PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Charles Carlyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakuin Ekaku Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ekaku Jr is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Jiu Jitsu. Charles Carlyle could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Hakuin Ekaku Jr's chin.

Carlyle
vs
Ekaku Jr

177 cm
26
153 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

175 cm
24
165 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

REAR NAKED CHOKE NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Charles Carlyle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hakuin Ekaku Jr!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carlyle throws a jab but it's blocked by Ekaku Jr.
Carlyle looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ekaku Jr looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Carlyle scores with a head kick. Ekaku Jr tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ekaku Jr turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ekaku Jr throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carlyle moves out of range of the leg kick from Ekaku Jr.
Carlyle dives in and grabs Ekaku Jr's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ekaku Jr pushes down on Carlyle's head and hops out.
Ekaku Jr feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku Jr moves out of range of the body kick.
Ekaku Jr changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Charles Carlyle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ekaku Jr fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ekaku Jr throws a head kick but Carlyle moves out of range.
Carlyle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlyle lands with a slapping head kick.
Ekaku Jr looks to throw the jab but Carlyle is out of range.
A head kick misses from Carlyle.
Nice defenses there by Ekaku Jr.
Ekaku Jr drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Carlyle defends it well.
Ekaku Jr blocks a jab.
Ekaku Jr works Carlyle's body with a nice hook.
Carlyle blocks a jab.
Ekaku Jr takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ekaku Jr blocks a leg kick.
Carlyle takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Ekaku Jr pushes Carlyle up against the cage in a clinch.
Ekaku Jr misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Ekaku Jr.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ekaku Jr.
Carlyle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ekaku Jr tries to work over Carlyle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Carlyle lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ekaku Jr backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Carlyle gets through Ekaku Jr's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Carlyle swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Carlyle blocks an uppercut.
Ekaku Jr lands a nice uppercut.
Carlyle pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ekaku Jr lands with a right to the head.
Ekaku Jr avoids the elbow strike from Carlyle, against the cage.
Ekaku Jr blocks an elbow strike from Carlyle.
Carlyle lands a body shot in the clinch.

Ekaku Jr turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Ekaku Jr manages to end up in side control.
Ekaku Jr misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ekaku Jr tries to advance to mount but Carlyle denies him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Carlyle tries to improve position but can't.
Ekaku Jr cracks Carlyle with a big right hand but Carlyle just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Carlyle parries the strikes from Ekaku Jr easily there. Ekaku Jr is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Carlyle to escape.
Carlyle trying to remain calm as Ekaku Jr controls from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ekaku Jr is trying to ground and pound but Carlyle uses the momentary lack of control by Ekaku Jr to regain half guard.
Still in half guard, Ekaku Jr seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ekaku Jr drops an elbow to the side of Carlyle's head.
Carlyle is staying active underneath Ekaku Jr, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Carlyle trying to control from the bottom.
Carlyle is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Ekaku Jr moves nicely into side control.
Ekaku Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carlyle keeps working.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Carlyle wants to control but Ekaku Jr postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hakuin Ekaku Jr will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ekaku Jr lands a jab to the head.
Carlyle rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ekaku Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A jab from Carlyle misses.
Ekaku Jr walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Carlyle throws a front kick that sends Ekaku Jr stumbling back into the cage.
Carlyle fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ekaku Jr avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carlyle bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ekaku Jr's head.
Ekaku Jr throws a leg kick but Carlyle moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlyle has a takedown stuffed.
Good standup being displayed there by Ekaku Jr as he connects with a hook.
Ekaku Jr throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ekaku Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charles Carlyle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carlyle motions for Ekaku Jr to come forward. Carlyle throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ekaku Jr unleashes a big counter combination but Carlyle bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Carlyle throws a lazy head kick
and Carlyle takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ekaku Jr stuffs the takedown attempt from Carlyle. Carlyle gets slowly back to his feet.
Carlyle throws a leg kick

and Ekaku Jr counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlyle keeping moving, preventing Ekaku Jr from controlling successfully.
Ekaku Jr might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Carlyle haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Ekaku Jr with a nice head shot there.
Ekaku Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Carlyle controls Ekaku Jr momentarily but Ekaku Jr frees himself.
Carlyle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ekaku Jr is one step ahead there.
Ekaku Jr throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Carlyle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ekaku Jr trying to control but Carlyle is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ekaku Jr cracks Carlyle with a solid left hand.
Ekaku Jr trying to control but Carlyle is working from the bottom.
Ekaku Jr postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Carlyle keeping moving, preventing Ekaku Jr from controlling successfully.
Ekaku Jr slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carlyle is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ekaku Jr is trying to control. Carlyle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ekaku Jr is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr winds up and cracks Carlyle with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ekaku Jr trying to control the action but Carlyle is working from the bottom.
Carlyle is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ekaku Jr's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ekaku Jr's back!

Ekaku Jr defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Carlyle misses with punches from the back.

Ekaku Jr preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Carlyle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ekaku Jr wants to escape the position.
Ekaku Jr has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Carlyle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuin Ekaku Jr 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!

Carlyle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ekaku Jr misses with a body shot.
Carlyle checks a low kick from Ekaku Jr.
Carlyle scores with a kick to the body.

Carlyle scores with a takedown into Ekaku Jr's guard.
Carlyle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ekaku Jr seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ekaku Jr is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku Jr has Carlyle pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ekaku Jr has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Carlyle postures up in Ekaku Jr's guard and throws a big left but Ekaku Jr blocks it.
Ekaku Jr keeping full guard, as Carlyle tries to pass.
Carlyle scoring with some ground and pound.
Carlyle wants to control from the top but Ekaku Jr keeps moving.
Carlyle is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ekaku Jr is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Charles Carlyle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ekaku Jr is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Carlyle keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ekaku Jr's head.
Carlyle trying to control the position from guard on top but Ekaku Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carlyle being controlled here momentarily.
Carlyle makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Carlyle wants to control from the top but Ekaku Jr keeps moving.
Ekaku Jr looking for a sweep. Not yet Ekaku Jr, not yet.
Carlyle advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr moves into full guard.
Ekaku Jr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Carlyle's guard.

Ekaku Jr postures up.
Ekaku Jr wants to pass the guard but Carlyle is keeping the position.
Ekaku Jr seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ekaku Jr missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ekaku Jr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carlyle is keeping the position for now.
Ekaku Jr stopping the sweep attempt from Carlyle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ekaku Jr working the head and body with strikes.
Ekaku Jr wants to control but Carlyle is keeping him busy.
Ekaku Jr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ekaku Jr cracks Carlyle with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ekaku Jr scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Carlyle to see if he's OK.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ekaku Jr lands a nice forearm strike.
Ekaku Jr takes a little break here. Carlyle wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Ekaku Jr tries to advance to mount but Carlyle denies him.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hakuin Ekaku Jr.
I've got Ekaku Jr 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hakuin Ekaku Jr!
Post fight, Hakuin Ekaku Jr took to the microphone: 'Thank you to my inspiration, my father, THE GREATEST EVER Hakuin "Zen" Ekaku.'.