PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hakuin Ekaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angel Concepcion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ekaku comes into the arena with IV blaring out of the sound system. Concepcion comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Descent kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ekaku
vs
Concepcion

173 cm
33
154 lbs
33 - 5 - 1

170 cm
33
155 lbs
32 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Untouchable Fight Nutrition

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hakuin Ekaku!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Angel Concepcion!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ekaku connects with a good right hand that stumbles Concepcion. Concepcion circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ekaku checks the leg kick nicely there.
A jab lands there for Ekaku.
Concepcion throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Concepcion throws a series of punches but Ekaku moves out of range.
Concepcion throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ekaku stuns Concepcion with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Concepcion tries to move into range but Ekaku moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Concepcion tries to land a leg kick but Ekaku saw it coming and moves away.
No joy there for Ekaku, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice takedown defense from Ekaku. No joy for Concepcion on that attempt.
Ekaku looks to throw the jab but Concepcion is out of range.
Ekaku leaves Concepcion with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Concepcion ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Concepcion walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ekaku.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Concepcion misses with a double jab.
Concepcion doesn't manage to clinch there - Ekaku circles away.
Ekaku stuffs the takedown attempt from Concepcion. Concepcion gets slowly back to his feet.
Hakuin Ekaku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Angel Concepcion.
Concepcion chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ekaku can pounce on him.
Ekaku lands a jab to the head.
Concepcion throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Concepcion misses with a leg kick
and Ekaku counters with a slapping leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ekaku lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Concepcion at a distance.
Ekaku changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Concepcion looks winded!

Concepcion forces Ekaku back against the cage and clinches.
Concepcion wants to get back to striking at distance but Ekaku won't allow it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Concepcion.
Concepcion working hard to break the clinch.
Concepcion goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Concepcion lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ekaku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Concepcion's elbow.
A short uppercut from Concepcion.
Ekaku slowing the pace effectively.
Ekaku blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Ekaku's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Concepcion rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ekaku moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Concepcion drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ekaku is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ekaku works his way to full guard. Good work.
Concepcion postures up.
Ekaku manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Concepcion manages to get himself to full guard.
Ekaku wants to control from the top but Concepcion keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Concepcion controls Ekaku momentarily but Ekaku frees himself.
Ekaku showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Concepcion has his foot on Ekaku's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ekaku works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ekaku looking to sit in guard and control but Concepcion gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ekaku wants to sweep here but Concepcion controlling him for the moment.
Concepcion pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ekaku is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Concepcion works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hakuin Ekaku will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ekaku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Concepcion manages to avoid it.
Concepcion doesn't manage to clinch there - Ekaku circles away.
Concepcion has a takedown stuffed.
Ekaku looks to land a body kick but Concepcion moved away.
A right-left combo lands from Concepcion.
Concepcion throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ekaku counters with a nice uppercut.
Concepcion rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ekaku moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Angel Concepcion is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Concepcion swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ekaku tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Concepcion takes a kick to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fight stays on the outside here - Concepcion looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ekaku misses with a shot to the body

and Concepcion counters with a shoot takedown. Ekaku fights it but they end up in guard.
Concepcion tries to free his leg and advance position but Ekaku is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Concepcion drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ekaku dives on top into guard.

Concepcion has his feet on Ekaku's thighs here. He's pushed Ekaku off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Ekaku screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Angel Concepcion! Angel Concepcion retains his featherweight title!
An out of breath Angel Concepcion thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.