PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Serge Ibaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Ekart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ibaka's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, S.A.R.S. - Lutka. The key to victory for Serge Ibaka has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ibaka
vs
Ekart

170 cm
26
143 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

165 cm
26
143 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Alcatraz Apparel
Atlantis

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 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Serge Ibaka!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Craig Ekart!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Peter Branson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good standup being displayed there by Ibaka as he connects with a hook.
Ekart shoots in looking for a takedown but Ibaka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ekart's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A little feinted left hand from Ibaka on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ibaka looks to throw the jab but Ekart is out of range.
Ekart fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ekart misses with a right hand
enabling Ibaka to counter with a crisp jab.
Ibaka loads up on a big right hand but Ekart slips the punch.
Ekart with the counter takedown but Ibaka avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibaka throws a lazy right hand but Ekart sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And Ekart tries to counter it with a takedown but Ibaka pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ekart tries for a takedown but Ibaka circles away easily
and Ibaka counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Craig Ekart has been cut.
Serge Ibaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Ekart.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaka fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Serge Ibaka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ibaka scores with a decent looking hook.
Ibaka misses with a looping left.
Ibaka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ibaka jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ibaka looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ibaka looks to score with a jab to the body but Ekart is just out of range.
Ekart changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A swing and a miss from Ibaka.
Ibaka cracks Ekart with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekart moves out of range of the strikes.
Ibaka misses with a straight right.
Ekart is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ibaka is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ekart misses the shot to the body.
Ekart misses the body punch
and Ekart takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big right from Ibaka misses.
Ekart with the counter takedown but Ibaka avoids it easily.
Ibaka lands a jab.
Ibaka is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ibaka. Ekart does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ekart tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ibaka looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ekart.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Ibaka throws a looping overhand right but Ekart ducks down to avoid it.
Ekart is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ekart with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ibaka counters with a nice uppercut.
Ibaka misses with a double jab

and Ekart counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ibaka won't be happy with that.
Ekart tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Ekart tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ekart has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ekart trying to control the position but Ibaka is working away.

Ekart tries for a kimura but Ibaka is defending well.
Ibaka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Ibaka's face as Ekart controls the position.
Ibaka tries to bench press Ekart off him but Ekart keeps the position.
Ekart tries to score with some ground and pound. Ibaka controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Craig Ekart's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ibaka looks to land a right hand but Ekart moved out of range.
Ekart is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ibaka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ekart sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ekart keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ekart looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ibaka scores with a hook.
Ekart takes a swing at Ibaka's ribcage but misses.
A little feinted left hand from Ibaka on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekart bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ekart moves out of range as Ibaka strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekart moves out of range of the strikes.
Ekart takes one to the side of the head.
Ibaka throws a big shot that misses.
Ekart feints the counter takedown.
Ekart ducks under a wild hook from Ibaka.
Ekart shoots in for a double leg but Ibaka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ekart just misses with a punch to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Ibaka on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ekart steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ibaka.
Ekart tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Serge Ibaka is winning the standup battle so far.
Ekart shoots in looking for a takedown. Ibaka tries to sprawl out of it but Ekart keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ibaka manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A counter left hand to the body from Ibaka misses its target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekart has his takedown stuffed
and Ibaka counters with a nice uppercut.
Serge Ibaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Ekart.
Ekart uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ibaka.
Ibaka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ekart manages to avoid it.
Donk. Ibaka catches Ekart right on the button with a cross.
Ibaka throws a looping overhand right but Ekart ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka throws the left hand but Ekart avoids the punch easily.
Ekart blocks a jab.
Ekart tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Serge Ibaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ekart keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ibaka.
Ibaka misses with an uppercut.
Ekart misses with a takedown
letting Ibaka counter with a right hand.
Ibaka throws a hook but Ekart blocks it.
Ekart misses with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekart drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ekart steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ibaka.
And Ekart tries to counter it with a takedown but Ibaka pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ibaka misses the jab.
And Ekart tries to counter it with a takedown but Ibaka pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ibaka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And Ekart tries to counter it with a takedown but Ibaka pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ibaka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ekart.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ibaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ekart fails with the takedown
and Ekart takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Craig Ekart's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ekart misses with a shot to the body
and Ibaka counters with a nice uppercut.
Ekart throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ibaka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ibaka misses with an uppercut.
Ekart fails with the takedown
and Ibaka counters with a right hand to the body.
Ibaka scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ekart doesn't seem bothered though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibaka bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ekart's head.
Ibaka throws a jab when Ekart was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ekart changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ibaka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ekart.
Jab, jab by Ibaka - just one landing.
Ibaka misses with a lunging right hand

