PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hakuin Ekaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blokada Leningrada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ekaku comes into the arena with IV blaring out of the sound system. Leningrada has chosen Farewell of Slavyanka as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ekaku
vs
Leningrada

173 cm
24
155 lbs
20 - 0 - 0

175 cm
28
156 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Hell's Balls Recovery
Conviction

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 20 - 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 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blokada Leningrada!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ekaku throws a leg kick which misses Leningrada's front leg but catches the back leg as Leningrada tries to avoid it.
Ekaku misses the shot to the body.
Leningrada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ekaku bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ekaku misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leningrada manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku lands with a kick to the temple. Leningrada shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ekaku slips a jab from Leningrada.
Ekaku misses with a wild body shot.
Ekaku lands the left hand.
Leningrada misses with a looping left.
Leningrada avoids the head kick by Ekaku.
Leningrada is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Ekaku.
Nice body punch from Ekaku.
Ekaku throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ekaku pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Leningrada slips a straight right by Ekaku.
A big right from Leningrada misses.
A head kick misses from Ekaku.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku throws the left hand but Leningrada avoids the punch easily.
Leningrada takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice cross by Ekaku.
Ekaku lands a two punch combo.
Leningrada walks into a stiff left hand from Ekaku.
Ekaku looks to land a right hand but Leningrada moved out of range.
Leningrada looks to land a right hand but Ekaku moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ekaku will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ekaku scores with a kick to the body.
Ekaku pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ekaku connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
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.

Leningrada avoids a kick to the body.
Ekaku throws a chopping leg kick but Leningrada manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Leningrada misses with an uppercut. Ekaku saw that one coming.
Ekaku lands with a hook. Leningrada tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Leningrada misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leningrada misses with an uppercut.
Ekaku takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leningrada with a hook.
Leningrada takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A swing and a miss from Ekaku.
Ekaku tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Leningrada was well out of range. Poor timing from Ekaku.
Ekaku connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Leningrada's hands.
Hakuin Ekaku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leningrada avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leningrada misses with an uppercut. Ekaku saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku tries a head kick but it misses.
Leningrada lands with a right hand.
Ekaku lands with a nice combination. Leningrada backs away looking to recover.
Leningrada sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ekaku fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Leningrada is out of range.
Ekaku connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leningrada is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ekaku.
Hakuin Ekaku is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ekaku throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ekaku throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Leningrada fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ekaku works over Leningrada's head and body with a nice combination.
Hakuin Ekaku is winning the standup battle so far.
Leningrada dodges the punch combination from Ekaku.
Leningrada throws a jab but it's blocked by Ekaku.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leningrada misses with an uppercut.
Ekaku darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Leningrada takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Leningrada misses with a straight right.
Ekaku throws an overhand right that lands on Leningrada's shoulder, as Leningrada tries to avoid the shot.
Blokada Leningrada is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ekaku uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Leningrada.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuin Ekaku dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Leningrada staying out of range there.
Ekaku connects with a solid leg kick.
Leningrada stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ekaku.
Leningrada gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ekaku.
Leningrada looks to land a right hand but Ekaku moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leningrada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice jab there from Ekaku.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leningrada moves away from the strike by Ekaku.
Ekaku keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ekaku lands a nice looking body kick.
Leningrada slips a straight right by Ekaku.
Ekaku scores with a push kick.
Leningrada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ekaku misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ekaku. Leningrada does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ekaku throws a hook to the side of Leningrada's head but Leningrada sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Leningrada steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ekaku.
Ekaku looks to land a combination. Leningrada sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku misses with a few strikes there.
A head kick misses from Ekaku.
Leningrada steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ekaku.
Ekaku feints and then cracks Leningrada's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Leningrada down.
Ekaku throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Leningrada sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Leningrada slips a straight right by Ekaku.
Ekaku lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leningrada uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ekaku.
Ekaku fails with a takedown attempt.
Leningrada chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ekaku can pounce on him.
Ekaku throws a leg kick but Leningrada sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Leningrada fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ekaku on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuin Ekaku clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ekaku connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Leningrada's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Leningrada drops his hands momentarily and Ekaku takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Leningrada displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ekaku throws out the jab.
Leningrada misses with a hook.
Ekaku looks to land a body kick but Leningrada moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leningrada bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Leningrada defending well as Ekaku loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ekaku walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Leningrada checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Leningrada throws a looping overhand right but Ekaku ducks down to avoid it.
Ekaku fails to land with a series of punches.
Leningrada tries to clinch up but Ekaku circles away and keeps his distance.
Ekaku throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ekaku throws a looping overhand right but Leningrada ducks down to avoid it.
Leningrada checks a low kick from Ekaku.
Leningrada throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ekaku counters with a straight right hand.
Ekaku throws a jab but it's blocked by Leningrada.
Leningrada is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ekaku.
Ekaku connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Leningrada momentarily.
Nice defenses there by Ekaku.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leningrada looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A thudding body kick lands there by Ekaku!
Ekaku throws a leg kick that misses.
Leningrada gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Leningrada connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ekaku scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Leningrada is out of range.
Ekaku steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Leningrada.
Ekaku keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leningrada.
Ekaku lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ekaku jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A slapping body kick lands there for Ekaku.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuin Ekaku had his way with Blokada Leningrada in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Leningrada has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Leningrada there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ekaku throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Leningrada to counter with a crisp jab.
Ekaku blocks a jab.
Leningrada uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ekaku.
Ekaku throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Leningrada sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Leningrada has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Ekaku chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Leningrada might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Ekaku has got the better of the exchanges.
Leningrada connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Leningrada.
Ekaku tries a head kick but it misses.
Leningrada looks to land a left hand but Ekaku moved out of range nicely.
Ekaku swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Leningrada might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ekaku throws a hook but Leningrada blocks it.
Ekaku throws a hook to the side of Leningrada's head but Leningrada sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Blokada Leningrada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ekaku scores with a sloppy right hand. Leningrada should have avoided that one.
Ekaku is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Leningrada.
Ekaku works the jab nicely.
Ekaku ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leningrada moves away.
Good leg kick by Ekaku there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Leningrada misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leningrada misses with an uppercut.
Ekaku attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Leningrada slips under a jab from Ekaku.
An inside leg kick lands from Ekaku.
Leningrada bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A thudding body kick lands there by Ekaku!
Leningrada has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Ekaku.
Leningrada jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Ekaku misses
and Leningrada cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Leningrada keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ekaku.
Danga de danga de dang - Ekaku scores with a four punch combination!
Ekaku looks to throw the jab but Leningrada is out of range.
Leningrada slips under a jab from Ekaku.
Hakuin Ekaku is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ekaku lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leningrada circles away quickly and effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hakuin Ekaku.
Well Ekaku has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight for Hakuin Ekaku!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Hakuin Ekaku!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Hakuin Ekaku!

Hakuin Ekaku wins by unanimous decision!
Hakuin Ekaku retains his featherweight title!