PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Atakan Akkaynak (ranked 1428 p4p, 1600 weight class) and Marko Zrinski (ranked 214 p4p, 237 weight class). Zrinski has chosen Devil eyes as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Akkaynak
vs
Zrinski

180 cm
24
195
6 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
185
10 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Atakan Akkaynak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marko Zrinski!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akkaynak doesn't manage to clinch there - Zrinski circles away.
Zrinski throws out a counter right but Akkaynak avoids it with no problem.
Akkaynak looks to land a left hand but Zrinski moved out of range nicely.
Zrinski follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Akkaynak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good shot there by Zrinski.
Nice jab there from Zrinski.
Zrinski throws a jab but it's blocked by Akkaynak.
Akkaynak takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Zrinski swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Akkaynak attempts a counter takedown but Zrinski avoids it well and moves away.
Zrinski misses with an uppercut. Akkaynak saw that one coming.
Akkaynak dodges the punch combination from Zrinski.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akkaynak tries a head kick but it misses.
Zrinski fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Akkaynak.
Akkaynak moves out of range of the body kick.
Akkaynak drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zrinski sprawls and moves away.
Akkaynak has been working on his boxing with his coaches at JAG Battle Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Zrinski cracks Akkaynak with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Akkaynak takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zrinski has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zrinski tries to work over Akkaynak's front leg with a kick but Akkaynak checks it.
Zrinski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akkaynak moves away.
Zrinski lands a body shot.
Zrinski looks to score with a jab to the body but Akkaynak is just out of range.
Zrinski tries to land a front kick but Akkaynak steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Zrinski lands a right hook to the body.
Zrinski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Akkaynak was well out of range. Poor timing from Zrinski.
Akkaynak slips a jab from Zrinski.
Zrinski cracks Akkaynak with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Zrinski lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Zrinski misses with a shot to the body

and Akkaynak counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zrinski is doing well to control the position and prevent Akkaynak from advancing to side control.
Akkaynak sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zrinski defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Akkaynak.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zrinski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Akkaynak wants to pass to mount but Zrinski is defending the position.
Akkaynak not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Akkaynak seems to be looking for submissions.
Zrinski is trying to control but can't.
Akkaynak seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Akkaynak throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zrinski avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Akkaynak.
Akkaynak scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Akkaynak seems to be looking for submissions.
Zrinski blocking the ground and pound attempt from Akkaynak.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akkaynak thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zrinski's head.
Akkaynak sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zrinski defending well though.
Akkaynak not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Akkaynak throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zrinski avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Akkaynak.
Akkaynak throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Akkaynak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zrinski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Akkaynak. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Akkaynak not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Akkaynak seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zrinski does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zrinski trying to control but Akkaynak postures up.

Akkaynak is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Akkaynak missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski wants to control but Akkaynak is keeping busy.
Akkaynak landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Akkaynak scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Akkaynak landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zrinski is looking for a sweep. Akkaynak is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Akkaynak looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zrinski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Akkaynak missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Akkaynak looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Akkaynak lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Akkaynak is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Atakan Akkaynak will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zrinski keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
It seemed like Zrinski was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Akkaynak takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zrinski lands a body shot.
Zrinski takes a swing at Akkaynak's ribcage but misses.
Akkaynak drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zrinski sprawls and moves away.
Marko Zrinski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zrinski misses with a wild body shot.

Zrinski gets caught flat footed, as Akkaynak shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Akkaynak throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zrinski works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Akkaynak passes Zrinski's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akkaynak slips a nice elbow through Zrinski's hands, connecting with Zrinski's forehead.
Akkaynak with the ground and pound but Zrinski uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Akkaynak wants to control from the top but Zrinski keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akkaynak trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zrinski working a defensive guard here.
Akkaynak trying to control but Zrinski is working from the bottom.
Akkaynak passes Zrinski's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Akkaynak scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Akkaynak is nestled in close to Zrinski, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Akkaynak wants to control but Zrinski is keeping him busy.
Akkaynak drops an elbow to the side of Zrinski's head.
Akkaynak moves into full mount! Zrinski won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akkaynak wants to control the pace but Zrinski is squirming around nicely.
Akkaynak landing shots from mount.
Zrinski tries to lock up and control but Akkaynak gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Akkaynak pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
BOOM! Akkaynak connects with a massive shot to the dome!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Akkaynak lands a nice shot to the head.

Zrinski is rocked!
Akkaynak lands a big shot there that rocks Zrinski but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Zrinski is still in real trouble! Can Akkaynak finish him?
Akkaynak postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Zrinski badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Akkaynak around the waist but Akkaynak pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Akkaynak is the winner by TKO! Akkaynak jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Atakan Akkaynak!
A victorious Atakan Akkaynak thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.