PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hakuin Ekaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shelton Harrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ekaku comes to the cage accompanied by IV. Harrell is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by J. Cole - Blow Up. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ekaku
vs
Harrell

173 cm
35
154 lbs
33 - 7 - 1

180 cm
33
160 lbs
24 - 11 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hakuin Ekaku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 2, fighting out of New York, Shelton Harrell!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harrell misses with an uppercut
and Ekaku counters with a nice uppercut.
Harrell swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Harrell misses with a looping left.
Ekaku keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harrell misses the body punch
and Ekaku finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Harrell fails to land with a series of punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harrell. Ekaku does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ekaku throws a leg kick which misses Harrell's front leg but catches the back leg as Harrell tries to avoid it.
Harrell fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ekaku looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ekaku lands a jab to the head.
Harrell fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ekaku checks it well.
Harrell looks to throw a body kick

and Ekaku counters with a shoot takedown. Harrell fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ekaku trying to control but Harrell is working from the bottom.
Harrell keeping full guard, as Ekaku tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku sitting in guard here, content to control.

Hakuin Ekaku has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Harrell misses with a double jab
and Ekaku counters with a nice kick to the body.
Harrell lands with a good body shot.
Harrell fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Harrell throws a head kick that misses.
Ekaku digs a good hook to Harrell's body.
Harrell is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ekaku rather than just go for the knockout.
Harrell throws a sloppy body shot

so Ekaku counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Harrell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ekaku postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Harrell keeping moving, preventing Ekaku from controlling successfully.
Ekaku slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrell defending against the ground and pound.
Harrell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Harrell avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ekaku.
Harrell wants to control but Ekaku postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku wants to take a breather but Harrell manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Ekaku.
Ekaku cracks Harrell with a solid left hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ekaku wants to pass the guard but Harrell is keeping the position.
Harrell wants to sweep here but Ekaku controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Good leg kick by Harrell there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Harrell jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Harrell ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Harrell - that will leave a mark!
Harrell misses with a body shot.
Ekaku feints and then cracks Harrell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Harrell down.
Harrell uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
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!
Harrell looks to score with a jab to the body but Ekaku is just out of range.
Ekaku ducks under a wild hook from Harrell.
Ekaku checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ekaku paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Harrell is looking to land body kicks.
Ekaku throws a series of punches but Harrell avoids them all with ease.
Harrell keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A head kick by Harrell misses

and Ekaku counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harrell manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ekaku's best efforts.
Harrell manages to get to full guard.
Ekaku advances to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Harrell is pressing down on Ekaku's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ekaku accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ekaku trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ekaku throws a big elbow that misses.
Harrell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ekaku sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Harrell wants to hit a switch here but Ekaku passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Harrell there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku unloads with some shots from mount but Harrell bucks and avoids them well.
Harrell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Harrell slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Harrell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ekaku.
Harrell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ekaku missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ekaku seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harrell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shelton Harrell 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!

Harrell is looking to score with low kicks.
A thudding body kick lands there by Ekaku!
Harrell throws a predictable looking body shot

and Ekaku counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Harrell's guard now.
Ekaku passes Harrell's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Harrell gets full guard.
Ekaku wants to control from the top but Harrell keeps moving.
Ekaku works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrell wants to get back to his feet.
Ekaku tries to pass the half guard into mount. Harrell knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Harrell is trying to get back to full guard.
Harrell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harrell keeps working.
Harrell wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hakuin Ekaku.
Harrell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Harrell is looking to land body kicks.
Harrell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ekaku.
Ekaku tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harrell. Ekaku does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shelton Harrell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrell is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Harrell swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Harrell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Harrell takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Harrell throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Ekaku counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ekaku moves out of range as Harrell throws a body kick.
Ekaku moves out of range of the leg kick from Harrell.
Harrell misses with a hook.
Ekaku closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harrell circles away.
Harrell is looking to score with low kicks.
Ekaku avoids the body shot from Harrell.
Ekaku walks into a stiff left hand from Harrell.
Harrell throws a nice outside leg kick.
Harrell misses with a body shot
and Ekaku counters with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrell fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
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!
Harrell pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Harrell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Harrell!
Harrell tests Ekaku's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ekaku throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Harrell throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harrell. Ekaku does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ekaku attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A low kick from Harrell is predictable there
and Ekaku counters with a nice body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harrell tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Harrell misses the target.
Ekaku tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shelton Harrell.
I think Harrell has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shelton Harrell!
Shelton Harrell very nearly forgot to thank Firebird Designs amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.