and Ekart counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ibaka!
Ibaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ekart can do to turn this around?
Ekart works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Ibaka knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ekart on the ground.
Ibaka is not content to let Ekart control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekart working the ground and pound from side control.
Ekart working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Ibaka takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Ibaka on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ibaka tries to get out of the position.
Ibaka is not content to let Ekart control the position.
Ekart is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
You can see the frustration on Ibaka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekart trying to control the position but Ibaka is working away.
Ibaka taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ibaka wants to control but Ekart postures up.
Ibaka is not content to let Ekart control the position.
Ibaka is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Craig Ekart has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ekart in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Ibaka is looking to regain half guard here but Ekart keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Ibaka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ekart scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ibaka to see if he's OK.
Ekart has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ibaka is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ekart connects with a decent elbow.
The strikes coming from Ekart are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ekart passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Ibaka!
Ekart looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ekart tries to control but Ibaka wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ekart unloading with bombs!
Ekart fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Ekart really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Craig Ekart's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ibaka avoids the body shot from Ekart.
Nice defenses there by Ibaka.
Ibaka lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ekart ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ekart slips under a jab from Ibaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibaka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ekart drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ibaka defends it well.
Ibaka looks to throw the jab but Ekart is out of range.
Ibaka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaka steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ekart.
It looked like Ibaka was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ekart.
Ibaka throws an overhand right that lands on Ekart's shoulder, as Ekart tries to avoid the shot.
Ibaka looks to throw the jab but Ekart is out of range.
Ekart fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ibaka looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ibaka lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ibaka throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ibaka throws a hook to the side of Ekart's head but Ekart sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Ibaka lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ekart doesn't seem phased though.
Ekart misses with a body punch
and Ibaka counters with a stiff right hand.
Ekart tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ibaka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ekart somewhat.
Ibaka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ekart drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ibaka defends it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ibaka. Ekart does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ekart drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ibaka defends it well.
Ibaka takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ekart. Ekart circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A big left from Ibaka misses.
Ekart tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ekart moves away from the strike by Ibaka.
Ekart tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ibaka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ekart was well out of range. Poor timing from Ibaka.
Ekart drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ibaka defends it well.
Ekart has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Ekart misses with a hook
and Ibaka counters with a straight right hand.
Ibaka missing with a left hand there. Ekart was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ekart fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ibaka manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Ekart.
Ekart misses with a shot to the body
and Ibaka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ekart doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Ibaka to counter with a crisp jab.
Ibaka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ekart.
Ekart with the counter takedown but Ibaka avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ibaka cracks Ekart with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A big right from Ibaka misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka had his way with Craig Ekart in that round.
The cut man is working on Craig Ekart's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ibaka throws a hook to the side of Ekart's head but Ekart sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Ibaka does it's job there.
Ekart swings for the body but Ibaka moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Ibaka on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ibaka throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ekart feints the counter takedown.
Ibaka throws a good cross that connects.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekart ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ibaka misses with a hook. Ekart ducked under it nicely.
Ibaka misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaka misses with a looping right.
Ekart ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ekart feints the counter takedown.
Ekart moves out of range of the strikes.
Ibaka stuffs the takedown attempt from Ekart. Ekart gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice defenses there by Ekart.
Ekart lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ekart uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ibaka.
Ekart defending well as Ibaka loads up on a big left hand.
Ekart shoots for a takedown but Ibaka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ekart shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ibaka as he avoids it easily.
Serge Ibaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Ekart.
Ekart slips a straight right by Ibaka.
Ekart dodges the punch combination from Ibaka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekart dives in for a single leg takedown but Ibaka sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Serge Ibaka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ibaka throws out a loose jab but Ekart uses good head movement to avoid it.
And Ekart tries to counter it with a takedown but Ibaka pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ibaka misses with an uppercut.
Ekart changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ibaka looks to land a left hand but Ekart moved out of range nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ekart.

Ekart is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ibaka knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ekart wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ibaka tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
BOOM! Ekart connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ekart cracks Ibaka with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ekart in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Craig Ekart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee warns Ibaka that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ekart unloading with bombs!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Serge Ibaka.
I think Ibaka has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 49:45
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 49:45
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Serge Ibaka!
Serge Ibaka retains his bantamweight title!
After the fight, Serge Ibaka was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.