PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wes Ekwall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Ishikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ekwall's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Linkin Park--One Step Closer. Ishikawa is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by mindshift genki sudo. Akira Ishikawa told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ekwall
vs
Ishikawa

170 cm
28
145 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

150 cm
24
147 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Wes Ekwall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akira Ishikawa!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ishikawa clinches up against the cage.
Ekwall jumps guard but Ishikawa stands there with Ekwall around his waist. Ekwall gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Ishikawa breaks the clinch.

Ishikawa has Ekwall up against the cage in a clinch.
Ekwall is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ishikawa is defending well.

Ekwall jumps guard and drags Ishikawa to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ekwall wants to sweep here but Ishikawa controlling him for the moment.
Ishikawa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ekwall keeping full guard, as Ishikawa tries to pass.
Ekwall utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ishikawa postures up and lands a big shot to Ekwall's brow.
Ishikawa throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekwall is adopting a defensive guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ishikawa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ishikawa trying to control but Ekwall is working from the bottom.
Ekwall will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ekwall trying to keep a closed guard but Ishikawa is proving a slippery customer.
Ekwall pulls Ishikawa in close to prevent any damage.

Wes Ekwall has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Ishikawa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ishikawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ekwall has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Ishikawa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ekwall dives in and scores a takedown into Ishikawa's guard.
Ekwall with a nice head shot there.
Ekwall postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ekwall won't allow Ishikawa to get back to his feet.
Ekwall lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ishikawa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ekwall manages to get himself to full guard.
Ekwall is trying to hold Ishikawa in close to prevent damage but Ishikawa has managed to pass into half guard.
Ekwall is looking to improve his position.
Ishikawa trying to control the pace.
Ekwall is positioning himself well to prevent Ishikawa advancing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ekwall knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ekwall is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ishikawa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ishikawa's back!
Ekwall lands a shot to the head.
Ishikawa looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Ekwall working for the choke.
Ekwall controlling the position well here. Ishikawa rolled but Ekwall kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Ekwall lands shots from the back.
Ekwall connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Ishikawa to escape the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is taking a good look at Ishikawa as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Ekwall!
Ishikawa is trying to stand back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ekwall is punishing Ishikawa with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ekwall softening up his opponent with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wes Ekwall dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ishikawa circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ishikawa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ekwall holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Ekwall is pressing down on Ishikawa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ishikawa trying to control but Ekwall is working from the bottom.
Ekwall is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ekwall winds up and cracks Ishikawa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ekwall missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ekwall looks to land a strike but Ishikawa avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ekwall wants to pass the guard but Ishikawa is keeping the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ekwall keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ishikawa's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekwall is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ishikawa wants to stand and escape but Ekwall is having none of it.
Ekwall looking to sit in guard and control but Ishikawa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Wes Ekwall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ekwall lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ishikawa!
Ishikawa really wants to buck Ekwall off and get back to his feet.
Ishikawa takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ekwall scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ishikawa?
Ekwall fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

It looks like Akira Ishikawa has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ekwall raining down shots from the mount!

Ishikawa is rocked!
Ishikawa is breathing heavily.
Ishikawa sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ishikawa is still in real trouble! Can Ekwall finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekwall throwing shots but Ishikawa is blocking nicely.
Ishikawa seems to have recovered his senses.
Ishikawa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ekwall is keen to just control but Ishikawa is a slippery customer.
Ekwall thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ishikawa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ekwall.
Ishikawa is trying to stand back up but Ekwall is controlling him
Ishikawa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ekwall lands strikes from half guard.
Ekwall scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ishikawa is not content to let Ekwall control the position.
Ekwall scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekwall working over Ishikawa with some ground and pound. Ishikawa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ekwall throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Ekwall is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ishikawa is refusing to be controlled, as Ekwall sits in half guard.
Ekwall slips a nice elbow through Ishikawa's hands, connecting with Ishikawa's forehead.
Ishikawa tries to roll over but Ekwall keeps him under control.
Ekwall working Ishikawa over with strikes.
Ekwall landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ekwall throwing shots but Ishikawa is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ishikawa taking some punishment here, with Ekwall in his half guard.

The cut above Akira Ishikawa's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekwall prevents Ishikawa from standing back up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ekwall in particular looking to stall.
Ekwall slips a nice elbow through Ishikawa's hands, connecting with Ishikawa's forehead.
Well, if Ekwall is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ekwall landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ground and pound from Ekwall.
Ekwall is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ishikawa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ishikawa makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Ishikawa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ekwall is controlling Ishikawa's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wes Ekwall dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Akira Ishikawa's cut.
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!

Ishikawa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Ekwall gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ishikawa regains guard.
Ekwall scoring with some ground and pound.
Ishikawa wants to get back to his feet but Ekwall is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ekwall trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ekwall won't allow Ishikawa to get back to his feet.
Ekwall is looking to work some ground and pound but Ishikawa has wrist control.
Ishikawa wants to get back to his feet but Ekwall is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ekwall trying to control but Ishikawa is working from the bottom.
Ishikawa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ekwall with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekwall scoring with some ground and pound.
Ekwall throws a big right hand that misses.
Ekwall lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ishikawa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ekwall working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ishikawa's head.
Ekwall distracts Ishikawa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ekwall content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ishikawa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ekwall is controlling him.
Ekwall lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ishikawa wants to stand and escape but Ekwall is having none of it.
Ekwall working some strikes from top position.
Ekwall connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ekwall trying to control the position from guard on top but Ishikawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekwall with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ishikawa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ekwall.
Ekwall postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ishikawa trying to control the position.

Ishikawa scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Ekwall is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekwall throws a leg kick but Ishikawa moved away.
Wes Ekwall is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ekwall misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Ekwall.

Ekwall pushes Ishikawa up against the cage in a clinch.

Ishikawa gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ekwall regains guard.
Ekwall seems keen to control Ishikawa's posture.
Ekwall keeping full guard, as Ishikawa tries to pass.
Ekwall controlling the position.
Ekwall looking for a sweep. Not yet Ekwall, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akira Ishikawa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Wes Ekwall just wasn't active enough.

Ekwall has Ishikawa up against the cage in a clinch.
Ekwall letting Ishikawa take a breather here.
Ekwall tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ishikawa smiles and moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ishikawa rushes Ekwall and presses him up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ekwall blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ekwall is looking to control Ishikawa's arms but Ishikawa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ekwall has his back to the cage.
Wes Ekwall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ishikawa tries to land a knee to the head but Ekwall blocks with his arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wes Ekwall showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ekwall, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wes Ekwall!