PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wille Thai (ranked 3184 p4p, 2386 weight class) and Devin Ecker (ranked 395 p4p, 297 weight class). Ecker has chosen Where The Hood At? as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Thai
vs
Ecker

195 cm
24
212
9 - 6 - 0

194 cm
24
205
5 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Urban Fighter

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Wille Thai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Devin Ecker!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Francis DeMontford and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ecker avoids it really well and circles away.
Ecker throws a lazy head kick

so Thai counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ecker pulls Thai in close to prevent any damage.
Ecker trying to control the position.
Thai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Thai drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ecker looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ecker looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ecker!

Thai tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ecker wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ecker scores with a couple of short elbows.
Thai is trying to improve his position.
Ecker working the ground and pound.
Ecker scoring with punches from side control.
Thai is looking for a sweep.
Ecker lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Ecker cracks Thai with a big elbow.
Ecker landing strikes.
Thai tries to buck Ecker off but Ecker is having none of it.
Thai is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thai manages to get to full guard.
Thai looking for a sweep. Not yet Thai, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ecker scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ecker is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ecker's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Thai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ecker defends it easily.
Ecker lands a couple of elbows.

Thai looking for a guillotine here but Ecker defends easily.

Thai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ecker is aware though and is defending well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ecker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thai keeping full guard, as Ecker tries to pass.
Ecker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Thai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thai keeping moving, preventing Ecker from controlling successfully.

Thai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ecker is aware though and is defending well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ecker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Ecker got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thai has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ecker has managed to get both his arms back between Thai's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai has momentary wrist control but Ecker slips an elbow through the middle.
Ecker working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ecker lands a couple of digs.

Thai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ecker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ecker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Thai looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Ecker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ecker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ecker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ecker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Thai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ecker defends it easily.

Thai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ecker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Thai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ecker working some strikes from top position.

Thai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ecker keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thai's head.
Ecker lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ecker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ecker with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ecker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Thai looking for a guillotine here but Ecker defends easily.
Ecker chips away with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ecker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ecker trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ecker distracts Thai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Thai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ecker trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Devin Ecker dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thai chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ecker can pounce on him.
Ecker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thai.
Ecker misses with a body kick.
Ecker slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Devin Ecker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Ecker.
Thai drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ecker sprawls and moves away.
Ecker throws a right hand that misses

and Thai counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thai.
Thai tries to free his leg and advance position but Ecker is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai advances position into side control!

Thai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thai is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ecker is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Thai wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ecker, who protects the arm well.
Thai tries to advance to mount but Ecker instead regains half guard.

Thai is working for a submission of some sort.

Thai is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ecker is just riding it out for now. Thai eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Thai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Thai is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ecker is just riding it out for now. Thai eventually gives up the hold.
Thai uses his free foot to push down on Ecker's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ecker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thai jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ecker is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ecker and Thai has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Thai is trying to get an arm triangle but Ecker is defending well.

Thai is trying to get an arm triangle but Ecker is defending well.
Ecker is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Thai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ecker wants to control but Thai is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Thai is trying to work for a kimura but Ecker is defending well.
Ecker is looking for a sweep. Thai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Thai looking for a submission but Ecker manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Devin Ecker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thai tries to free his leg and advance position but Ecker is retaining full guard.
Ecker lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ecker cracks Thai with a solid left hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thai working for a triangle but Ecker defends it easily.
Ecker postures up and lands a big shot to Thai's brow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Wille Thai will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ecker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ecker misses with a head kick.
Ecker wants to clinch up but Thai keeps it at a distance.
Ecker tries a head kick but it misses.
Ecker throws a head kick that misses

so Thai counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

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

Thai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ecker defends it easily.
Ecker working some strikes from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thai is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ecker scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ecker trying to control but Thai is working from the bottom.

Thai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ecker defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ecker postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Thai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ecker is aware though and is defending well.
Ecker trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ecker with a nice head shot there.
Ecker connects with a couple of short punches.

Thai working for a triangle but Ecker defends it easily.
Ecker lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ecker works over Thai with some ground and pound from guard.

Thai looking for a guillotine here but Ecker defends easily.
Ecker lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ecker works over Thai with some ground and pound from guard.
Ecker lands a couple of elbows.
Ecker trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ecker landing with the ground and pound.
Ecker is in close to Thai's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ecker working some strikes from top position.

Thai has his foot on Ecker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ecker works his way back into a safe position though.
Ecker scoring with some ground and pound.
Ecker lands a couple of digs.
Ecker postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Thai is rocked!
Ecker cracks Thai with a solid left hand.
Oh Thai is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ecker arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Thai's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Devin Ecker!
In his post fight interview, Devin Ecker gave a big smile as he said 'I want to thank my opponent Willie Thai. He's a hell of a fighter. Thank you to all my fans for supporting me during my recent slump. I won't let you down.'.