PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hakuin Ekaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and OMG Zulud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ekaku comes to the cage accompanied by IV. Zulud has chosen Bullet For My Valentine - Hit The Floor as his entrance music. Hakuin Ekaku could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to OMG Zulud's chin.

Ekaku
vs
Zulud

173 cm
25
146 lbs
22 - 0 - 0

155 cm
28
144 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Legal High's [CBK]
Conviction

Milwaukee's Best 160 Recovery - $100
Vodka Rags

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 22 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hakuin Ekaku!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, OMG Zulud!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zulud tries to land a body kick

and Ekaku counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zulud!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zulud is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zulud tries to hold on but Ekaku postures up.
Ekaku with a couple of short strikes.
Zulud is working to get back to half guard.
Ekaku throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Zulud is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulud tries to lock up and control but Ekaku gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ekaku wants to control the pace but Zulud is squirming around nicely.
Zulud is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Ekaku looking to finish Zulud with some ground and pound. This is bad for Zulud!
Zulud regains half guard.
Zulud wants to get back to full guard.
Ekaku missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ekaku perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Zulud wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ekaku looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ekaku lands with some strikes.
Zulud is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ekaku tries to control but Zulud wriggling away.
Zulud is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ekaku will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ekaku tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ekaku landing strikes, looking to finish!
Zulud is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuin Ekaku dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zulud moves forwards but Ekaku connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Ekaku. Zulud shrugs it off though.
Zulud throws a lazy head kick
and Ekaku counters with a body kick.
Ekaku connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ekaku thumps Zulud with a low kick.
Zulud misses with a left hand
and Zulud takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ekaku lands a nice shot to the body.
Zulud throws a lazy uppercut
and Ekaku makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Zulud throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ekaku counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zulud's knee momentarily.
Ekaku takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zulud tries to clinch up but Ekaku circles away and keeps his distance.
Ekaku throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ekaku misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulud throws an off balance right hand
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ekaku lets loose with a powerful body kick. Zulud will feel that in the morning.
No joy there for Ekaku, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zulud misses with a kick to the body
and Ekaku counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zulud misses the shot to the body.
Zulud tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ekaku manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zulud throws a sloppy body shot
and Ekaku counters with an outside leg kick.
Zulud misses with a leg kick
and Ekaku counters with an inside leg kick.
Zulud throws a lazy head kick
and Ekaku counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Zulud is breathing heavily.
Zulud misses with a leg kick
and Ekaku counters with a nice body kick.
Ekaku cracks Zulud with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Zulud throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ekaku counters with a left and a right that stings Zulud.
Ekaku throws a right hand that Zulud ducks under and follows up with a left that Zulud also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulud throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ekaku counters with a series of strikes. Zulud will be more careful next time no doubt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zulud throws a poor cross that misses
and Zulud takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zulud misses with a takedown
and Ekaku counters with a one-two to the body.
Zulud takes a jab right on the kisser.
A jab from Zulud finds it's way through Ekaku's defenses.
Zulud throws a lazy body kick
and Ekaku counters with a right hand to the body.
Ekaku throws a head kick that half lands.
Zulud takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ekaku cracks Zulud with a good jab.
Zulud takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Zulud throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ekaku counters with a head kick.
Ekaku scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Zulud is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku scores with a jab to the head.
Zulud is still on wobbly legs! Can Ekaku finish him?
Zulud throws a head kick that misses
and Ekaku counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Zulud seems to have recovered his senses.
Zulud misses with a right hand
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ekaku throws a head kick that Zulud semi-blocks.
Ekaku is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Zulud throws a poor cross that misses
and Ekaku connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ekaku connects with a leg kick. Zulud looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Zulud rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ekaku counters with a nice kick to the body.
Hakuin Ekaku is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ekaku fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zulud looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ekaku throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Zulud takes one to the chin there.
Ekaku is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zulud can do to turn this around?
Ekaku fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zulud has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ekaku's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zulud under the eye.
Ekaku uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Ekaku.
Zulud has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Ekaku.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ekaku takes one on the button.
Zulud drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ekaku is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Zulud cracks Ekaku with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Zulud gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ekaku counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice uppercut there from Ekaku.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ekaku.
Ekaku throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zulud throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Ekaku counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A lazy body kick from Zulud
and Ekaku counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zulud misses with a kick to the body
