PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hakuin Ekaku Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aquiles Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ekaku Jr kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Jiu Jitsu. Romero has chosen Scotland The Brave as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ekaku Jr
vs
Romero

175 cm
26
165 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

174 cm
27
161 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hakuin Ekaku Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aquiles Romero!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ekaku Jr tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Romero is able to avoid easily.
The crowd cheers as Ekaku Jr lands an impressive looking overhand right. Romero doesn't seem phased though.
Ekaku Jr swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Romero lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Romero.
Ekaku Jr connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ekaku Jr lands a head kick!

Ekaku Jr darts in and clinches Romero up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ekaku Jr.
Ekaku Jr lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Romero is trying to break the clinch but Ekaku Jr is controlling him.

Ekaku Jr breaks from the clinch.
Ekaku Jr throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Romero on the side of the head.
Ekaku Jr throws a combination that misses
letting Romero counter with a right hand.
Romero lands with a slapping head kick.
Ekaku Jr scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A jab lands there for Ekaku Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr ducks under a wild hook from Romero.
Ekaku Jr looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Romero throws a head kick but Ekaku Jr moves out of range.
Hakuin Ekaku Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ekaku Jr moves out of range as Romero throws a body kick.
Ekaku Jr misses with a hook
and Romero counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Romero needs to keep his hands up - Ekaku Jr had a free shot at his head there.
Romero displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ekaku Jr throws out the jab.
Ekaku Jr looks to land a left hand but Romero moved out of range nicely.
Romero throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Romero steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ekaku Jr.
Romero keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ekaku Jr shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Romero as he avoids it easily.
Romero throws a big counter head kick but Ekaku Jr avoids it with no problem.

Ekaku Jr darts in and clinches Romero up against the cage.
Romero is trying to break the clinch but Ekaku Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Romero prevents a body shot from Ekaku Jr.
Romero blocks a body shot from Ekaku Jr.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ekaku Jr working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ekaku Jr lands a body punch.
Ekaku Jr tries a body shot but Romero blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ekaku Jr.
Ekaku Jr tries to throw a body punch but Romero avoids it by throwing Ekaku Jr back against the cage.
Ekaku Jr tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Romero's elbow.
Ekaku Jr avoiding damage.
Romero tries to pull guard but Ekaku Jr forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Romero takes a shot to the head.
Ekaku Jr misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ekaku Jr working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Romero has had enough of the clinch but Ekaku Jr keeps him there for the moment.

Romero has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ekaku Jr uses from the top position.
Romero keeping full guard, as Ekaku Jr tries to pass.
Ekaku Jr won't allow Romero to get back to his feet.
Our spies down at at Heart Cave (8 elites, 4 double-elites, 1 triple) inform us that Romero has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr wants to control from the top but Romero keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romero wants to get back to his feet but Ekaku Jr is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ekaku Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Romero swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ekaku Jr throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Romero works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Romero is adopting a defensive guard.
Ekaku Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romero wants to stand but Ekaku Jr is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Ekaku Jr fails with the takedown.
Aquiles Romero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ekaku Jr bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ekaku Jr lands with an overhand left.
Ekaku Jr thows a leg kick but Romero checks it
and Romero counters with a head kick.

Ekaku Jr closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ekaku Jr digs a right hand underneath Romero's ribcage. Romero let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ekaku Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Romero uses good head movement to avoid it.

Romero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Romero swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ekaku Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ekaku Jr throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ekaku Jr connects with a body shot.

Romero tries to keep at a distance but Ekaku Jr has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ekaku Jr throws a low kick but Romero moves out of range easily.
Ekaku Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Romero! But no joy.
Ekaku Jr is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Romero can do to turn this around?
Ekaku Jr throws a nice inside leg kick.
Romero waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ekaku Jr.
Ekaku Jr throws the kick towards the body but Romero avoids it.
Romero bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Despite the aggression on Romero's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Romero misses with a looping right.
Romero on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku Jr tries to work over Romero's front leg with a kick but Romero checks it.
Ekaku Jr tries to score a power double leg takedown but Romero sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ekaku Jr somewhat.
Romero unleashes a big counter combination but Ekaku Jr bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ekaku Jr is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr throws a jab but it's blocked by Romero.
Ekaku Jr fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hakuin Ekaku Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero misses with a head kick.

