PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jian Zhao (ranked 474 p4p, 481 weight class) and Satoshi Ekaku (ranked 42 p4p, 43 weight class). Zhao's entrance music is Dirty Harry (Schtung Chinese New Year Remix) - Gorillaz. A fine choice. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Zhao
vs
Ekaku

173 cm
32
156
22 - 13 - 1

173 cm
31
147
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Conviction
Conquer

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 22 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jian Zhao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Satoshi Ekaku!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhao throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ekaku counters with a good, hard body kick but Zhao shrugs it off.
A telegraphed right hand from Zhao misses the target.
Zhao checks a leg kick.
Zhao throws an overhand right that lands on Ekaku's shoulder, as Ekaku tries to avoid the shot.
Ekaku throws a leg kick but Zhao sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zhao throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Ekaku counters with a nice uppercut.
Zhao loads up on a big right hand but Ekaku slips the punch.
Ekaku takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ekaku connects with a jab.
Zhao throws a right hand that misses
and Ekaku counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhao misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ekaku counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ekaku scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zhao is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ekaku.
Ekaku is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Zhao misses with a hook
and Ekaku counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhao swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ekaku counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ekaku misses with a hook. Zhao ducked under it nicely.
Zhao swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Zhao blocks a jab.
Zhao throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A big left from Zhao misses.
Ekaku with a nice calf kick.
Zhao misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ekaku.
Zhao throws a sloppy head kick and Ekaku moves out of range easily.
Ekaku on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zhao. Zhao obviously looking to wear him down.
Jian Zhao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhao avoids a kick to the body.
Zhao just misses with a punch to the body.
Zhao misses with a combination
and Ekaku counters with a body kick.
Zhao fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ekaku.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku scores with a jab to the body.
Ekaku throws a leg kick but Zhao checks it.
Nice defenses there by Ekaku.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhao gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ekaku avoids the body shot from Zhao.
Zhao misses with a left hand
and Ekaku connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zhao swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ekaku counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zhao misses with a right hand
and Ekaku cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Zhao misses with a hook. Ekaku ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Ekaku on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Zhao swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ekaku counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zhao ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ekaku moves away.
Ekaku feints and then cracks Zhao's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zhao down.
Good standup being displayed there by Zhao as he connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick lands for Ekaku.
A nice combination there by Zhao.
Zhao misses with a wild body shot.
Zhao misses with a shot to the body
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zhao misses with a body punch
and Ekaku counters with a straight right hand.
Ekaku connects with the punch.

Ekaku clinches up with Zhao and pushes him back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Zhao.
Ekaku lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ekaku tries to throw a body punch but Zhao avoids it by throwing Ekaku back against the cage.
Ekaku lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Ekaku - that landed with a thud.
Ekaku lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ekaku scores with a shot to the side of Zhao's head.
Ekaku throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Zhao pushes Ekaku back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zhao.
Zhao has a couple of punches blocked by Ekaku.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhao cracks Ekaku with a nice body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zhao.
A short uppercut from Ekaku.
Ekaku blocking some punches.
Zhao has a couple of punches blocked by Ekaku.
Zhao goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ekaku tries to stall but Zhao uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ekaku blocking some punches.
Ekaku misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ekaku creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ekaku lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ekaku blocks an uppercut.
Zhao throws a punch but it's blocked by Ekaku.
Ekaku blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Zhao.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zhao fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zhao pushes Ekaku back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ekaku has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Zhao seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Ekaku can turn it around.
Zhao misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zhao effectively controlling the action here.
Good body shot from Ekaku.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ekaku with a hook.
Zhao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zhao swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ekaku counters with a nice uppercut.
Ekaku slips under a jab from Zhao.
Ekaku looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zhao misses with a hook.
Ekaku fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zhao throws a combination that misses
and Ekaku counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Zhao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhao falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ekaku fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Satoshi Ekaku seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zhao misses with a hook to the body