and Ekaku counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuin Ekaku dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ekaku closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Zulud thows a leg kick but Ekaku checks it
and Ekaku counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zulud thows a leg kick but Ekaku checks it
and Ekaku makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Zulud really felt that one!
Zulud has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Zulud on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Zulud throws a right hand that misses
and Ekaku counters with a left and a right that stings Zulud.
Ekaku throws a low kick, looking for Zulud's leg but Zulud calmly moves out of range.
Ekaku works Zulud's body with a nice hook.
A low kick from Ekaku is predictable there
and Zulud counters with a two punch combo.
Zulud thows a leg kick but Ekaku checks it
and Ekaku counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zulud avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zulud misses with a right hand
and Ekaku counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zulud tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ekaku cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zulud takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zulud misses with an uppercut
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zulud throws a combination that misses
and Ekaku counters with a two punch combo.
Zulud throws a leg kick
and Ekaku counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zulud misses with an uppercut
and Ekaku counters with an inside leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ekaku darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hakuin Ekaku is winning the standup battle so far.
Zulud misses with a lunging right hand
and Ekaku counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ekaku swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Zulud counters with a nice leg kick.
Ekaku lands with a straight right. Zulud didn't see that one coming.
Zulud connects with a leg kick. Ekaku looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ekaku throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulud throws a sloppy head kick
letting Ekaku counter with a right hand.
Ekaku throws a series of punches but Zulud moves out of range.
Zulud throws a poor cross that misses
and Ekaku counters with a nice body kick.
Ekaku just misses with a punch to the body.
Zulud smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zulud on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A left lands for Ekaku.
Zulud sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zulud throws a sloppy head kick
and Ekaku counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ekaku throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ekaku scoring well with a low kick there.
Zulud misses with a right hand
and Zulud takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zulud fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A low kick from Zulud is predictable there
and Ekaku counters with an inside leg kick.
A good leg kick by Ekaku.
OMG Zulud seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the body from Zulud misses
and Ekaku counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ekaku cracks Zulud with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ekaku lands with a shot to the body.
Ekaku will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ekaku scores with a nice head shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ekaku.
Zulud thows a leg kick but Ekaku checks it
and Zulud takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zulud feints a jab promting Ekaku to slip. Zulud then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ekaku slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zulud throws an off balance right hand
and Ekaku counters with a three punch combo that has Zulud backing up. Zulud nods at Ekaku to acknowledge the strikes.
Zulud's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ekaku jabs Zulud right on the nose. Zulud blinks but takes it well.
Ekaku lands with a nice body punch.
Zulud misses with an uppercut
and Ekaku counters with a left to the body.
Ekaku throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zulud throws a leg kick
and Ekaku counters with a thumping low kick.
Zulud throws a head kick that misses
and Ekaku counters with a good low kick that Zulud was not able to check.
A nice combination there by Ekaku.
Zulud throws a poor cross that misses
and Ekaku counters with a series of strikes. Zulud will be more careful next time no doubt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zulud on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ekaku. Ekaku obviously looking to wear him down.
Ekaku throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Zulud closes the distance but Ekaku moves to the side
and Ekaku counters with a good low kick that Zulud was not able to check.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuin Ekaku clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ekaku bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Zulud's head.
Zulud uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ekaku.
Zulud throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Ekaku to counter with a crisp jab.
Zulud looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zulud takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ekaku lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zulud's sensitive parts.
Zulud thows a leg kick but Ekaku checks it
and Ekaku counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zulud throws a sloppy head kick
and Ekaku counters with a leg kick.
Zulud turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ekaku lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A low kick from Zulud is predictable there
and Ekaku counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sloppy strikes from Ekaku. Those never looked like landing.
Zulud is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
A low kick from Zulud misses
and Ekaku cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Zulud.
Zulud misses with a double jab
and Ekaku counters with a stiff right hand.
Zulud misses with a right hand
and Ekaku counters with a nice leg kick.
Zulud gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Ekaku counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zulud throws a leg kick
and Ekaku counters with a thumping low kick.
Zulud throws a leg kick
and Ekaku makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Zulud really felt that one!
Ekaku lands with an overhand left.
Ekaku scores with a punch to the head.
Ekaku throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ekaku lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zulud backs up against the cage.
Ekaku scores with a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ekaku lands a head kick. Zulud smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ekaku throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zulud counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Zulud misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ekaku counters with a good, hard body kick but Zulud shrugs it off.
Zulud thows a leg kick but Ekaku checks it
and Ekaku counters with a low kick, right behind Zulud 's knee.
Ekaku lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Zulud throws a leg kick
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ekaku is looking to chop away at Zulud's legs.
Zulud has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ekaku finds it's way round the side to connect with Zulud's head.
Ekaku looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zulud throws a leg kick
and Ekaku counters with a series of strikes. Zulud will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku lands a jab.
Ekaku misses with a left hand

