PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Satoshi Ekaku (ranked 539 p4p, 677 weight class) and Kwame Redcliffe (ranked 49 p4p, 61 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Redcliffe's choice of entrance music: Close Your Eyes (And Count To F**k). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kwame Redcliffe was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Ekaku
vs
Redcliffe

173 cm
33
147
19 - 11 - 0

175 cm
31
155
26 - 16 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conquer
Conviction

Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Satoshi Ekaku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 16 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kwame Redcliffe!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Redcliffe misses with a straight left.
Ekaku is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Redcliffe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slow jab from Redcliffe misses its intended target.
Ekaku misses with a straight right.
Redcliffe turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Redcliffe.
Redcliffe fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ekaku looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ekaku uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Redcliffe has time to react.
Ekaku lands with a kick to the ribs.
Redcliffe throws a hook but Ekaku blocks it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ekaku.
Ekaku looks to land a body kick but Redcliffe moved away.
Redcliffe throws a looping overhand right but Ekaku ducks down to avoid it.
Ekaku feints and then cracks Redcliffe's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Redcliffe down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ekaku.
Redcliffe misses with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Redcliffe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ekaku sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Redcliffe checks a low kick from Ekaku.
A slow jab from Ekaku misses its intended target.
Ekaku throws a hook to the side of Redcliffe's head but Redcliffe sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ekaku throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Redcliffe moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redcliffe misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ekaku comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ekaku lands a nice leg kick that just misses Redcliffe's sensitive parts.
Redcliffe slips under a jab.

