PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Satoshi Ekaku (ranked 332 p4p, 472 weight class) and Aubrey Grant (ranked 32 p4p, 46 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Ekaku
vs
Grant

173 cm
29
147
12 - 4 - 0

183 cm
29
152
16 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Satoshi Ekaku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Aubrey Grant!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ekaku ducks right into an uppercut from Grant.
Ekaku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grant manages to avoid it.
Ekaku looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Grant is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Some bone on bone action there as Grant checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A little jabbing left from Grant on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Grant's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ekaku under the eye.
Ekaku misses with a body kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Grant finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ekaku fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Grant on the side of the head.
Ekaku defending well as Grant loads up on a big left hand.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Grant lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Grant misses with a kick to the body.
Ekaku jabs Grant to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ekaku loads up on a big right hand but Grant slips the punch.
Ekaku looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Grant ducks under a wild hook from Ekaku.
Ekaku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grant.
Ekaku misses with a jab to the body
and Grant counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
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!
Ekaku lands a nice hook to Grant's body. Grant takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ekaku throws a leg kick that misses.
Grant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Ekaku on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ekaku scores with a sloppy right hand. Grant should have avoided that one.
The fighters circling - Grant throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ekaku misses the shot to the body.
Grant misses with an uppercut. Ekaku saw that one coming.
Ekaku throws a lazy head kick
and Grant counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku throws a hook but Grant blocks it.
A nice leg kick from Grant, right into the meat of the thigh.
Grant smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Grant lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ekaku misses with a looping left.
Ekaku scores with a jab.
Ekaku looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Grant misses with a head kick.
Grant lands a nice hook to Ekaku's body. Ekaku takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nice jab there from Grant.
Ekaku uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Grant.
Ekaku tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Satoshi Ekaku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grant fakes the leg kick and cracks Ekaku in the body.
A slow jab from Ekaku misses its intended target.
Ekaku misses with a kick to the body.
Grant looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Grant misses with a hook. Ekaku ducked under it nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ekaku bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ekaku darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A swing and a miss from Grant.
Grant takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ekaku. Grant does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Grant.
Grant tries to clinch but Ekaku is having none of it.
Grant explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Nice straight punches there by Grant. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Grant.
The fighters circling - Grant throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ekaku with the inside leg kick.
Ekaku throws the left hand but Grant avoids the punch easily.
Grant throws a head kick that Ekaku semi-blocks.
Grant is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ekaku.
Grant looks to land a right hand but Ekaku moved out of range.
Ekaku is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grant.
Grant throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ekaku looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Grant moves out of range as Ekaku throws a body kick.
Grant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ekaku throwing a counter right hand but Grant manages to avoid it.
Ekaku moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Grant scores with a sloppy right hand. Ekaku should have avoided that one.
Ekaku throws a leg kick that misses.
Ekaku lands a nice shot to the body.
Grant is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Ekaku had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Ekaku misses with a wild body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Grant.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku scores with a head kick.
Grant scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ekaku throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ekaku.
Grant tries to land a front kick but Ekaku steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Grant has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Ekaku bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A solid body kick from Grant.
Ekaku keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ekaku jabs Grant right on the nose. Grant blinks but takes it well.
Grant ducks under a wild hook from Ekaku.
Grant works over Ekaku's head and body with a nice combination.
Grant scores with a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grant checks a low kick from Ekaku.
Ekaku moves out of range of the body kick.
A lazy left from Ekaku finds it's target.
Ekaku lands a nice shot that snaps Grant's head back.
Ekaku scores with a jab.
Good leg kick by Ekaku.
Ekaku throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Grant tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ekaku.
Ekaku paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ekaku uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Grant.
Grant takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ekaku lands a leg kick that knocks Grant off balance momentarily.
Grant displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ekaku throws out the jab.
Grant steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ekaku. That one must have hurt.
Grant misses with the combination.
Ekaku throws a body kick that misses.
Ekaku throws a body shot but no joy.
Ekaku misses with a body shot.
Grant throws a hook but Ekaku avoids it easily.
Good leg kick by Grant.
Grant checks a leg kick.
Ekaku misses with a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ekaku misses with a hook.
Grant throws a hook but Ekaku avoids it easily.
A nice combination there by Grant.
Ekaku throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Grant on the side of the head.
Grant takes a jab right on the kisser.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aubrey Grant will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ekaku lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Grant moves out of range as Ekaku throws a body kick.
Good leg kick by Grant.
Grant looks to land a left hand but Ekaku moved out of range nicely.
Ekaku looks to throw the jab but Grant is out of range.
Ekaku scores with a leg kick.
A shot to the body from Ekaku misses
and Grant counters with a straight right hand.
Ekaku misses with a hook.
Ekaku scores with a sloppy right hand. Grant should have avoided that one.
Ekaku throws a leg kick but Grant moved away.
Ekaku connects with a solid leg kick.
Ekaku finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Grant swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Grant throws a leg kick but Ekaku sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ekaku pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A nice leg kick from Grant, right into the meat of the thigh.
Grant misses with a straight left.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ekaku looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Grant displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ekaku throws out the jab.
Ekaku keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Grant.
Ekaku misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Ekaku wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ekaku moves out of range of the strikes.
Ekaku misses with a low kick.
Grant moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ekaku waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grant.
Ekaku smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ekaku misses with a double jab
and Grant counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Grant waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ekaku.
Nice defenses there by Grant.
Ekaku uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Grant.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ekaku.
Grant moves out of range of the leg kick from Ekaku.
Grant works Ekaku's body with a nice hook.
Ekaku avoids the head kick by Grant.
Ekaku takes one to the chin there.
Grant ducks under a wild hook from Ekaku.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ekaku ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grant moves away.
Grant throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Grant with a nice calf kick.
Ekaku misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ekaku moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Grant scores with a nice head shot.
Aubrey Grant seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ekaku lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A telegraphed right hand from Ekaku misses the target.
Grant throws a big counter head kick but Ekaku avoids it with no problem.
Grant uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ekaku.
Grant bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Grant lands the left hand.
Grant throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ekaku throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ekaku.
Grant throws the left hand but Ekaku avoids the punch easily.
Grant throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Grant moves out of range of the strikes.
Ekaku misses the jab.
Grant doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A left lands for Grant.
Ekaku fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Grant.
Ekaku scores with a head kick. Grant tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Grant throws a head kick that misses.
Ekaku swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Grant bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Grant.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ekaku. That's going to slow Grant down.
Ekaku displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grant throws out the jab.
Ekaku misses with a low kick.
Ekaku moves out of range of the body kick.
Ekaku waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grant.
Ekaku throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ekaku turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ekaku avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ekaku fakes the leg kick and cracks Grant in the body.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Grant.
Grant connects with a body shot.
Grant throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Grant misses with a looping right.
Ekaku avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Grant looks to land a right hand but Ekaku moved out of range.
Grant tries to work over Ekaku's front leg with a kick but Ekaku checks it.
Grant will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ekaku moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
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!
A swing and a miss from Grant.
Grant uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ekaku.
Ekaku misses with an uppercut.
Grant now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Ekaku throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Grant sizes up Ekaku with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ekaku connects with an inside leg kick.
Ekaku throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Grant throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Grant has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Grant delivers a nice body kick.
Ekaku throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Grant slips under a jab from Ekaku.
Grant thows a left - swing and a miss!
A head kick by Ekaku misses
and Grant counters with a nice uppercut.

