PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yakubu Okoroji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bolek Lolkowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Okoroji
vs
Lolkowski

190 cm
26
198 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

190 cm
29
201 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Zipp Zapp

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Yakubu Okoroji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bolek Lolkowski!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okoroji lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Lolkowski throws the kick towards the body but Okoroji avoids it.
Okoroji takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Okoroji moves out of range of the body kick from Lolkowski.
Okoroji throws an off balance right hand
and Lolkowski counters with an inside leg kick.
Lolkowski lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Okoroji lands with an overhand left.
Okoroji cracks Lolkowski with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Okoroji lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lolkowski drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Lolkowski creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Okoroji sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Okoroji is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lolkowski's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ground and pound from Lolkowski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lolkowski throwing shots but Okoroji is blocking nicely.
Lolkowski is trying to control. Okoroji wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Okoroji wants to get back to full guard.
Lolkowski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lolkowski takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Okoroji is looking to improve his position.
Lolkowski wants to control but Okoroji is keeping him busy.

Okoroji looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Okoroji is looking to improve his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lolkowski connects with a nice short shot to Okoroji's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lolkowski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Okoroji's head.
Lolkowski content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lolkowski is trying to control the action in half guard but Okoroji is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Okoroji blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lolkowski.
Lolkowski throwing shots but Okoroji is blocking nicely.
Lolkowski throws a strike but Okoroji avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lolkowski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Okoroji has his foot on Lolkowski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lolkowski works his way back into a safe position though.
Lolkowski landing with the ground and pound.
Lolkowski throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Okoroji utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lolkowski postures up in Okoroji's guard and throws a big left but Okoroji blocks it.
Lolkowski is looking to work some ground and pound but Okoroji has wrist control.
Okoroji is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lolkowski preventing the sweep.
Lolkowski postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lolkowski looking to sit in guard and control but Okoroji gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lolkowski keeping moving, preventing Okoroji from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lolkowski working a defensive guard here.
Lolkowski keeping full guard, as Okoroji tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okoroji wants to control from the top but Lolkowski keeps moving.

Yakubu Okoroji has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Lolkowski throws a leg kick which misses Okoroji's front leg but catches the back leg as Okoroji tries to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bolek Lolkowski dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Okoroji misses with a body shot.
Okoroji misses the jab.
Okoroji misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lolkowski.
Okoroji looks for a takedown but Lolkowski sprawls well.
Lolkowski defending well as Okoroji loads up on a big left hand.
Lolkowski with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lolkowski takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Okoroji misses the shot to the body.
Okoroji digs a good body shot into Lolkowski's ribs.
Lolkowski throws a head kick but Okoroji moves out of range.
Okoroji dives in and grabs Lolkowski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lolkowski pushes down on Okoroji's head and hops out.

Okoroji changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lolkowski looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've been hearing good reports from Okoroji's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
You can see the frustration on Lolkowski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lolkowski parries the strikes from Okoroji easily there. Okoroji is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Lolkowski to escape.
Lolkowski is trying to improve his position.
Lolkowski on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Okoroji throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Okoroji trying to control the action but Lolkowski is working from the bottom.
Lolkowski is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Okoroji.
Okoroji trying to control the position but Lolkowski is working away.
Lolkowski can't do much from the bottom here.
Okoroji tries to stand but Lolkowski is controlling his head.
Okoroji trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Okoroji taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji throws a strike aimed at the side of Lolkowski's head but Lolkowski avoids it well.

Okoroji stands up.
Okoroji moves out of range of the body kick from Lolkowski.
Okoroji shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lolkowski as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yakubu Okoroji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lolkowski takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Okoroji misses with an uppercut.
Okoroji rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Lolkowski counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lolkowski has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Okoroji misses with a takedown attempt - Lolkowski sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Okoroji rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Lolkowski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lolkowski won't allow Okoroji to sweep him here.
Lolkowski lands a couple of elbows.
Lolkowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Okoroji is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lolkowski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lolkowski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Okoroji swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okoroji is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lolkowski's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yakubu Okoroji dominated that second round.
That's time! Okoroji's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lolkowski throws a head kick that half lands.
Lolkowski avoids the body shot from Okoroji.
Okoroji moves out of range of the body kick from Lolkowski.
Okoroji swinging wildly here.
Lolkowski avoids the body shot from Okoroji.
Lolkowski throws a sloppy head kick and Okoroji moves out of range easily.
Okoroji misses with a jab, cross combination.
Okoroji misses with a left hand
and Lolkowski counters with a slapping leg kick.
Okoroji pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Lolkowski shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Okoroji's guard.
Lolkowski forces his way into half guard.
Lolkowski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lolkowski lands with a punch from half guard.
Lolkowski thows a huge punch but Okoroji dodges it nicely.
Lolkowski seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Okoroji does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Okoroji on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lolkowski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Okoroji's head.
Lolkowski working Okoroji over with strikes.
Lolkowski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Okoroji defending well though.
Okoroji is not content to let Lolkowski control the position.
Okoroji taking some punishment here, with Lolkowski in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Okoroji looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lolkowski scoring with strikes to the body and head.
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!
Lolkowski throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Okoroji to regain full guard.
Lolkowski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Okoroji swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lolkowski makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Okoroji keeping moving, preventing Lolkowski from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okoroji manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lolkowski manages to get himself to full guard.
Lolkowski is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Okoroji trying to control but Lolkowski is working from the bottom.
Lolkowski lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Lolkowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lolkowski is working Okoroji over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lolkowski cracks Okoroji with a solid left hand.
Okoroji avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lolkowski postures up in Okoroji's guard and throws a big left but Okoroji blocks it.
Lolkowski wants to control from the top but Okoroji keeps moving.
Lolkowski stopping the sweep attempt from Okoroji.
Lolkowski forces his way into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okoroji blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lolkowski.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bolek Lolkowski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lolkowski 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bolek Lolkowski!
A victorious Bolek Lolkowski thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.