PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hakuin Ekaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Dessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ekaku's entrance music is IV. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ekaku
vs
Dessler

173 cm
32
154 lbs
33 - 5 - 0

168 cm
26
160 lbs
15 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hakuin Ekaku!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Billy Dessler!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dessler throws a leg kick that misses.
Ekaku misses with a wild body shot.
Dessler fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ekaku manages to avoid it.
Ekaku jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ekaku goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ekaku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dessler.
Ekaku is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ekaku misses the shot to the body.
Ekaku swings for the body but Dessler moves out of range.
Ekaku keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dessler.
Dessler avoids the head kick by Ekaku.
Ekaku is looking to land body kicks.
Dessler works Ekaku's body with a nice hook.
Dessler takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Dessler.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dessler throws out a loose jab but Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dessler dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Ekaku.
Dessler throws a hook but Ekaku blocks it.
Hakuin Ekaku is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ekaku scores with a nice body kick.
Dessler uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ekaku.
Ekaku drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Dessler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dessler swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ekaku avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ekaku throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Dessler on the side of the head.
Ekaku fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Dessler checks it well.
Ekaku works Dessler's body with a nice hook.
Dessler throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ekaku makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dessler misses with a straight right.
Ekaku slips under a jab from Dessler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Dessler as he checks the leg kick.
Dessler will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ekaku fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dessler looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ekaku is looking to wear down Dessler with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dessler misses with a straight left.
Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dessler.
Ekaku wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ekaku listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Dessler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ekaku.
Ekaku lands with a shot to the body.
Ekaku lands with a right hand.
Ekaku throws a push kick but Dessler slaps the foot to one side.
Ekaku lands a body shot.
Ekaku looks for the body kick but Dessler saw that one coming.
Dessler fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ekaku checks it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku throws a leg kick but Dessler checks it.
Dessler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A telegraphed right hand from Dessler misses the target.
Ekaku misses the shot to the body.
Ekaku fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ekaku misses with a wild body shot.
Ekaku dips to his left and cracks Dessler with an uppercut!
Dessler misses with a leg kick.
Ekaku tries to work over Dessler's front leg with a kick but Dessler checks it.
Ekaku checks the leg kick nicely there.
Donk. Ekaku catches Dessler right on the button with a cross.
Dessler fails with a takedown attempt.
Dessler takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dessler moves into range and clinches up with Ekaku.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A shot in the inside from Dessler.
Ekaku blocks an elbow strike from Dessler.