and Ekaku moves into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ekaku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ekaku.
Ekaku is stalling here.
Ekaku goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ekaku.
I was talking to Zhao's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Zhao misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ekaku softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zhao.
Ekaku has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ekaku has Zhao pressed against the cage.
Zhao misses with the head strike.
Ekaku tries to work over Zhao's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ekaku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ekaku misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short left from Ekaku.
Ekaku is stalling here.
A short left from Ekaku.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhao blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zhao tries to work over Ekaku's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zhao has a couple of punches blocked by Ekaku.
Satoshi Ekaku seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zhao misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ekaku lands a body shot.
Zhao lands with a right to the head.
Zhao throws a head punch that misses.
Ekaku lands a shoulder strike.
Zhao misses with some punches.
Ekaku stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A shot in the inside from Zhao.
Ekaku lands a shoulder strike.
Ekaku lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zhao backwards.
Zhao lands a hook that snaps the head of Ekaku backwards.
Zhao tries to throw a body punch but Ekaku avoids it by throwing Zhao back against the cage.
Zhao tries a body shot but Ekaku blocks it.
Ekaku lands a shot to the body.
Ekaku lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zhao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ekaku's elbow.
Ekaku tries a body shot but Zhao blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice body punch from Ekaku - that landed with a thud.
Ekaku tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ekaku swings wildly with an uppercut but Zhao uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhao slowing the pace effectively.
Ekaku lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zhao backwards.
Zhao is looking to control Ekaku's arms but Ekaku gets an underhook and turns him. Now Zhao has his back to the cage.
Ekaku has a couple of punches blocked by Zhao.
Ekaku stalling the fight.
Zhao misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ekaku lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right from Ekaku on the inside.
Zhao tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ekaku taking a breather.
Zhao trying to control the position but instead, Ekaku has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zhao into the cage.
Zhao swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zhao throws a punch but it's blocked by Ekaku.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhao wants to stall.
Zhao misses with some punches.
Ekaku presses Zhao against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ekaku throws a punch but it's blocked by Zhao.
Ekaku digs a right hand into Zhao's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zhao's gas tank.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ekaku misses with some punches.
Ekaku lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ekaku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zhao's elbow.
Ekaku misses with the head strike.
Ekaku goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zhao scores with a hook to the body.
Ekaku lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zhao is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ekaku misses with the head strike.
Zhao misses with a body punch.
Ekaku blocking some punches.
Ekaku scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Zhao misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Satoshi Ekaku showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Zhao misses with the body kick
and Ekaku counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jian Zhao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ekaku digs a good hook to Zhao's body.
Zhao throws a lazy body kick
and Ekaku counters with a straight right hand.
Ekaku chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ekaku takes one to the chin there.
Ekaku moves out of range as Zhao throws a body kick.
Zhao tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ekaku swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zhao misses with a lunging right hand
and Ekaku counters with a stiff right hand.
Zhao throws a hook to the side of Ekaku's head but Ekaku sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ekaku doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku throws a body kick that misses.
Zhao throws a body kick that misses
and Ekaku counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zhao's knee momentarily.
Zhao throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ekaku counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhao. Ekaku does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick lands for Ekaku.
Zhao misses with a jab to the body
and Ekaku counters with a nice uppercut.
Ekaku lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Zhao looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Zhao goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zhao misses with a body kick.
Zhao is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Zhao swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ekaku counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zhao just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zhao lands the left hand.
Ekaku lands with a kick to the ribs.
Zhao takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ekaku tries to clinch but Zhao is having none of it.
Zhao tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhao misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhao misses with a hook to the body
and Ekaku counters with a good low kick that Zhao was not able to check.
Zhao misses with a body shot.
Ekaku scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zhao finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Ekaku moves into the clinch.
Ekaku is looking to control Zhao's arms but Zhao gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ekaku has his back to the cage.
Ekaku tries a body shot but Zhao blocks it.
Ekaku is trying to maintain a safe position but Zhao gets an underhook and turns Ekaku into the cage.
Ekaku lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zhao or not.
Ekaku scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zhao.
Zhao has a couple of punches blocked by Ekaku.
Zhao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ekaku's elbow.
Ekaku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zhao's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhao has a couple of punches blocked by Ekaku.
Zhao blocking some punches.
Ekaku blocking some punches.
A short right from Zhao.
A shot in the inside from Ekaku.
Ekaku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zhao's elbow.
Zhao scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Zhao misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zhao tries to throw a body punch but Ekaku avoids it by throwing Zhao back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Zhao.
A head punch on the inside from Zhao fails to land.
Ekaku misses with a punch on the inside.
Ekaku lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zhao misses with a punch on the inside.
Zhao swings wildly with an uppercut but Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zhao is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ekaku working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Zhao working aggressively here.
Zhao throws a punch but it's blocked by Ekaku.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ekaku presses Zhao against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short body shot lands from Ekaku as the two fighters clinch.
Zhao tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ekaku blocks an uppercut.
Zhao goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zhao tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zhao misses with some punches.
Ekaku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ekaku can't find room to land a body shot as Zhao controls the action.
Zhao misses with a body punch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ekaku.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ekaku.
A shot in the inside from Ekaku.
Ekaku lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zhao tries to throw a body punch but Ekaku avoids it by throwing Zhao back against the cage.
Ekaku swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ekaku misses with a body punch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Satoshi Ekaku is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ekaku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ekaku digs a right hand into Zhao's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zhao's gas tank.

And that's the end of the fight!
Satoshi Ekaku comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ekaku has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Satoshi Ekaku!
An out of breath Satoshi Ekaku thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.