PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshi Ekaku (ranked 88 p4p, 18 weight class) and Manny Puno (ranked 13 p4p, 2 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ekaku
vs
Puno

173 cm
35
147
22 - 10 - 3

180 cm
39
158
22 - 9 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 22 - 10 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroshi Ekaku!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 2, fighting out of New York, Manny Puno!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puno connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ekaku. Ekaku circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ekaku thows a left - swing and a miss!
Puno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ekaku.
Ekaku tests Puno's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Puno fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ekaku looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ekaku seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Puno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ekaku manages to avoid it.
Ekaku slips a jab from Puno.
Ekaku lands a nice looking kick to the body. Puno takes a step back to recover.
Puno moves out of range of the leg kick from Ekaku.
Ekaku scores with a jab. Puno acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Puno shoots in looking for a takedown. Ekaku tries to sprawl out of it but Puno keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ekaku manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ekaku misses with a wild body shot.
Puno keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A good leg kick by Ekaku.
Puno throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A nice leg kick from Ekaku, right into the meat of the thigh.
Puno throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ekaku sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ekaku throws a looping overhand right but Puno ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ekaku looks to land a left hand but Puno moved out of range nicely.
Puno drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ekaku defends it well.
Ekaku misses with a kick to the body.
Puno avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Puno lands with an uppercut that bounces Ekaku off the cage and back into range.
Puno uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ekaku.
Puno changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ekaku punishes Puno's body with a nice straight punch.
Ekaku throws the left hand but Puno avoids the punch easily.

Puno decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Puno connects with a nice short shot to Ekaku's temple.
Ekaku has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Puno is working away from the top position though.
Puno controlling the action here.
Ekaku is staying active underneath Puno, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ekaku avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Puno.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puno not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Puno seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ekaku does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Puno frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Puno working Ekaku over with strikes here.
Puno can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ekaku is looking to escape.
Puno is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ekaku can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ekaku tries to hold on but Puno postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puno lands a big shot there that rocks Ekaku but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Puno trying to control but Ekaku is having none of it.
Ekaku wants to hold on but Puno pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Puno takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ekaku avoids a strike by Puno and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Puno's guard! Fantastic escape!
Puno is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Puno keeping moving, preventing Ekaku from controlling successfully.
Puno looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puno is looking to sweep but instead, Ekaku has passed into half guard.
Puno manages to get to full guard.
Ekaku sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Puno wants to sweep but no luck.
Ekaku trying to control the position from guard on top but Puno is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Puno is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Manny Puno will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A jab from Ekaku does it's job there.
Ekaku takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Puno throws a shot from downtown. Ekaku moves away and avoids it.
Puno dives in for a single leg takedown but Ekaku sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Puno swings for the body but Ekaku moves out of range.
Ekaku defending well as Puno loads up on a big left hand.
Nice shot lands for Puno.
Ekaku pivots, looking for a leg kick but Puno is out of range and Ekaku settles back down.
A good leg kick by Ekaku.
Ekaku buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ekaku misses with a body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ekaku!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ekaku moves away from the strike by Puno.
Puno moves out of range of the strikes.
Ekaku lands a right hook to the body.
Puno takes a swing at Ekaku's ribcage but misses.
Ekaku throws a big shot that misses.
Puno is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Puno blocks a head kick by Ekaku.
Puno scores with the left hand. Ekaku knows he should have avoided that one.
Hiroshi Ekaku is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku tried to score with a low kick but Puno checks it.
Ekaku lands a jab to the head.
Puno throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ekaku.
A nice leg kick from Ekaku, right into the meat of the thigh.
Puno shoots in for a takedown but Ekaku shows good takedown defense.
Puno lands a nice looking body shot.
Puno bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Puno takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nice shot by Puno.
Ekaku moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ekaku thumps Puno with a low kick.
Nice uppercut there from Puno.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Puno is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ekaku sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As Puno backs away, Ekaku returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Hiroshi Ekaku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Puno.
Ekaku bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ekaku on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Puno throws a big shot that misses.
Puno just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromEkaku.
Ekaku walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Puno misses the jab.
Jab by Ekaku.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Ekaku throws a looping overhand right but Puno ducks down to avoid it.
Ekaku tries to work over Puno's front leg with a kick but Puno checks it.
Ekaku ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Puno misses with a hook.
Puno swings for the body but Ekaku moves out of range.
Puno swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ekaku counters with a straight right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ekaku. Puno does a little dance to reset his feet.
Puno smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Puno connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ekaku closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Puno throws a shot from downtown. Ekaku moves away and avoids it.
Jab from Ekaku.
Nice sprawl there from Ekaku as Puno shoots in.
Ekaku wants to slow Puno down by chopping away at his legs.
Ekaku throws a front kick aimed at Puno's knee but Puno avoids it well.
Puno has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ekaku ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ekaku chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ekaku throws a hook to the side of Puno's head but Puno sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puno avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Puno dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Puno on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Puno misses the jab.
Puno steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ekaku.
Puno sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Ekaku lands a big head kick that sends Puno tumbling to the mat! Ekaku takes a step backwards and waves Puno back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Puno is rocked!
Puno's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ekaku will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Puno is still on wobbly legs! Can Ekaku finish him?
Puno checks a leg kick nicely.
Puno lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ekaku at a distance.
Puno seems to have recovered his senses.
Hiroshi Ekaku is winning the standup battle so far.
Ekaku turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Puno ducks under a wild hook from Ekaku.
Ekaku tries to land a front kick but Puno steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Puno listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Puno looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Puno is pressing down on Ekaku's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ekaku is holding on for now.
Puno thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ekaku's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puno throws a strike but Ekaku avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Ekaku pulls Puno in close to his closed guard and prevents Puno from doing any damage or advancing position.
Puno postures up.
Puno trying to control the position from guard on top but Ekaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Puno passes Ekaku's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Puno lands a nice short elbow.
Ekaku is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Puno scores with a couple of nice shots.
Puno missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hiroshi Ekaku will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Puno shoots in but Ekaku avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ekaku looks to land a body kick but Puno moved away.
Puno with the counter takedown but Ekaku avoids it easily.

