PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between philips ekos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Radcliffe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

ekos
vs
Radcliffe

187 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, philips ekos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Radcliffe!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ekos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Radcliffe tries to avoid it but ekos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Radcliffe to the ground. Radcliffe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Radcliffe throws out a loose jab but ekos uses good head movement to avoid it.

ekos 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.
Radcliffe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
ekos stops Radcliffe from standing up.
ekos with a flurry of punches that miss.

ekos drops back looking for a leg! Radcliffe is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Radcliffe manages to kick ekos off! ekos jumps back into Radcliffe's guard.
ekos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Radcliffe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

ekos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Radcliffe is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Radcliffe has escaped and now he's on top!
ekos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ekos managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Radcliffe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
ekos wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
ekos is pulling down on Radcliffe's head to control his posture.
ekos controls Radcliffe momentarily but Radcliffe frees himself.
ekos pulls Radcliffe in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. philips ekos just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Nice jab there from Radcliffe.
Radcliffe missing with a left hand there. ekos was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Radcliffe gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows ekos to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Radcliffe keeping full guard, as ekos tries to pass.

ekos drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Radcliffe dives on top into guard.
ekos is breathing heavily.
ekos looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Radcliffe decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
ekos blocks a leg kick.
ekos ducks under a wild hook from Radcliffe.
Radcliffe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Radcliffe wants it to stay on the feet.
Radcliffe throws out a loose jab but ekos uses good head movement to avoid it.
ekos on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
ekos moves out of range as Radcliffe strikes.
Radcliffe lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
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!
Radcliffe misses with a straight left.

ekos rushes Radcliffe and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Radcliffe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but ekos has him pressed against the cage.
Radcliffe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but ekos has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Blake Radcliffe will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Radcliffe throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
ekos shoots in for a double leg but Radcliffe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The fighters circling - Radcliffe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
ekos dives in and grabs Radcliffe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Radcliffe pushes down on ekos's head and hops out.
ekos uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Radcliffe.
A decent looking cross lands there for Radcliffe.

ekos decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
ekos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

ekos is looking for a kimura but Radcliffe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for ekos to get the leverage.
Radcliffe is trying to stand.
ekos trying to control the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

ekos seems to be working for a kimura but Radcliffe defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ekos stalling away here and it's allowed Radcliffe to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

ekos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Radcliffe is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Radcliffe has escaped and now he's on top!
Radcliffe would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
ekos trying to control the position.
ekos controlling the position.
ekos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
ekos seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. philips ekos just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
ekos wants to clinch.
Radcliffe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
ekos ducks under a wild hook from Radcliffe.
Radcliffe misses with an uppercut. ekos saw that one coming.

ekos pushes Radcliffe up against the cage in a clinch.
Radcliffe prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for philips ekos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Radcliffe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but ekos has him pressed against the cage.
Radcliffe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four 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.
Radcliffe changes levels and goes for a takedown here. ekos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Radcliffe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but ekos moves away.
ekos moves away from the strike by Radcliffe.
No luck with that takedown attempt from ekos.
ekos moves in looking to clinch but Radcliffe pushes him off.
Radcliffe misses the jab.
The fighters circling - Radcliffe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice takedown defense from ekos. No joy for Radcliffe on that attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
ekos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Radcliffe swivels and escapes.
Blake Radcliffe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Radcliffe misses with an uppercut. ekos saw that one coming.
ekos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that philips ekos will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Radcliffe throws a hook but ekos blocks it.

ekos gets the takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here as ekos stalls from top position.

ekos goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Radcliffe rolls with the submission and now he's on top in ekos's guard! Nice work there by Radcliffe!
ekos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

ekos looking for a guillotine here but Radcliffe defends easily.
ekos trying to control the position.

Radcliffe stands up from ekos's guard - Radcliffe perhaps looking for a knockout.
Radcliffe jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Radcliffe cracks ekos with a right hand to the side of the head.
ekos is looking to clinch but Radcliffe is avoiding it.
Radcliffe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Radcliffe wants it to stay on the feet.
Radcliffe looks to land a right hand but ekos moved out of range.
philips ekos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Radcliffe lands with an overhand left.
Radcliffe throws a lazy right hand but ekos sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Radcliffe looks to land a combination but ekos avoids it well.

ekos has closed the distance and engaged Radcliffe in a clinch.
Radcliffe wants to break the clinch but can't.
ekos is trying to drag Radcliffe to the mat but Radcliffe just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Radcliffe is trying to break the clinch but ekos has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radcliffe gets underhooks to prevent ekos's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for philips ekos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ekos prevents Radcliffe from breaking the clinch.
Radcliffe is trying to break the clinch but ekos is controlling him.

ekos turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and ekos manages to end up in side control.
Radcliffe wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

ekos is trying to get an arm triangle but Radcliffe is defending well.
ekos prevents Radcliffe from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

ekos is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Radcliffe knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

ekos is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Radcliffe has escaped the position, nice work there.

ekos is trying to get an arm triangle but Radcliffe is defending well.

ekos goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Radcliffe has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for ekos but great work by Radcliffe.

And that's the end of the fight!
philips ekos showed his dominance in that final round.
I think ekos 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... philips ekos!