Ekaku Jr gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Romero tries to pull guard but Ekaku Jr forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Ekaku Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ekaku Jr throws an off balance right hand
and Romero counters with a one-two to the body.
Romero throws a nice looking combination but Ekaku Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ekaku Jr does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ekaku Jr swings for the body but Romero moves out of range.
Romero wants to slow Ekaku Jr down by chopping away at his legs.
Ekaku Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
Ekaku Jr with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr looks for a takedown but Romero sprawls well.
Ekaku Jr has a takedown stuffed.
Romero looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ekaku Jr throws a leg kick
and Romero counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romero scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ekaku Jr fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Romero avoids it really well and circles away.
Romero throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ekaku Jr is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Romero.
Ekaku Jr throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ekaku Jr closes the distance and clinches up with Romero, looking for a takedown. Ekaku Jr pushes Romero against the cage but Romero circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ekaku Jr. That's going to slow Romero down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ekaku Jr ducks under a wild hook from Romero.
Ekaku Jr lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Ekaku Jr drives through and clinches with Romero against the cage.
Romero's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ekaku Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Romero controls his hands.
Ekaku Jr working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ekaku Jr lands a shoulder strike.
Romero tries to throw a body punch but Ekaku Jr avoids it by throwing Romero back against the cage.
Ekaku Jr misses with a body punch.
Romero wants to break free but Ekaku Jr has control.
Ekaku Jr lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Romero backwards.
A right hand to the body from Ekaku Jr.
Ekaku Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Romero controls the action.
Romero is trying to stall.
Ekaku Jr misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr gets through Romero's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Ekaku Jr.
Ekaku Jr pressing his opponent against the cage.
A short left from Ekaku Jr.
Ekaku Jr leaning against his opponent.
Ekaku Jr lands a body shot.
Romero is trying to pull guard but Ekaku Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Romero digs a right hand into Ekaku Jr's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ekaku Jr's gas tank.
Romero tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ekaku Jr.
Ekaku Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Romero controls the action.
Ekaku Jr lands an uppercut.
Ekaku Jr tries a body shot but Romero blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuin Ekaku Jr dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Romero swings for the body but Ekaku Jr moves out of range.
Ekaku Jr is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Ekaku Jr darts in and clinches Romero up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Ekaku Jr.
Stalling in the clinch from Ekaku Jr.
Ekaku Jr lands a body punch in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ekaku Jr blocks the elbow strike.
Ekaku Jr lands with a right to the head.
Ekaku Jr tries a body shot but Romero blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku Jr lands a hook that snaps the head of Romero backwards.
Romero doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ekaku Jr lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Romero or not.
Romero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ekaku Jr cracks Romero with a nice body shot.
Ekaku Jr lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ekaku Jr pushes Romero back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Ekaku Jr on the inside.
Ekaku Jr gets through Romero's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ekaku Jr digs a right hand into Romero's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Romero's gas tank.
Ekaku Jr lands a nice shot to the body.
Romero takes a shot to the head.
Ekaku Jr works on Romero's body with a couple of short punches.
Ekaku Jr gets through Romero's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ekaku Jr lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ekaku Jr digs a right hand into Romero's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Romero's gas tank.
Ekaku Jr lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Romero.
Ekaku Jr lands a body shot.
Ekaku Jr pushes Romero back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ekaku Jr scores with a shoulder strike.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ekaku Jr misses with a punch to the body.
Ekaku Jr lands with a light punch inside.
Ekaku Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Romero controls his hands.
Ekaku Jr throws a punch but it's blocked by Romero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ekaku Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Hakuin Ekaku Jr has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ekaku Jr pushes Romero back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ekaku Jr - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ekaku Jr is leaning against Romero and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ekaku Jr lands an uppercut.
Ekaku Jr lands a right hand.
Romero is looking to take this one to the mat.
Romero prevents a body shot from Ekaku Jr.
Ekaku Jr scores with a hook to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekaku Jr.
A nice left hand lands by Ekaku Jr.
Ekaku Jr misses with a punch on the inside.
Ekaku Jr misses with the head strike.
Romero looking to stall.
Ekaku Jr working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku Jr lands an uppercut.

Romero is rocked!
Ekaku Jr lands a shoulder strike.
Romero is still on wobbly legs! Can Ekaku Jr finish him?
Ekaku Jr scores with a shoulder strike.
Ekaku Jr lands a big right hand that drops Romero! The killer instinct kicks in and Ekaku Jr finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Ekaku Jr!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hakuin Ekaku Jr!
Post fight, an emotional Hakuin Ekaku Jr said 'Thank you to my inspiration, my father, THE GREATEST EVER Hakuin "Zen" Ekaku.'.
Aquiles Romero was interviewed post fight and said 'expect me to move down to 145 weight class'.