Ekaku gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Redcliffe struggles to land a body shot inside as Ekaku controls his hands.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Redcliffe misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ekaku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Redcliffe as Ekaku tries to tie him up.
Ekaku throws a head punch that misses.
Ekaku lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Redcliffe backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ekaku.
Ekaku is working Redcliffe over against the cage.
Ekaku prevents a body shot from Redcliffe.
Ekaku has a couple of punches blocked by Redcliffe.
Ekaku swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ekaku misses with a punch on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ekaku - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Redcliffe avoiding damage as Ekaku throws knees to the body.
I was talking to Ekaku's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Redcliffe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ekaku lands a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ekaku can't find room to land a body shot as Redcliffe controls the action.
Redcliffe unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ekaku lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ekaku taking a breather.
Ekaku effectively controlling the action here.
Redcliffe misses with a hook from the clinch.
Redcliffe lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ekaku working aggressively here.
Ekaku blocking some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Redcliffe.
Redcliffe misses with a knee strike.
Ekaku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ekaku lands with a light punch inside.
Redcliffe misses with a punch on the inside.
Redcliffe struggles to land a body shot inside as Ekaku controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redcliffe is trying to force a seperation but Ekaku has the dominant position.
Ekaku misses with a punch on the inside.
Ekaku swings wildly with an uppercut but Redcliffe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Redcliffe with a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Redcliffe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ekaku tries to work over Redcliffe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ekaku.
Ekaku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Redcliffe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ekaku will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Redcliffe appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ekaku scores with a nice body kick.
Redcliffe misses with a straight left.
Ekaku looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ekaku throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ekaku moves out of range of the strikes.
Redcliffe ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Redcliffe avoids the body shot from Ekaku.
Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Redcliffe.
Redcliffe takes a head kick and keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ekaku slips a jab from Redcliffe.
Ekaku is looking to counter the offense by Redcliffe and move into the clinch.
Ekaku throws an overhand right that lands on Redcliffe's shoulder, as Redcliffe tries to avoid the shot.
Redcliffe swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ekaku throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Redcliffe throws a lazy right hand but Ekaku sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Satoshi Ekaku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ekaku is looking to land body kicks.
Redcliffe missing with a left hand there. Ekaku was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ekaku sizes up Redcliffe with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Good exchange - Ekaku coming out on top.
Redcliffe slips under a jab.
Ekaku looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ekaku tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Redcliffe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Redcliffe looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ekaku scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ekaku avoids a kick to the body.
Ekaku moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Good shot there by Ekaku.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ekaku lands a right hook to the body.
Ekaku misses the shot to the body.
Redcliffe doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Satoshi Ekaku dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Redcliffe's corner calls for a 1-2. Redcliffe obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Redcliffe fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ekaku.
Redcliffe lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice defenses there by Ekaku.
Ekaku tries a low kick but Redcliffe avoids it.
Ekaku cracks Redcliffe with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ekaku connects with a body shot that sends Redcliffe's belly button to the back.
Ekaku tries to clinch up.
Redcliffe looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ekaku is looking to land body kicks.
Redcliffe scores with a kick to the midsection.
Redcliffe takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Redcliffe takes one on the button.
Ekaku works Redcliffe's body with a nice hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ekaku's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Redcliffe connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ekaku scrambles back to his feet.
Redcliffe scores with a leg kick.
Ekaku scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Redcliffe digs a good body shot into Ekaku's ribs.
Redcliffe lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ekaku lands with a right hand.
Redcliffe moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redcliffe on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ekaku throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Redcliffe counters with a nice uppercut.
Ekaku missing with a left hand there. Redcliffe was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jab by Redcliffe.
Redcliffe tries to land a front kick but Ekaku steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ekaku throws a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Redcliffe misses.
Ekaku swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Redcliffe counters with a straight right hand.
Ekaku slips under a jab.
Ekaku is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Redcliffe.
Redcliffe scores with a nice strike.
Ekaku misses with a body kick.
Redcliffe swats away the attempt to clinch by Ekaku.
Redcliffe looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Redcliffe throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters circling - Redcliffe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ekaku walks into a straight right hand from Redcliffe.
Ekaku connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Redcliffe stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ekaku.
Redcliffe lands a nice looking body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ekaku. That's going to slow Redcliffe down.
Ekaku throws a push kick but Redcliffe slaps the foot to one side.
Ekaku lands with a kick to the ribs.
Ekaku moves out of range as Redcliffe strikes.
Ekaku lands with a thumping leg kick.
Redcliffe takes a swing at Ekaku's ribcage but misses.
Ekaku looks to land a combination but Redcliffe avoids it well.
Redcliffe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ekaku throws out the jab.
Ekaku with a hook.
A big right from Redcliffe misses.
Ekaku misses with a body shot.
Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Redcliffe.
Ekaku thuds his shin into the meat of Redcliffe's side.
Redcliffe looks to land a body kick but Ekaku moved away.
Redcliffe shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Satoshi Ekaku is winning the standup battle so far.
Redcliffe takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ekaku throws a leg kick but Redcliffe moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redcliffe cracks Ekaku with a good jab.
Redcliffe misses with a straight right.
Redcliffe moves out of range of the strikes.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ekaku.
Redcliffe misses with a looping left.
Redcliffe misses with a hook. Ekaku ducked under it nicely.
It looked like Ekaku wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Redcliffe takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ekaku lands a glancing blow to the side of Redcliffe's head.
Redcliffe throws out a loose jab but Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid it.
Redcliffe looks to land a right hand but Ekaku moved out of range.
Ekaku swings for the body but Redcliffe moves out of range.
Ekaku bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A swing and a miss from Redcliffe.
Redcliffe attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ekaku scores with a nice head shot.
Ekaku connects with a good right hand that stumbles Redcliffe. Redcliffe circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ekaku throws a body shot but no joy.
Redcliffe checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ekaku misses with a low kick.
Redcliffe looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku throws a lazy right hand but Redcliffe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ekaku doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Redcliffe lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ekaku's sensitive parts.
Redcliffe is looking to score with low kicks.
Ekaku throws a nice outside leg kick.
A jab from Ekaku misses.
Redcliffe slips a straight right by Ekaku.
It seemed like Redcliffe was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ekaku on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Redcliffe. Redcliffe obviously looking to wear him down.
Ekaku looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ekaku misses with a body punch
and Redcliffe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Redcliffe takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ekaku connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Redcliffe momentarily.
Redcliffe throws a hook but Ekaku blocks it.
Ekaku throws a leg kick but Redcliffe checks it.
Redcliffe's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Redcliffe fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ekaku on the side of the head.
Nice body kick from Ekaku.
Good work by Redcliffe as he checks the leg kick.
Ekaku keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Redcliffe.
Ekaku defending well as Redcliffe loads up on a big left hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kwame Redcliffe will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Redcliffe chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ekaku can pounce on him.
Ekaku misses with a low kick as Redcliffe jumps back.
Ekaku slips a straight right by Redcliffe.

