PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sora Izanagi (ranked 189 p4p, 420 weight class) and Devin Ecker (ranked 29 p4p, 63 weight class). Ecker is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Where The Hood At?. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Izanagi
vs
Ecker

190 cm
23
210
12 - 3 - 0

194 cm
27
205
10 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
The Dirty Needle Project

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sora Izanagi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Devin Ecker!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ecker drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Good work by Ecker as he checks the leg kick.
Ecker throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ecker throws a front kick that sends Izanagi stumbling back into the cage.
Izanagi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ecker avoids the head kick by Izanagi.
Ecker is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Izanagi tries to work over Ecker's front leg with a kick but Ecker checks it.
An inside leg kick lands from Izanagi.
Izanagi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Izanagi avoids the head kick by Ecker.
Izanagi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Izanagi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Izanagi throws a body punch but Ecker moves out of range.
Izanagi's corner calls for a 1-2. Izanagi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ecker throws an overhand right that lands on Izanagi's shoulder, as Izanagi tries to avoid the shot.
Izanagi appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Devin Ecker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Izanagi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Izanagi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ecker is pushing down on Izanagi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Izanagi is fighting to maintain full guard but Ecker has managed to sneak the leg through.
Izanagi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ecker's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ecker's back!
Izanagi controls the action.
Izanagi 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Izanagi controlling well, preventing Ecker from escaping the position.
Izanagi doesn't have the hooks in and Ecker manages to turn into his guard.
Ecker throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ecker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ecker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Izanagi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ecker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Izanagi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ecker is trying to stand.
Izanagi is trying to control. Ecker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ecker is controlling Izanagi's trapped leg to prevent Izanagi from advancing to side control.
Ecker trying to hold on to Izanagi's head to control him but Izanagi postures up.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ecker manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Izanagi keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Izanagi tries a body shot but Ecker blocks it.
Izanagi tries to work over Ecker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Izanagi tries to throw a body punch but Ecker avoids it by throwing Izanagi back against the cage.
Ecker scores with a knee to the head.
Ecker is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ecker trying to control the position but instead, Izanagi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ecker into the cage.
Ecker taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A short left from Izanagi.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ecker.

Ecker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Izanagi throws a solid leg kick but Ecker takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Izanagi.
And Ecker tries to counter it with a takedown but Izanagi pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ecker ducks right into an uppercut from Izanagi.
Jab by Ecker.

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

Ecker is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ecker misses with a lunging right hand
and Izanagi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ecker is still on wobbly legs! Can Izanagi finish him?
Ecker avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Izanagi lands a monster head kick that reverborates around the arena! The crowd goes wild as Ecker crumples to the floor! Izanagi milks the crowd's applause and if that isn't knockout of the night, I will be very surprised!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Sora Izanagi!
Sora Izanagi is the new light heavyweight champion!
Sora Izanagi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.