Puno shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ekaku is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Puno stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ekaku swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Puno throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ekaku working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku trying to control the position here.
Manny Puno has got the better of the ground game so far.
Puno loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puno connects with a couple of short punches.
Puno wants to pass the guard but Ekaku is keeping the position.
Puno throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Puno paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ekaku fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ekaku takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ekaku tries a head kick but it misses.
Puno smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Puno ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ekaku moves away.
Some wild striking there from Puno.
Puno checks a leg kick.
Nice cross by Puno.
Ekaku is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Puno drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sloppy strikes there by Puno.
Puno tries to advance to mount but Ekaku denies him.
Puno 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.
Puno trying to control the action but Ekaku is working from the bottom.
Puno working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Puno working away.
Puno creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ekaku sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Puno looks up at the clock and then as Ekaku takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Puno smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puno wants to control but Ekaku is keeping him busy.
Puno sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ekaku is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Puno wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ekaku keeps working.
Ekaku avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Puno.
Puno connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ekaku some visible discomfort.
Ekaku regains half guard.
Puno lands strikes from half guard.
Puno is looking to advance position but Ekaku won't allow it.
Puno not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ekaku is looking to improve his position.
Puno passes to side control.
Puno lands a few punches from side control.
Ekaku gets back to half guard.
Puno thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ekaku trying to hold on to Puno's head to control him but Puno postures up.
Puno looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Puno really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Puno throws a lazy right hand but Ekaku sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ekaku looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Puno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Puno keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Puno shoots in and bounces Ekaku off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Puno wants to control from the top but Ekaku keeps moving.
Puno is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Puno is looking to work some ground and pound but Ekaku has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puno sitting in guard here, content to control.
Puno trying to control but Ekaku is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puno loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ekaku is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ekaku keeping moving, preventing Puno from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Ekaku connects with a crisp jab.

Puno closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ekaku did well to prevent Puno getting side control.
Puno missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ekaku is refusing to be controlled, as Puno sits in half guard.
Ekaku trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puno stalling away here and it's allowed Ekaku to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Puno tries to free his leg and advance position but Ekaku is retaining full guard.
Puno stopping the sweep attempt from Ekaku.
Puno looking to sit in guard and control but Ekaku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Puno controls Ekaku momentarily but Ekaku frees himself.
Ekaku is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Puno looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku postures up.
Ekaku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Puno is keeping the position for now.
Puno pulls Ekaku in to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Puno loads up on a big right hand but Ekaku slips the punch.
A little feinted left hand from Ekaku on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ekaku connects with a single shot there.
Ekaku throws a jab when Puno was well out of range.
Ekaku just misses with a punch to the body.
Ekaku drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A telegraphed right hand from Puno misses the target.
Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Puno.
Nice cross by Puno.
Puno sizes up Ekaku with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Puno shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ekaku napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ekaku parries the strikes from Puno easily there. Puno is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ekaku to escape.
Ekaku tries to buck Puno off but Puno is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ekaku managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Puno.
Ekaku prevents Puno from moving into mount.
You can see the frustration on Ekaku's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Puno lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ekaku takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Puno wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ekaku keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Puno dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ekaku tries to score with a low kick but Puno moves his leg out of the way.
Puno throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ekaku is looking to score with low kicks.
Puno misses the shot to the body.
Ekaku takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A slow jab from Puno misses its intended target.
A telegraphed right hand from Puno misses the target.
Ekaku takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ekaku throws a body punch but Puno moves out of range.
Puno on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ekaku. Puno does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ekaku with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Puno to score with a decent uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku with a jab.
A punch lands to the side of Ekaku 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ekaku tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Puno misses with a looping right.
Ekaku throws the kick towards the body but Puno avoids it.
Ekaku looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ekaku takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puno lands an overhand right.
A big right from Ekaku misses.
Nice defenses there by Puno.
Ekaku fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ekaku tried to score with a low kick but Puno checks it.
Puno drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ekaku defends it well.
Puno works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Puno dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Puno waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ekaku.
Puno sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ekaku lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Puno has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Puno and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Puno closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Puno lands in his opponent's guard.
Ekaku keeping full guard, as Puno tries to pass.
Puno missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hiroshi Ekaku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puno slips nicely into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ekaku actively working from the bottom here.
Puno not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Puno throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Puno thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ekaku's head.
Puno is trying to control. Ekaku wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Puno looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ekaku with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Puno throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Puno wants to take a breather but Ekaku is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Puno throwing shots but Ekaku is blocking nicely.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Puno slips under a jab.
Nice uppercut there from Puno.
Puno connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ekaku will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Puno takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Puno throws a big shot that misses.
Puno swings for the body but Ekaku moves out of range.
Puno has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ekaku.
Puno works the jab nicely.
Ekaku is looking to score with low kicks.
A slow jab from Puno misses its intended target.
Puno uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ekaku has time to react.
Puno works Ekaku's body with a nice hook.
Puno connects with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ekaku gets caught flat footed, as Puno shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ekaku wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Puno trying to control the position from guard on top but Ekaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Puno looking to sit in guard and control but Ekaku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ekaku postures up.
Puno is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ekaku won't allow Puno to sweep him here.
Manny Puno is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Puno pulls Ekaku in close to prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Puno comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Puno 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 46:49
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 46:49
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Puno! Manny Puno retains his featherweight title!