PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mordecai Sackett (ranked 28 p4p, 2 weight class) and Vincent Oketch (ranked 98 p4p, 6 weight class). Vincent Oketch is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Sackett
vs
Oketch

178 cm
30
140 lbs
27 - 8 - 0

170 cm
33
134 lbs
32 - 18 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Bullet Proof System
Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing
Sportivité

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mordecai Sackett!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vincent Oketch!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oketch misses with a takedown attempt - Sackett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sackett jabs at Oketch's body.
Oketch is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sackett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sackett attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Oketch follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Oketch shoots for a double leg takedown but Sackett sprawls well. He's pushed Oketch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sackett was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mordecai Sackett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vincent Oketch.

Oketch shoots in and bounces Sackett off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oketch postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sackett trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sackett looking for a sweep. Not yet Sackett, not yet.
Sackett is working hard here to advance position.
Sackett is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oketch working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Oketch has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Oketch won't allow Sackett to sweep him here.
Sackett is trying to control the position but Oketch postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oketch trying to control but Sackett is working from the bottom.
Sackett is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Oketch won't allow Sackett to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sackett is on top in guard.

Oketch told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Sackett throws a big right hand that misses.

Oketch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Oketch has his foot on Sackett's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sackett works his way back into a safe position though.
Sackett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sackett lands a couple of elbows.
Oketch keeping full guard, as Sackett tries to pass.
Sackett is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sackett not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sackett wants to control from the top but Oketch keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett throws a big elbow that misses.
Sackett engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Oketch keeping moving, preventing Sackett from controlling successfully.
Sackett controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sackett landing with the ground and pound.

Oketch has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sackett is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Oketch.

That's four 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.
Oketch can't do much from the bottom here.
Oketch is letting Sackett control him for a moment.
Sackett working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oketch manages to get back to half guard.
Sackett controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mordecai Sackett dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sackett gets caught napping as Oketch dives in and scores a takedown. Sackett manages to retain guard.
Sackett controlling Oketch's posture.
Oketch preventing the sweep.
Sackett is trying to control the position but Oketch postures up.
Oketch advances position into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sackett is looking to regain half guard here but Oketch keeps moving and retains side control.
Oketch controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sackett tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Oketch wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sackett gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sackett manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sackett really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sackett pulls Oketch in close to prevent any damage.
Sackett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Oketch can do to turn this around?
Sackett tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sackett is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sackett looking for a sweep. Not yet Sackett, not yet.
Sackett keeping moving, preventing Oketch from controlling successfully.

Oketch is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sackett is trying to keep Oketch in close.
Oketch postures up in Sackett's guard and throws a big left but Sackett blocks it.
Sackett looking to hit a scissor sweep but Oketch is one step ahead there.
Sackett is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Oketch feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett trying to control the position here.

Sackett working for a triangle but Oketch defends it easily.
Sackett wants to sweep here but Oketch controlling him for the moment.

Oketch drops back looking for a leg! Sackett is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sackett manages to kick Oketch off! Oketch jumps back into Sackett's guard.
Oketch wants to control from the top but Sackett keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Oketch preventing the sweep.

Oketch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Oketch trying to control the position from guard on top but Sackett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sackett working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sackett scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Oketch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sackett takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sackett throws a hook but Oketch blocks it.
Sackett is looking to land body kicks.
Oketch swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice takedown defense from Sackett. No joy for Oketch on that attempt.
Sackett scores with a hook.
Sackett looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sackett misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sackett scores with a jab to the jaw.
No luck for Oketch with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sackett tries to close the distance and clinch but Oketch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oketch shoots in looking for a takedown but Sackett manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Oketch's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mordecai Sackett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vincent Oketch.
Oketch doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sackett counters with a nice uppercut.
Oketch takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sackett lands a nice looking body shot.
Oketch avoids the body shot from Sackett.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Oketch! But no joy.
Sackett tries to clinch but Oketch moves out of range.
Sackett lands a right hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sackett 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.
Oketch shoots for a takedown but Sackett saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Oketch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Oketch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sackett tests Oketch's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sackett stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sackett wants it to stay on the feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oketch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sackett as he jumps to the side.
Oketch on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Oketch.
A little feinted left hand from Sackett on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Oketch shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sackett is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Oketch takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Vincent Oketch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sackett connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Oketch's hands.
Sackett connects with a single shot there.
Mordecai Sackett is winning the standup battle so far.

Sackett lands a big head kick that sends Oketch tumbling to the mat! Sackett takes a step backwards and waves Oketch back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Oketch is rocked!
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!
Sackett moves in close and cracks Oketch with a massive right hand! Oketch, frozen momentarily in time, tumbles to the canvas, already out cold! A brutal knockout by Sackett!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Mordecai Sackett!
Mordecai Sackett retains his bantamweight title!
Mordecai Sackett tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.