Ekaku instigates a clinch.
Redcliffe lands a shoulder strike.
Ekaku swings wildly with an uppercut but Redcliffe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good body shot from Ekaku.
Ekaku lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Redcliffe backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Redcliffe.
Ekaku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ekaku misses with the head strike.
Ekaku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku lands with a light punch inside.
Ekaku struggles to land a body shot inside as Redcliffe controls his hands.
A short left from Ekaku.
A shot in the inside from Redcliffe.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ekaku tries a body shot but Redcliffe blocks it.
Redcliffe letting Ekaku take a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku lands a nice uppercut.
Redcliffe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ekaku blocks it with crossed arms.
Ekaku struggles to land a body shot inside as Redcliffe controls his hands.
Redcliffe has a couple of punches blocked by Ekaku.

Redcliffe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ekaku feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Redcliffes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ekaku checks a leg kick.
Redcliffe moves out of range as Ekaku throws a body kick.
Redcliffe misses with a low kick as Ekaku jumps back.
Redcliffe motions for Ekaku to come forward. Redcliffe throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ekaku works Redcliffe's body with a nice hook.
Ekaku lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Redcliffe checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Redcliffe blocks the body kick.
Redcliffe throws a counter combo.
The fighters circling - Redcliffe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ekaku throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Redcliffe misses with a hook. Ekaku ducked under it nicely.
Redcliffe gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Redcliffe has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Ekaku.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ekaku slips a straight right by Redcliffe.
Ekaku buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ekaku moves away from the strike by Redcliffe.
Ekaku scores with a decent looking hook.
A good leg kick by Redcliffe.
Ekaku tries to clinch up.
It seemed like Redcliffe was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Redcliffe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ekaku manages to avoid it.
Ekaku is looking to counter punch.
Ekaku lands a body shot.
A slow jab from Redcliffe misses its intended target.
Redcliffe throws a lazy right hand but Ekaku sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Redcliffe lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ekaku waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Redcliffe.
Ekaku pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Redcliffe lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ekaku bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Redcliffe's head.
Ekaku tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Redcliffe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Redcliffe walks into a stiff left hand from Ekaku.
Ekaku misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ekaku gets a clinch.
Redcliffe misses with a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Ekaku scores with a nice short uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekaku.
Ekaku tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Redcliffe working aggressively here.
Redcliffe misses with some punches.
Ekaku can't find room to land a body shot as Redcliffe controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekaku.
Redcliffe prevents a body shot from Ekaku.
Redcliffe misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ekaku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Redcliffe's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by Redcliffe.
Ekaku blocks an uppercut.
Redcliffe lands a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Ekaku.
Redcliffe is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ekaku is defending well for now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ekaku.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Redcliffe blocks an uppercut.
Redcliffe has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Ekaku seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Redcliffe can turn it around.
Ekaku lands a nice uppercut.

Redcliffe breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An inside leg kick from Redcliffe misses.
Redcliffe dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ekaku. That did some damage!
Ekaku tries to clinch up.
Ekaku avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ekaku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Redcliffe.
Ekaku wants to clinch.
Redcliffe takes one to the side of the head.
Ekaku throws a lazy uppercut
and Ekaku takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Redcliffe looks to land a right hand but Ekaku moved out of range.
Ekaku buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ekaku just misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Satoshi Ekaku showed his dominance in that final round.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Satoshi Ekaku!
During a confident post fight interview, Satoshi Ekaku thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Kwame Redcliffe was interviewed post fight and said 'You're lucky I like your mumma!'.