PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Kaluhiwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeek Mills (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ezekiel Kaluhiwa has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kaluhiwa
vs
Mills

180 cm
24
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
21
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ezekiel Kaluhiwa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zeek Mills!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mills shoots in for a takedown but Kaluhiwa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kaluhiwa throws a shot to the body.
Kaluhiwa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Mills instigates a clinch.
Mills is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kaluhiwa to keep the fight standing.
Kaluhiwa is pressed up against the cage. Mills has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kaluhiwa down to the mat. Kaluhiwa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ezekiel Kaluhiwa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zeek Mills.
Kaluhiwa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice uppercut there from Kaluhiwa.
Kaluhiwa scores with a decent looking hook.
Kaluhiwa uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mills has time to react.
Mills swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kaluhiwa punishes Mills's body with a nice straight punch.
Mills fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kaluhiwa manages to avoid it.
Kaluhiwa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
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 left and a right from Kaluhiwa both land. Nice combination.
Mills is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kaluhiwa misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mills closes the distance and pushes Kaluhiwa back into the cage.
Kaluhiwa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mills.
Mills controlling the action here for a moment.
Kaluhiwa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mills.
Mills jumps guard but Kaluhiwa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mills lands an elbow inside.
Kaluhiwa gets underhooks to prevent Mills's takedown attempt.
Kaluhiwa is trying to push Mills away but Mills has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mills lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mills jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kaluhiwa walks away with a smile on his face. Mills gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mills walks into a straight right hand from Kaluhiwa.
Kaluhiwa tries to bum rush Mills with a series of wild strikes but Mills uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kaluhiwa lands with a good body shot.
Kaluhiwa throws a series of punches but Mills moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaluhiwa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Mills counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kaluhiwa wants to get back to his feet but Mills is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mills makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mills's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mills pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kaluhiwa is keeping the position for now.
Mills is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Mills won't allow Kaluhiwa to get back to his feet.
Mills really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kaluhiwa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Mills stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kaluhiwa!
Kaluhiwa misses with a few strikes there.
Ezekiel Kaluhiwa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaluhiwa lands with a cross.
Mills avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kaluhiwa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Mills rushes Kaluhiwa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Mills pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mills tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kaluhiwa swivels and escapes.

Mills shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mills is looking to advance position but Kaluhiwa won't allow it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mills works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zeek Mills will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mills shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kaluhiwa but Kaluhiwa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kaluhiwa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kaluhiwa misses with the combination.
Mills misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kaluhiwa.
Kaluhiwa throws a series of punches but Mills moves out of range.
Ezekiel Kaluhiwa is winning the standup battle so far.
Kaluhiwa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mills counters with a takedown into side control.
Kaluhiwa tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Kaluhiwa preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Mills.
Kaluhiwa looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mills trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Kaluhiwa doesn't escape.
Mills lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Mills.
Kaluhiwa looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Mills is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Kaluhiwa defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Mills is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Kaluhiwa defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Mills is riding his opponent, not letting Kaluhiwa buck him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mills looking for the RNC.
Kaluhiwa is trying to get back to his feet but Mills has full control of the position and if anything, Kaluhiwa has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Mills connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Kaluhiwa to escape the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mills is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mills is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Kaluhiwa defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Mills is looking for a choke. Kaluhiwa gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Kaluhiwa manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Mills doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Mills punching from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mills trying to control the position.

Mills has his foot on Kaluhiwa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kaluhiwa works his way back into a safe position though.
Mills looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kaluhiwa is one step ahead there.
Kaluhiwa wants to stand and escape but instead Mills has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Kaluhiwa wants to stand and escape but Mills is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mills's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeek Mills showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mills closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mills lands in his opponent's guard.

Mills stands up and waves to Kaluhiwa to follow him.
No joy there for Kaluhiwa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kaluhiwa lands a head shot.
Kaluhiwa tests Mills's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kaluhiwa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mills tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kaluhiwa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mills is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kaluhiwa.
Mills throws a shot to the body.
Kaluhiwa lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Kaluhiwa.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kaluhiwa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kaluhiwa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mills momentarily.
Kaluhiwa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kaluhiwa works over Mills's head and body with a nice combination.

Mills throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kaluhiwa was covering up waiting for the punch and Mills finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mills stands and steps away. Kaluhiwa gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kaluhiwa looks to land a combination but Mills avoids it well.
Kaluhiwa misses with a straight right.
Mills slips a straight right by Kaluhiwa.
Kaluhiwa fails to land with a series of punches.
Mills misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mills scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mills works his way into full mount!
Kaluhiwa trying desperately to get to his feet.
Mills scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Mills controlling from the full mount.
Kaluhiwa has given up his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mills has good solid back control here.

Mills is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Kaluhiwa knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Kaluhiwa for a finish.
Kaluhiwa is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mills lands strikes to the head.

Mills working for the choke.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Mills lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ezekiel Kaluhiwa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zeek Mills is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mills patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

And that's the end of the fight!
Zeek Mills comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mills 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zeek Mills!
Zeek Mills is the new lightweight champion!