PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Satoshi Ekaku (ranked 390 p4p, 730 weight class) and Ishmael Egyptian (ranked 35 p4p, 67 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Ekaku
vs
Egyptian

173 cm
30
147
14 - 6 - 0

175 cm
27
143
10 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
Conquer

Fantasy Threads

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 14 - 6 - 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 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ishmael Egyptian!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Ekaku. Egyptian does a little dance to reset his feet.
Egyptian throws a jab but it's blocked by Ekaku.
Ekaku takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Egyptian lands with a shot to the body.
Ekaku connects with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Ekaku.
Egyptian throws a hook but Ekaku avoids it easily.
Ekaku scores with a hook.
Egyptian throws a big shot that misses.
Ekaku lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A big right from Ekaku misses.
Ekaku on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Egyptian slips under a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Egyptian throws a body punch but Ekaku moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Egyptian misses the target.
Ekaku shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Egyptian defending well as Ekaku loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Egyptian to score with a decent uppercut.
A jab from Egyptian finds it's way through Ekaku's defenses.
Ekaku tries to land a front kick but Egyptian steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ekaku throws out a loose jab but Egyptian uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ekaku keeps Egyptian at a distance using the push kick.
Ekaku looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A swing and a miss from Ekaku.
Egyptian throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ekaku sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Ekaku misses its target.
Egyptian with a jab.
Ekaku looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Egyptian uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ekaku.

Egyptian closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Egyptian is pressing down on Ekaku's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ekaku is holding on for now.
Ekaku is controlling Egyptian's trapped leg to prevent Egyptian from advancing to side control.
My spies in The Infamous Duranto Gym inform me that Egyptian has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Egyptian is pressing down on Ekaku's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ekaku is holding on for now.
Egyptian keeps trying to improve his position.
Egyptian throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ekaku to regain full guard.
Egyptian wants to pass the guard but Ekaku is keeping the position.
Egyptian is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ekaku preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Egyptian wants to pass the guard but Ekaku is keeping the position.
Ekaku keeping moving, preventing Egyptian from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Egyptian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ekaku looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Egyptian trying to control but Ekaku is working from the bottom.
Ekaku wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ekaku keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ekaku swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Egyptian throws a hook but Ekaku blocks it.
Ekaku is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Egyptian.
Ekaku swings widly with a right hand
and Egyptian counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku tries to score with a low kick but Egyptian moves his leg out of the way.
Egyptian on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ekaku. Ekaku obviously looking to wear him down.
Ekaku throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Egyptian sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Egyptian drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ekaku defends it well.
Ekaku uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Egyptian.
Ekaku slips a straight right by Egyptian.
Ekaku throws a right hand that misses

so Egyptian counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Egyptian trying to control but Ekaku is working from the bottom.
Egyptian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ekaku swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Egyptian postures up in Ekaku's guard and throws a big left but Ekaku blocks it.
Egyptian looking to pass the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ishmael Egyptian dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ekaku scores with a head kick. Egyptian tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Egyptian has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ekaku motions for Egyptian to come forward. Ekaku throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Egyptian looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Egyptian slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ekaku misses with a looping right.
Ekaku throws a right hand that misses
and Egyptian counters with a right hand to the body.
Egyptian misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ekaku.
An attempted straight right counter from Ekaku misses the target.
Ekaku cracks Egyptian with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
An inside leg kick lands from Ekaku.
Satoshi Ekaku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Egyptian lands with a shot to the body.
Ekaku tried to score with a low kick but Egyptian checks it.
Ekaku walks into a stiff left hand from Egyptian.
Egyptian jabbing away but nothing is landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ekaku tries to land a front kick but Egyptian steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Egyptian tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Egyptian takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Egyptian shoots in and gets a takedown into Ekaku's guard.
Ekaku is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Egyptian throws a big right hand that misses.
Egyptian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Egyptian throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ekaku works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Egyptian missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Egyptian trying to control but Ekaku is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ekaku working a defensive guard here.
Ekaku keeping moving, preventing Egyptian from controlling successfully.
Egyptian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ekaku keeping full guard, as Egyptian tries to pass.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Egyptian checks a leg kick.
Ekaku connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ekaku tries to clinch there but Egyptian circles away.
Egyptian shoots in but no luck this time.
Satoshi Ekaku is winning the standup battle so far.
Jab, jab by Ekaku - just one landing.
Ekaku misses with a straight left.
A low kick from Ekaku is predictable there

and Egyptian counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ekaku!
A lull in the action here.
Egyptian working the ground and pound.
Egyptian has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Egyptian are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Egyptian wants to control but Ekaku is keeping him busy.
Egyptian looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ekaku is avoiding damage well.
Egyptian misses with the ground and pound.
Ekaku stops Egyptian from passing to mount.
Egyptian working the ground and pound but Ekaku is defending the strikes.
Egyptian tries to advance to mount but can't.
Egyptian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ekaku keeps working.
Ekaku is trying to control Egyptian's posture but Egyptian avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Egyptian is trying to control. Ekaku wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Egyptian tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ekaku knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Egyptian throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Egyptian is looking to stall here but Ekaku recovers full guard.
Ekaku bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Egyptian's guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ishmael Egyptian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Egyptian cracks Ekaku with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Egyptian drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ekaku tries to bench press Egyptian off him but Egyptian keeps the position.
Ishmael Egyptian has got the better of the ground game so far.

Egyptian is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ekaku has escaped the position, nice work there.
Egyptian has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Ekaku!
Egyptian with the ground and pound from mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Egyptian trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Egyptian throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ekaku because Egyptian loaded up on that one.
Egyptian throws a sloppy strike and Ekaku uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Ekaku has ended up in Egyptian's guard.
Egyptian wants to hit a sweep here but Ekaku passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Egyptian there!
Egyptian tries to improve his position but instead Ekaku has taken his back!
Ekaku slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
I really don't envy Egyptian right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku controls the position.
Egyptian manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ekaku's guard. Nice work there by Egyptian.
Ekaku keeping moving, preventing Egyptian from controlling successfully.
Egyptian trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ekaku manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Egyptian looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ekaku passes into half guard.
Ekaku takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Egyptian has a hand on Ekaku's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Ekaku takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Ekaku can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Egyptian is looking to escape.
Ekaku content just to control the position here.
Ishmael Egyptian is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ekaku wants to take Egyptian's back but he can't do it this time.
Egyptian slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Egyptian makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Egyptian.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Egyptian is trying to control the position but Ekaku postures up.
Egyptian has his hands on Ekaku's head, controlling the position.
Egyptian trying to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ekaku engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Satoshi Ekaku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Egyptian has his hands on Ekaku's head, controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ishmael Egyptian.
I've got Egyptian 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 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ishmael Egyptian!
Our winner, Ishmael Egyptian, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.