and Zulud counters with a single leg into guard. Ekaku didn't expect that.
Zulud trying to control the position from guard on top but Ekaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zulud is looking to work some ground and pound but Ekaku has wrist control.
Zulud looking to sit in guard and control but Ekaku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zulud controls Ekaku momentarily but Ekaku frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku wants to control from the top but Zulud keeps moving.
Ekaku missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ekaku looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ekaku controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuin Ekaku had his way with OMG Zulud in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zulud throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Ekaku makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Zulud really felt that one!
Zulud throws an off balance right hand
and Ekaku counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Nice body kick there by Ekaku.
A good leg kick by Zulud.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ekaku.
Ekaku swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zulud slips under a jab.
A jab lands there for Zulud.
Ekaku lands a head kick!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ekaku checks a leg kick.
Ekaku throws a one two combo.
A low kick from Ekaku misses
enabling Zulud to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ekaku cracks the inside of Zulud's front leg.
Zulud throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ekaku counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zulud misses with a kick to the body
and Ekaku counters with a nice leg kick.
Ekaku on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Zulud throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ekaku counters with a nice uppercut.
Zulud misses with a hook
and Ekaku counters with a straight right hand.
Zulud falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ekaku counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zulud is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Good exchange - Ekaku coming out on top.
Zulud throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ekaku counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ekaku throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulud throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ekaku counters with a straight right hand.
Zulud throws a leg kick
and Ekaku cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zulud throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A low kick from Zulud is predictable there
and Ekaku counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zulud throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ekaku counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Ekaku scores with a four punch combination!
Ekaku lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Zulud thows a leg kick but Ekaku checks it
and Ekaku counters with a leg kick.
Zulud scores with a sloppy right hand. Ekaku should have avoided that one.
Zulud tries to clinch but Ekaku moves out of range.
Zulud connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ekaku throws a sloppy head kick and Zulud moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zulud. Ekaku does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ekaku misses with a few strikes there.
A low kick from Zulud misses
and Ekaku counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A lazy body kick from Zulud
and Ekaku counters with a low kick, right behind Zulud 's knee.
Zulud misses with an uppercut
and Ekaku counters with a straight right hand.
OMG Zulud has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A shot to the liver by Ekaku. Beautiful body shot.
Zulud tries to clinch but Ekaku moves away
and Ekaku counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zulud works over Ekaku's head and body with a nice combination.
Ekaku scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zulud's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ekaku connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zulud scrambles back to his feet.
Zulud thumps Ekaku with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku scores with a crisp jab that stopped Zulud in his tracks.
A good leg kick by Ekaku.
Zulud takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Zulud misses with the body kick
and Ekaku counters with a low kick, right behind Zulud 's knee.
A punch lands to the side of Zulud 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Zulud stuffs the takedown attempt from Ekaku. Ekaku gets slowly back to his feet.
Zulud walks into a stiff left hand from Ekaku.
Zulud throws an off balance right hand
and Ekaku counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zulud's knee momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ekaku throws a nice looking combination but Zulud bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zulud misses with an uppercut
and Ekaku counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hakuin Ekaku is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zulud tests Ekaku's chin there with a solid looking shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hakuin Ekaku showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ekaku has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Hakuin Ekaku!
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Hakuin Ekaku!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Hakuin Ekaku!

Hakuin Ekaku wins by unanimous decision!
Hakuin Ekaku retains his bantamweight title!