PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshi Ekaku (ranked 429 p4p, 203 weight class) and Ameri Can (ranked 57 p4p, 29 weight class). Can is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by For Heavy Metal we will die!. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ekaku
vs
Can

173 cm
34
147
19 - 10 - 3

173 cm
34
151
16 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

Brooklyn Apothecary
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroshi Ekaku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ameri Can!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Can on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ekaku. Ekaku obviously looking to wear him down.
Ekaku ducks under a wild hook from Can.
Can throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Can throws a shot from downtown. Ekaku moves away and avoids it.
Jab, jab by Ekaku - just one landing.
Ekaku swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Can cracks Ekaku with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Can lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ekaku seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Can forces Ekaku back against the cage and clinches.
Ekaku avoids the elbow strike from Can, against the cage.
Can creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ekaku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Can's elbow.
Can misses with a hook from the clinch.
Can tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ekaku stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ekaku blocks an uppercut.
Can misses with an elbow over the top.
Can throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ekakus head.
Still in the clinch, Ekaku scores with a nice short uppercut.
Can throws an elbow but it misses.
A short left from Ekaku.
Can is trying to break the clinch but Ekaku is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Can backwards.
Can's coach down at Heavy Metal was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Can's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Ekaku throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cans head.
Ekaku scores with a nice hook to the head.
Can blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ekaku misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ekaku lands a hook to the side of the head.
Can blocks an uppercut.
Can blocking some punches.
Ekaku misses with the head strike.
Ekaku can't find room to land a body shot as Can controls the action.
Ekaku misses with a hook from the clinch.
Can working aggressively here.
Can has a couple of punches blocked by Ekaku.
Ekaku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ekaku blocks an elbow strike.
Can blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ekaku throws a punch but it's blocked by Can.
Ekaku drops down looking for an ankle pick but Can pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ekaku throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Can misses
and Ekaku counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Donk. Can catches Ekaku right on the button with a cross.
Ekaku lands with a nice body kick.
A head kick misses from Can.
Ekaku throws a low kick, looking for Can's leg but Can calmly moves out of range.
A cross from Can lands.
Ekaku swats away the attempt to clinch by Can.
Can misses with a low kick.
Ekaku lands a nice shot that snaps Can's head back.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ekaku. That's going to slow Can down.
Can misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ekaku tried to counter with a leg kick but Can avoided it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ekaku. Can does a little dance to reset his feet.
Can is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ekaku walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Can checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ekaku looks to score with a jab to the body but Can is just out of range.
Ekaku lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Can scores with a hook.
Can throws a jab when Ekaku was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ekaku doesn't manage to clinch there - Can circles away.

Can gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Can keeping moving, preventing Ekaku from controlling successfully.
Ekaku looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Can wants to stand and escape but Ekaku is having none of it.
Ekaku tries to free his leg and advance position but Can is retaining full guard.
Can is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ekaku trying to control but Can is working from the bottom.
Ekaku advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Can is pushing Ekaku's head away, looking to escape. Ekaku manages to hold on to the position though.

Ekaku is trying to get an arm triangle but Can is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ekaku looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Can wants to get back to his feet.
Ekaku is staying tight to Can's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Can pushes Ekaku away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ekaku gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ekaku shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Can's guard.
Can wants to stand and escape but Ekaku is having none of it.
Ekaku stands and throws Can's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Can is not content to let Ekaku control the position.

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

Ekaku is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Can is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Can wants to get back to his feet but Ekaku drags him back down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ekaku is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Can can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku trying to control the position but Can is working away.
Ekaku is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Can is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ekaku prevents Can from escaping the position.

Ekaku tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Can is trying to get back to his feet.

Ekaku is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Can knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ekaku wants to control but Can is keeping him busy.

That's two 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.

Can throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Ekaku swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ameri Can seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ekaku defending well as Can loads up on a big left hand.
Can chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ekaku pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Can closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ekaku walks into a jab.
Can thows a left - swing and a miss!
Can throws a sloppy head kick and Ekaku moves out of range easily.
Ameri Can is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ekaku tries to clinch there but Can circles away.
Ekaku throws a body shot but no joy.
Can throws a nice inside leg kick.
Can throws out a powerful jab.
Ekaku slips a jab from Can.
Can slips under a jab from Ekaku.
A slow jab from Can misses its intended target.
And Ekaku counters with a quick kick to the body but Can blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Can takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Ekaku connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ekaku slips under a jab from Can.
Ekaku with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ekaku throws a series of strikes that have Can backpedaling.
Can keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Can staying out of range there.