Grant rushes Ekaku and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ekaku is working Grant over against the cage.
Ekaku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ekaku is stalling here.

Grant breaks from the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aubrey Grant will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Grant lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Grant looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
It looked like Ekaku wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nice uppercut there from Grant.
Ekaku thows a left - swing and a miss!
Grant looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Grant sizes up Ekaku with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Grant buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ekaku throws a body kick that misses.
Grant takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Grant misses with an uppercut.
Ekaku attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ekaku has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Grant.
Grant misses with a straight left.
Ekaku thinks about countering with a head kick.
Grant throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ekaku moves away from the strike by Grant.
Ekaku wants to land a leg kick but Grant is out of range.
Ekaku tries a low kick but Grant avoids it.
Grant thuds his right hand into Ekaku's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grant throws a sloppy head kick and Ekaku moves out of range easily.
Grant throws a big shot that misses.
Ekaku will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Ekaku connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Grant momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku scores with a shot to the body.
Grant slips a straight right by Ekaku.
Ekaku stuns Grant with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ekaku throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ekaku throws a low kick but it's checked well by Grant.
Grant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ekaku.
Grant turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Grant misses with the combination.
Grant tries a head kick but it misses.
Ekaku looks to land a right hand but Grant moved out of range.
Ekaku connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ekaku throws a lazy uppercut
and Grant counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ekaku lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Grant takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Grant lands a leg kick that knocks Ekaku off balance momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grant misses with a looping right.
Ekaku lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ekaku misses with a leg kick.
Ekaku slips a straight right by Grant.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ekaku. Ekaku circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ekaku throws a quick inside leg kick.
Grant throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ekaku throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Grant to counter with a crisp jab.
Grant tries to move into range but Ekaku moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ekaku takes one to the chin there.
Grant misses with a low kick as Ekaku jumps back.
Grant's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Grant jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ekaku lets loose with a powerful body kick. Grant will feel that in the morning.
Grant slips a jab from Ekaku.
Ekaku thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ekaku fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Grant looks to land a left hand but Ekaku moved out of range nicely.
Ekaku slips under a jab from Grant.
Grant throws a jab when Ekaku was well out of range.
Grant swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ekaku swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Grant swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Grant lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Grant bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ekaku manages to avoid it.
Ekaku scores with a decent looking hook.
Grant looks to score with a jab to the body but Ekaku is just out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Ekaku there.
Grant slips under a jab from Ekaku.
Ekaku throws a low kick but it's checked well by Grant.
Grant tests Ekaku's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ekaku uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Grant.
Grant uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ekaku.
No joy there for Grant, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Grant connects with a looping right hand.
Ekaku moves out of range of the body kick from Grant.
Ekaku throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ekaku lands with a nice body kick.
Grant misses with a body kick.
Grant lands a lovely overhand right.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ekaku misses with a looping left.
Grant now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Ekaku takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A clash of legs there as Grant blocks the low kick.
Grant pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku connects with a nice looking jab.
Ekaku avoids the body shot from Grant.
Grant avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ekaku avoids the body shot from Grant.
Ekaku misses with a hook. Grant ducked under it nicely.
Grant chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ekaku can pounce on him.
Grant moves out of range as Ekaku strikes.
Crunch! Grant slams his shin into Ekaku's torso.
Ekaku misses with a straight right.
Ekaku drops his hands momentarily and Grant takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ekaku misses with a hook.
Ekaku moves out of range of the body kick from Grant.
Ekaku scores with a hook.
Grant motions for Ekaku to come forward. Grant throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ekaku scores with a jab to the jaw.
Grant misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ekaku scores with a nice body kick.
Satoshi Ekaku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ekaku looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ekaku misses with a straight left.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aubrey Grant.
I've got Grant winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Aubrey Grant!
A very excited looking Aubrey Grant made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.