor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Okafor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Okafor tries to land a knee to the head but Miller blocks with his arms.
Okafor can't find room to land a body shot as Miller controls the action.
Okafor lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Okafor stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Miller wants to get back to striking at distance but Okafor won't allow it.
Miller blocks a punch to the side of the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller is trying to break the clinch but Okafor is controlling him.
Miller blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Miller wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Miller blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Okafor.
Okafor misses with a punch on the inside.
Okafor lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
It looks like Zack Miller has been cut.
Miller is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Miller works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Miller is trying to break the clinch but Okafor has him pressed against the cage.
Okafor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miller tries to break free but Okafor pushes him back against the cage.
Miller tries to break the clinch but Okafor is controlling the position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Okafor obliges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Zack Miller will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Zack Miller's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Miller throws a right and a left that both miss.
Some wild striking there from Miller.
Miller misses with a straight right.
Okafor tries to clinch there but Miller circles away.
Okafor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Miller sizes up Okafor with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Miller misses with a few strikes there.
Nice shot by Okafor.
Miller jabs at Okafor's body.
Miller lands a nice looking body shot.
Okafor attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Miller both land. Nice combination.
Okafor avoids a punch combination nicely.
Miller works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Okafor avoids a punch combination nicely.
Miller lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Okafor in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Miller misses with a straight right.
Okafor takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Miller misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Okafor throws a leg kick but Miller sees it coming and checks it nicely.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller misses with a hook
and Okafor holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Okafor scores with a knee to the head.
Miller blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Okafor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Miller is defending well for now.
Okafor throws a head punch that misses.
Okafor with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Okafor using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Okafor tries to work over Miller's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Okafor lands a knee to the head.
Miller blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Okafor misses with a punch to the body.
Miller has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Miller is looking to break free of the clinch but Okafor has double underhooks.
Miller lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller throws a head punch that misses.
A right hand to the body from Okafor.
Okafor lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Miller can't break the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Okafor landing knees to the head.
Miller is looking to break free of the clinch but Okafor has double underhooks.
Miller blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Apio Okafor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Okafor lands a knee to the head.
Okafor connects with a knee to the head.
Okafor misses with a body punch.
Okafor lands a knee to the body.
Miller tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Okafor.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okafor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Okafor lands a good knee to the midsection. Miller won't want to take too many of those.
Okafor landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Okafor tries a knee to the head but Miller blocks it.
Okafor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Miller is defending well for now.
Okafor lands with a left to the head.
Okafor lands a nice shot to the body.
Okafor landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Miller takes a knee to the side of the body.
Miller is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Miller lands a shoulder strike.
Miller misses with a hook from the clinch.
Okafor misses with a knee strike.
Okafor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Miller.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Apio Okafor will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Zack Miller's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
Miller swinging wildly here.
Okafor scores with a sloppy right hand. Miller should have avoided that one.
Miller looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Okafor takes a swing at Miller's ribcage but misses.
Zack Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Okafor avoids a punch combination nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Okafor.
Zack Miller is winning the standup battle so far.
Okafor just misses with a punch to the body.
Miller throws a series of punches but Okafor avoids them all with ease.
Miller throws a looping overhand right but Okafor ducks down to avoid it.
No joy there for Miller, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Miller.
Okafor takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Okafor moves out of range as Miller strikes.
Okafor scores with a jab to the head.
Okafor fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Miller is out of range.
Miller rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Okafor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Miller misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okafor.
Okafor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Miller misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okafor.
Miller scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Okafor lands a head kick. Miller smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okafor is looking to clinch but Miller is avoiding it.
Okafor takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Okafor throws a wild body kick that Miller sees coming a mile off.
Okafor walks into a stiff left hand from Miller.
Zack Miller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Okafor rushes Miller and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Okafor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Miller is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Miller can't break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Okafor.
A knee to the head by Okafor.
Okafor landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Okafor missing with knees to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Miller can't break the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Okafor.
Okafor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Okafor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Miller tries to stall but Okafor uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Okafor lands a good knee to the midsection. Miller won't want to take too many of those.
Knees in the clinch landing for Okafor.
Okafor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Miller has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Okafor.
Okafor lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Miller wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Okafor has him pressed against the cage.
Okafor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okafor tries to land a knee to the head but Miller blocks with his arms.
Okafor lands a shoulder strike.
Okafor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Miller blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Okafor scores with a knee to the head.
Miller avoiding damage as Okafor throws knees to the body.
Okafor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Miller.
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!
Miller on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Okafor.
Okafor has Miller pressed against the cage, preventing Miller from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okafor tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Okafor lands a right hand that snaps the head of Miller backwards.
And that's the end of the fight!
Apio Okafor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Okafor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apio Okafor!
A victorious Apio Okafor thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
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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
77% |
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