Ekaku has Can up against the cage in a clinch.
Ekaku misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, Can scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right from Ekaku on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ekaku prevents Can from breaking the clinch.
Ekaku blocks an elbow strike from Can.
Can is trying to break free.
Can throws an elbow that misses.
Ekaku lands with a left to the head.
Can takes a shot to the head.
Ekaku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku misses with the head strike.
Can misses with a hook from the clinch.
Can wants to get back to striking at distance but Ekaku won't allow it.
Ekaku swings wildly with an uppercut but Can uses good head movement to avoid it.
Can has a couple of punches blocked by Ekaku.
Can misses with some punches.
A short left from Ekaku.
A short left from Can.
Ekaku swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Ekaku has picked Can up - he's going for a ride! Ekaku dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Can makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Can staying out of range there.
Can waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ekaku.
Can swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ekaku counters with a low kick, right behind Can 's knee.
Can needs to keep his hands up - Ekaku had a free shot at his head there.

Ekaku pushes Can up against the cage in a clinch.
Ekaku throws a punch but it's blocked by Can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroshi Ekaku dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ekaku is looking to clinch but Can is avoiding it.
It seemed like Can was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ekaku moves out of range of the strikes.
Ekaku moves out of range of the body kick from Can.
Can thows a left - swing and a miss!
Good exchange - Can coming out on top.
Ekaku scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Can looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Can sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ekaku walks into a straight right hand from Can.
A telegraphed right hand from Ekaku misses the target.
Can misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ekaku.
Ekaku moves in looking to clinch but Can pushes him off.
Can looking to land some kicks to the body here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Can sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A big left from Can misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ekaku misses with a body shot.
Ekaku lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Can tries to clinch but Ekaku is having none of it.
Ekaku throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku tries to clinch there but Can circles away.
Can scores with a jab to the head.
Can misses with a looping left.
Can tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A slow jab from Can misses its intended target.
Ekaku lands with a shot to the body.
Ekaku closes the distance and clinches up with Can, looking for a takedown. Ekaku pushes Can against the cage but Can circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Can fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ekaku checks it well.
Ekaku is trying hard to land a takedown here. Can sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ekaku feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Can throws a leg kick but Ekaku moved away.
Ekaku fails to land with a series of punches.
Can is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ekaku was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Good shot there by Ekaku.
Ekaku scores with a spinning back kick!
Ameri Can has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Can lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ekaku throws a lazy body kick
and Can counters with a nice uppercut.
Ekaku doesn't manage to clinch there - Can circles away.
Ekaku misses with a wild body shot.
Ekaku throws the kick towards the body but Can avoids it.
Ekaku swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ekaku misses with a hook. Can ducked under it nicely.
Ekaku scores with a kick to the midsection.
Ekaku with a hook.
Can tries to clinch up.
Can swings for the body but Ekaku moves out of range.
Can lands a head kick. Ekaku smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Can misses the jab.
Ekaku misses with a body kick.
Ekaku slips a jab and a cross from Can.
Ekaku misses with a straight left.
Can lands a jab.
Ekaku fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Can on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku is looking to clinch.
Can's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ekaku connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Can scrambles back to his feet.
Can connects with a solid leg kick.
Ekaku throws a body kick that misses.
No luck for Ekaku with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiroshi Ekaku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Can throws a leg kick which misses Ekaku's front leg but catches the back leg as Ekaku tries to avoid it.
Ekaku lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Can keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Can misses with a head kick.
Ekaku scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ekaku misses with a kick to the body.
Can fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ekaku.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ekaku connects with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku tries to work over Can's front leg with a kick but Can checks it.
Can scores with a hook to the body. Ekaku takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Can's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Can duly obliges.
Ekaku tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Can manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Can tests Ekaku's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ekaku tries to clinch there but Can circles away.
Can looks to score with a jab to the body but Ekaku is just out of range.
Can throws a hook but Ekaku avoids it easily.
Ekaku scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Can throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ekaku takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Can takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ekaku connects with an inside leg kick.
Can's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ekaku lands with an overhand left.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Can closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Can throws a big shot that misses.
Can avoids a kick to the body.
Ekaku connects with a good right hand that stumbles Can. Can circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ameri Can.
I think Ekaku 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiroshi Ekaku!
An out of breath Hiroshi Ekaku thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.