|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jerry Azumah (ranked 137 p4p, 201 weight class) and Hiroshi Ekaku (ranked 19 p4p, 29 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
 |
|
 |
| 176 cm
33
148
12 - 2 - 0 |
|
173 cm
37
147
26 - 14 - 3 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
|
Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jerry Azumah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 14 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroshi Ekaku!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azumah avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Azumah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ekaku moves away.
Azumah works Ekaku's body with a nice hook.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Ekaku has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Ekaku swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Azumah counters with a nice uppercut.
Azumah digs a good hook to Ekaku's body.
Ekaku lands with a nice body punch.
Azumah misses with a looping right.
Ekaku swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Azumah keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
An inside leg kick from Azumah misses.
Azumah walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ekaku.
Ekaku misses with a low kick.
A low kick from Azumah misses
and Ekaku counters with a nice uppercut.
Azumah misses with a lunging right hand
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azumah scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ekaku throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Azumah works the jab nicely.
Ekaku looks to land a left hand but Azumah moved out of range nicely.
A head kick by Azumah misses
and Ekaku connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Azumah throws an off balance right hand
and Azumah takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ekaku throws a leg kick
and Azumah counters with a stiff right hand.
Ekaku scores with a kick to the body.
Azumah takes a swing at Ekaku's ribcage but misses.
Ekaku buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Azumah displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ekaku throws out the jab.
Hiroshi Ekaku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That kick from Ekaku tenderised Azumah's leg. Azumah is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ekaku stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Azumah.
Ekaku staying out of range there.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Azumah lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ekaku has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ekaku and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ekaku scores with a leg kick.
Jab, jab by Ekaku - just one landing.
Ekaku throws a wild body kick that Azumah sees coming a mile off.
Azumah misses with a body shot.
Azumah throws a shot from downtown. Ekaku moves away and avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A punch lands to the side of Ekaku 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Azumah finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azumah throws the left hand but Ekaku avoids the punch easily.
A solid body kick from Azumah.
Ekaku throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Azumah was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ekaku blocks a head kick by Azumah.
Azumah wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Azumah throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Ekaku swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Azumah tried to counter with a leg kick but Ekaku avoided it.
Azumah avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Azumah moves out of range of the leg kick from Ekaku.
Azumah with a nice calf kick.
Ekaku goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ekaku throws a body punch but Azumah moves out of range.
Azumah looks to land a left hand but Ekaku moved out of range nicely.
Azumah avoids a kick to the body.
Azumah connects with a body shot that sends Ekaku's belly button to the back.
Ekaku shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ekaku showed some decent athleticism there.
Azumah regains full guard. Nicely done.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku controlling from the top position.
Azumah is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ekaku engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Azumah wants to improve his position but instead Ekaku has moved into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ekaku is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ekaku wants to control but Azumah is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ekaku prevents Azumah from improving his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Hiroshi Ekaku will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Azumah lands a nice shot that snaps Ekaku's head back.
Ekaku takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ekaku misses the shot to the body.
Azumah takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Azumah moves out of range as Ekaku strikes.
Azumah ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Ekaku throws a jab but it's blocked by Azumah.
Ekaku misses the body punch
and Azumah cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ekaku keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Azumah throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azumah misses with a body kick.
Jerry Azumah is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ekaku throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Azumah's corner calls for a 1-2. Azumah obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Azumah throws a low kick but Ekaku avoids it.
A little jabbing left from Ekaku on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Azumah looks to score with a jab to the body but Ekaku is just out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Azumah throws a sloppy head kick and Ekaku moves out of range easily.
It looks like Azumah has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Azumah lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ekaku will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ekaku throws a leg kick that misses.
Ekaku scores with a jab to the body.
An inside leg kick from Ekaku misses.
Azumah throwing a counter right hand but Ekaku manages to avoid it.
Ekaku misses with an uppercut. Azumah saw that one coming.
Azumah looking to land some kicks to the body here.
An inside leg kick lands from Ekaku.
An inside leg kick lands from Azumah.
A swing and a miss from Ekaku.
Azumah was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Ekaku misses with an attempted mid kick.
Azumah misses with a leg kick
and Ekaku counters with a low kick, right behind Azumah 's knee.
Azumah lunges at Ekaku with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ekaku's hand.
Ekaku lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ekaku moves away from the strike by Azumah.
Ekaku throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Azumah checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azumah steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ekaku.
Azumah misses with a looping right.
Azumah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ekaku moves away.
Ekaku moves out of range as Azumah strikes.
Azumah wants to land a leg kick but Ekaku is out of range.
Azumah moves out of range as Ekaku strikes.
Ekaku throws a lazy right hand but Azumah sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Azumah misses with an uppercut. Ekaku saw that one coming.
Azumah moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ekaku scores with a jab to the jaw.
Azumah slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Azumah blocks a low kick nicely.
Azumah fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ekaku manages to avoid it.
Ekaku shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ekaku sitting and controlling from the half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azumah is staying active underneath Ekaku, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ekaku is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Azumah is just riding it out for now. Ekaku eventually gives up the hold.
Ekaku trying to advance position but Azumah counters by regaining guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Azumah looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ekaku is one step ahead there.
Azumah can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ekaku controls the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Hiroshi Ekaku will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Azumah gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ekaku.
Ekaku avoids the body shot from Azumah.
Ekaku slips under a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Azumah misses the target.
Azumah misses with a low kick as Ekaku jumps back.
Ekaku looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ekaku throws a leg kick
and Azumah counters with a nice body shot.
Azumah misses with a body kick.
Ekaku walks into a straight right hand from Azumah.
Ekaku looks to land a right hand but Azumah moved out of range.
Azumah looking to land some kicks to the body here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku misses with a looping right.
Ekaku throws a lazy uppercut
and Azumah counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Azumah connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ekaku throws out a powerful jab.
Azumah on the wrong end of a nice hook.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Azumah misses with a hook.
Ekaku feints the counter takedown.
Azumah lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ekaku at a distance.
Azumah misses with a shot to the body
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ekaku explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Azumah misses with a hook.
Ekaku keeps Azumah at a distance using the push kick.
Ekaku jabs at Azumah's body.
Ekaku throws a lazy uppercut
and Azumah counters with a leg kick.
Azumah misses the shot to the body.
Azumah gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ekaku looking to pass the guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azumah is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ekaku slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Azumah controlling the position.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azumah takes a swing at Ekaku's ribcage but misses.
Azumah blocks a low kick nicely.
Jerry Azumah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Azumah misses with a looping left.
Ekaku is trying to counter with his kicks.
Azumah uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ekaku.
A swing and a miss from Azumah.
Nice shot lands for Azumah.
Ekaku will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ekaku misses with a body shot.
Ekaku throws a looping overhand right but Azumah ducks down to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Azumah on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Azumah throws a leg kick
and Ekaku counters with a left to the body.
Ekaku misses with a shot to the body
and Azumah counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Azumah avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ekaku blocks the body kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Ekaku finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ekaku is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Azumah's half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ekaku performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ekaku wants to free his trapped foot but Azumah is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hiroshi Ekaku.
I've got Ekaku winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiroshi Ekaku!
Hiroshi Ekaku was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
51% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
