PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ei Keksi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arik Hazard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keksi comes to the cage accompanied by Foo Fighters - Low. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Keksi
vs
Hazard

180 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

187 cm
18
196 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ei Keksi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arik Hazard!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hazard misses with a low kick.
Keksi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hazard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Keksi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hazard pinned against the cage. Hazard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A leg kick checked by Keksi.
Nice sprawl there from Hazard as Keksi shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ei Keksi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Keksi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hazard as he jumps to the side.
Keksi shoots in but no luck this time.
Keksi avoids a punch combination nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Keksi.
No joy there for Hazard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Hazard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hazard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Keksi blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazard scores with a shoulder strike.
Hazard stops a takedown attempt from Keksi.

Hazard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hazard has closed the distance and engaged Keksi in a clinch.

Hazard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hazard tries to work over Keksi's front leg with a kick but Keksi checks it.

Hazard clinches up with Keksi and pushes him back against the cage.
Hazard connects with a knee to the head.

Keksi has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hazard uses from the top position.
Hazard passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Hazard thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hazard tries to advance to mount but Keksi instead regains half guard.
Hazard wants to free his trapped foot but Keksi is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keksi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hazard is working away from the top position though.
Hazard working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Keksi's thigh. Keksi counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Keksi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hazard is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Keksi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hazard's back instead.

Keksi looking for the RNC.
Hazard is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Keksi off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Keksi is breathing heavily.
Keksi trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazard turns into Keksi and is now in his guard.
Hazard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hazard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Keksi has his foot on Hazard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hazard works his way back into a safe position though.
Hazard passes Keksi's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Hazard seems to be working for a kimura but Keksi defends the submission attempt.
Hazard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Keksi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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.

Hazard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Keksi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hazard.
Keksi is trying to maintain the position but Hazard is very close to passing his half guard.

Hazard is looking for a kimura here.
Keksi gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arik Hazard dominated that round.
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.

Nice takedown defense from Hazard. No joy for Keksi on that attempt.
Keksi has a takedown stuffed.
Hazard throws a head kick that misses.
Horrible takedown by Keksi or perhaps it was just good defense by Hazard which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ei Keksi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A good leg kick by Hazard.
Keksi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hazard.
Hazard misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keksi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hazard's waist but Hazard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Keksi off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hazard.
Hazard's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hazard duly obliges.

Keksi is rocked!
Keksi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Oh Keksi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Arik Hazard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazard throws a right and a left that Keksi avoids nicely.
Keksi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Keksi seems to have got his legs back now.

Keksi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Keksi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Keksi in particular looking to stall.

Keksi has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Hazard defend it? Keksi steps over the head and cranks it - Hazard is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Keksi!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ei Keksi!