Dessler breaks from the clinch.
Dessler tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Some wild striking there from Ekaku.
Ekaku scores with a sloppy right hand. Dessler should have avoided that one.
A shot to the liver by Dessler. Beautiful body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dessler lands a jab to the nose.
Dessler swings for the body but Ekaku moves out of range.
Ekaku is looking to chop away at Dessler's legs.
Ekaku throws a looping overhand right but Dessler ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Dessler.
Dessler fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ekaku misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ekaku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dessler.
Ekaku throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ekaku throws a half hearted mid kick.
Dessler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ekaku moves away.
Ekaku throws a low kick but Dessler moves out of range easily.
Dessler jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Dessler staying out of range there.
Dessler throws a wild body kick that Ekaku sees coming a mile off.
Dessler lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ekaku checks the leg kick nicely there.
Dessler dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dessler cracks the inside of Ekaku's front leg.
Ekaku fails to land with a series of punches.
Dessler defending well as Ekaku loads up on a big left hand.
Dessler throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ekaku sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Dessler connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Dessler walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Dessler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ekaku misses with a low kick.
A leg kick checked by Ekaku.
Dessler blocks a low kick nicely.
Hakuin Ekaku is winning the standup battle so far.
Dessler connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ekaku ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dessler fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku throws a solid leg kick but Dessler takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ekaku.
Ekaku looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Billy Dessler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ekaku bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Dessler's head.
Ekaku lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ekaku chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ekaku lands the left hand.
Dessler fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Dessler bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A combination from Ekaku does no damage.
Dessler throws a right hand that misses
and Ekaku counters with a body kick.
A swing and a miss from Ekaku.
Ekaku moves forwards but Dessler connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Dessler walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ekaku.
Ekaku tries to score with a low kick but Dessler moves his leg out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku takes a kick to the side of the head.
Dessler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ekaku misses with a hook
and Dessler counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ekaku.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ekaku.
Ekaku throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ekaku throws a looping overhand right but Dessler ducks down to avoid it.
Ekaku scores with a shot to the body.
Ekaku throws a jab when Dessler was well out of range.
Dessler checks a leg kick nicely.
Dessler tries to clinch but Ekaku moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Ekaku there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Dessler waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ekaku.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dessler looks to land a left hand but Ekaku moved out of range nicely.
Ekaku moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ekaku looks to score with a jab to the body but Dessler is just out of range.
Ekaku fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ekaku throws out a powerful jab.
Ekaku walks forward, straight into a front kick from Dessler.
Ekaku bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ekaku wants to land a leg kick but Dessler is out of range.
Ekaku lands a head shot.
Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dessler.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ekaku connects with an inside leg kick.
Dessler throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ekaku stuns Dessler with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuin Ekaku dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dessler lands a lovely overhand right.
Dessler misses with a wild body shot.
Ekaku throws a hook to the side of Dessler's head but Dessler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ekaku throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dessler sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dessler fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ekaku lands an overhand right.
Dessler finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Dessler scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ekaku doesn't seem bothered though.
Dessler misses with a looping left.
Dessler missing with a left hand there. Ekaku was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ekaku walks forward, straight into a front kick from Dessler.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dessler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ekaku motions for Dessler to come forward. Ekaku throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku misses with a body shot.
Dessler throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ekaku throws a hook to the side of Dessler's head but Dessler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dessler misses with a looping left.
Ekaku moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ekaku tried to score with a low kick but Dessler checks it.
Dessler tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ekaku paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ekaku. That's going to slow Dessler down.
Dessler lands with a straight right. Ekaku didn't see that one coming.
Ekaku throws a body punch but Dessler moves out of range.
Ekaku cracks the inside of Dessler's front leg.
Dessler throws a good cross that connects.
Some bone on bone action there as Dessler checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dessler throws a leg kick but Ekaku moved away.
Ekaku waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dessler.
Ekaku misses the shot to the body.
Ekaku scores with a nice head shot.
Dessler with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dessler throws the kick towards the body but Ekaku avoids it.
Dessler's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Dessler uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ekaku.
Ekaku ducks under a wild hook from Dessler.
Ekaku shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Dessler misses the jab.
Ekaku thuds his right hand into Dessler's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ekaku looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A clash of legs there as Dessler blocks the low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dessler bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Dessler misses with a leg kick.
Dessler lands a glancing blow to the side of Ekaku's head.
Dessler moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Dessler cracks Ekaku with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Dessler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ekaku stuffs the takedown attempt from Dessler. Dessler gets slowly back to his feet.
Dessler wants to slow Ekaku down by chopping away at his legs.
Ekaku misses with an uppercut
and Dessler counters with a stiff right hand.
Dessler throws a hook but Ekaku blocks it.
Ekaku uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dessler.
Good leg kick by Ekaku there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Dessler.
Ekaku blocks a leg kick.
Dessler blocks the body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ekaku takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Dessler defending well as Ekaku loads up on a big left hand.
Ekaku with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Good leg kick by Dessler there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Dessler feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ekaku's calf.
Dessler misses with a body shot
and Ekaku counters with a left to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ekaku slips a straight right by Dessler.
Ekaku throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ekaku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dessler manages to avoid it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dessler.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Dessler 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.

Dessler throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Dessler pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ekaku punishes Dessler's body with a nice straight punch.
Dessler displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ekaku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dessler manages to avoid it.
Dessler feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ekakus jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Dessler slips under a jab from Ekaku.
Ekaku throws a body punch but Dessler moves out of range.
Dessler waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ekaku.
Dessler throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ekaku's waist but Ekaku gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dessler off to one side.
Dessler throws a sloppy head kick and Ekaku moves out of range easily.

