PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hakuin Ekaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Klem Hopper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Ekaku
vs
Hopper

173 cm
20
155 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
150 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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TKO Vegas
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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 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hakuin Ekaku!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Klem Hopper!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopper throws a nice looking combination but Ekaku bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ekaku jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ekaku showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hopper.
Hopper throws a series of punches but Ekaku moves out of range.
Klem Hopper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot lands for Hopper.
Jab, jab by Ekaku - just one landing.
Hopper misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ekaku.
Hopper misses with a two punch combination.
Nice body kick there by Ekaku.
Hopper looks to land a right hand but Ekaku moved out of range.
Ekaku staying out of range there.
Ekaku swinging wilding here.
Hopper is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hopper scores with a body shot.
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 one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hopper falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ekaku counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hopper is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Hopper looks gassed!
Ekaku misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ekaku throws a head kick but Hopper moves out of range.
Ekaku will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Ekaku gets the takedown into side control.

Ekaku is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hopper knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ekaku works to advance to full mount. Hopper defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ekaku is trying to control here but Hopper has managed to regain half guard.
Ekaku not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ekaku is trying to control the action in half guard but Hopper is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ekaku wants to pass to mount but Hopper is defending the position.
Ekaku blocks the strikes from Hopper.
Hopper wants to get back to his feet.
Ekaku has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hopper missing with punches from the bottom.
Hopper has hold of Ekaku's hands but Ekaku slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopper pushes Ekaku off but Ekaku dives into side control.
Hopper can't do much from the bottom here.
Hopper tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ekaku wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hopper 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.
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. Ekaku connects with a nice short shot to Hopper's temple.
Ekaku is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hopper!
Ekaku trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ekaku controlling the position easily from mount.

Ekaku looking to secure an arm triangle but Hopper defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopper wants to control but Ekaku is having none of it.
Hopper is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Hopper is working to get back to half guard.
Ekaku throws some wild stikes that Hopper manages to avoid easily.
Ekaku lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopper is trying desperately to improve position.
Ekaku landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuin Ekaku dominated that round.
That's time! Ekaku's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hopper takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ekaku moves away from the strike by Hopper.
Ekaku defending well as Hopper loads up on a big left hand.
Ekaku keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hopper.
Hopper misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Ekaku counters with a single leg into guard. Hopper didn't expect that.
Ekaku sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hopper's guard.
Ekaku is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Ekaku wants to finish this one by submission but Hopper is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ekaku.
Hopper can't escape the position.

Ekaku looking to secure an arm triangle but Hopper defends it well.
Ekaku controlling from the full mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopper is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Ekaku looking to control but Hopper is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ekaku avoids the attempt from Hopper to control.
Hopper is looking to get to half guard.

Ekaku working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Hopper looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Ekaku! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Hakuin Ekaku!
Hakuin Ekaku retains his featherweight title!