PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dezmond Drake (ranked 379 p4p, 423 weight class) and Satoshi Ekaku (ranked 30 p4p, 34 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Drake
vs
Ekaku

176 cm
31
160
16 - 12 - 0

173 cm
32
147
17 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dezmond Drake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Satoshi Ekaku!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ekaku tries to close the distance and clinch but Drake swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Drake misses with an uppercut
and Ekaku counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Drake thinking.
Drake lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A jab from Drake misses.
Ekaku tries to land a front kick but Drake steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A slow jab from Drake misses its intended target.
Drake throws a lazy uppercut
and Ekaku counters with a straight right hand.
A low kick from Ekaku is predictable there
and Drake counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Drake lands a nice shot that snaps Ekaku's head back.
Ekaku lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Drake swings widly with a right hand
and Ekaku counters with a left to the body.
Ekaku slips under a jab.
Drake rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Drake takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Drake is rocked!
A low kick from Ekaku is predictable there
and Drake counters with a series of strikes. Ekaku will be more careful next time no doubt.
A big left from Ekaku misses.
Drake misses with an uppercut.
Drake misses with an uppercut. Ekaku saw that one coming.
Ekaku is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku misses with a right hand
enabling Drake to counter with a crisp jab.
Drake lands with a shot to the body.
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!
Drake takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Drake misses with the combination.
Ekaku displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Drake throws out the jab.
Ekaku throws a big shot that misses.
Ekaku connects with a right hand. Drake shakes it off.
Ekaku takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Drake missing with a left hand there. Ekaku was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ekaku tries to counter with a clinch but Drake shakes him off and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake swats away the attempt to clinch by Ekaku.
Drake misses with a hook
and Ekaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Oh Drake is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A jab from Drake does it's job there.
Ekaku is looking to slow Drake down with leg kicks.
Ekaku chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Drake seems to have got his legs back now.
Drake loads up on a big right hand but Ekaku slips the punch.
Drake avoids the body shot from Ekaku.
Drake throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Drake checks a low kick from Ekaku.
Ekaku looks to score with a jab to the body but Drake is just out of range.
Drake connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku blocks a jab.
Drake looks to land a right hand but Ekaku moved out of range.
Ekaku tries to counter by closing the distance.
Ekaku scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Drake doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drake lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Drake uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ekaku.
A nice combination there by Drake.

Ekaku is rocked!
Ekaku throws a body kick that misses
and Drake counters with a big right hand! Oh Ekaku is in trouble here! Drake follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dezmond Drake!
Dezmond Drake thanked the fans post fight for their support.