Dessler dives in and scores a takedown into Ekaku's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dessler stopping the sweep attempt from Ekaku.
Dessler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dessler trying to control but Ekaku is working from the bottom.
Dessler prevents Ekaku from getting back to his feet.
Ekaku pulls Dessler in to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Hakuin Ekaku just wasn't active enough.
Ekaku throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dessler sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ekaku enables Dessler to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ekaku manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Dessler trying to control the position from guard on top but Ekaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ekaku is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dessler wants to control from the top but Ekaku keeps moving.
Dessler controlling from the top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Dessler postures up in Ekaku's guard and throws a big left but Ekaku blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dessler is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Billy Dessler hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Dessler lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Dessler connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A good leg kick by Dessler.
Dessler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ekaku moves away.
Ekaku throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dessler moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Dessler takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dessler throws a hook but Ekaku blocks it.
Dessler on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ekaku. Ekaku obviously looking to wear him down.
That kick from Ekaku tenderised Dessler's leg. Dessler is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ekaku takes a swing at Dessler's ribcage but misses.
An inside leg kick from Dessler misses.
Ekaku swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dessler lands with a nice body kick.
Ekaku tried to score with a low kick but Dessler checks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dessler blocks a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ekaku moves away from the strike by Dessler.
Dessler moves out of range as Ekaku strikes.
Dessler chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Dessler dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Dessler throws a hook but Ekaku blocks it.
Dessler throws a front kick aimed at Ekaku's knee but Ekaku avoids it well.
Dessler throws a low kick, looking for Ekaku's leg but Ekaku calmly moves out of range.
Dessler slips a jab from Ekaku.
Dessler bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Ekaku cracks Dessler with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ekaku will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Dessler looks to land a left hand but Ekaku moved out of range nicely.
Dessler fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Dessler throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ekaku takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Jab by Dessler.
Ekaku scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ekaku lands a leg kick that knocks Dessler off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku throws a hook but Dessler blocks it.
Dessler slips under a jab from Ekaku.
Ekaku circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dessler connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Dessler avoids the body shot from Ekaku.
Dessler delivers a nice body kick.
Dessler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ekaku fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Dessler checks it well.
Dessler throws a body kick that misses.
Dessler scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ekaku doesn't seem bothered though.
Ekaku lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dessler at a distance.
Ekaku throws out a leg kick but Dessler moves out of range and Ekaku only half commits.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dessler throws a body kick that misses.
Ekaku thuds his shin into the meat of Dessler's side.
Dessler scores with a jab to the jaw.
A solid leg kick lands there for Dessler.
Ekaku throws out a loose jab but Dessler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ekaku scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Dessler doesn't seem bothered though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dessler thows a body shot but no joy.
A big right from Ekaku misses.
Ekaku swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ekaku misses with a straight right.
Dessler throws a leg kick that misses.
Dessler keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ekaku.
Dessler misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dessler misses the shot to the body.
Dessler shoots in looking for a takedown but Ekaku manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dessler's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ekaku steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dessler.
Dessler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ekaku but Ekaku pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dessler misses with a low kick.
Ekaku fakes the leg kick and cracks Dessler in the body.
Horrible takedown by Dessler or perhaps it was just good defense by Ekaku which made him look bad.
Hakuin Ekaku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Dessler.
Dessler is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Dessler throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Dessler misses with a wild body shot.
Dessler throws a wild body kick that Ekaku sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku tests Dessler's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Dessler tries to land a front kick but Ekaku steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ekaku lands a jab to Dessler's midsection.
Dessler throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ekaku counters with a series of strikes. Dessler will be more careful next time no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ekaku steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dessler.
Ekaku misses with a hook.
Dessler throws a looping overhand right but Ekaku ducks down to avoid it.
Ekaku fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Dessler checks it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dessler slips a jab from Ekaku.
Dessler bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Dessler moves out of range of the strikes.
Dessler takes a swing at Ekaku's ribcage but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Billy Dessler.
I think Dessler 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Billy Dessler!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!
Oh dear, what a disastrous situation! The belt remains unclaimed and both fighters go home unhappy!