PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aku Zoku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucio Margallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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?

Zoku
vs
Margallo

175 cm
27
220 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

190 cm
27
212 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Aku Zoku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Lucio Margallo!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zoku has a takedown stuffed.
Margallo lands a jab to Zoku's midsection.
Zoku closes this distance looking for a takedown but Margallo circles away.
Margallo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zoku.
Margallo takes a swing at Zoku's ribcage but misses.

Zoku drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zoku in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Margallo managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zoku.
Zoku landing strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zoku controlling the position from side mount.
Margallo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margallo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Zoku.
Margallo parries the strikes from Zoku easily there. Zoku is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Margallo to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee asks Zoku politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Zoku prefers to stall for the moment though.
Zoku is putting a hurting on Margallo here, landing some big shots from side control.
Zoku advances to mount.
Zoku controlling from the full mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Margallo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zoku with shots to the head and body - Margallo looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoku takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zoku's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aku Zoku has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Zoku looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Margallo is fending him off so far but Zoku persists. Nope, Margallo circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aku Zoku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Margallo. Zoku does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zoku shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Margallo as he jumps to the side.
Margallo misses with a body shot.
Zoku throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Margallo's waist but Margallo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zoku off to one side.
Margallo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Margallo throws a body punch but Zoku moves out of range.
Zoku tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Margallo swivels and escapes.
Margallo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zoku feints and as Margallo raises his hands in defense, Zoku changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zoku controls from within his opponent's guard.
Zoku throws a big right hand that misses.
Zoku engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Zoku throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Margallo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zoku advances position into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Margallo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aku Zoku dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Zoku dives in and grabs Margallo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Margallo pushes down on Zoku's head and hops out.
Zoku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Margallo.
Zoku looks for a takedown but Margallo sprawls well.
Margallo looks to throw the jab but Zoku is out of range.
Zoku misses with a takedown attempt - Margallo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aku Zoku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zoku looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Margallo looks to throw the jab but Zoku is out of range.
Margallo looks to score with a jab to the body but Zoku is just out of range.

Zoku looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zoku is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoku landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zoku is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Zoku thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Margallo's head.
Zoku is taking a breather. Margallo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Zoku thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Margallo's head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aku Zoku has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Zoku shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Margallo as he avoids it easily.
Margallo with a hook.
Zoku drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zoku shoots in for a takedown but Margallo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Margallo. Zoku does a little dance to reset his feet.
Margallo connects with a right hand. Zoku shakes it off.
Margallo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Zoku rather than just go for the knockout.
Margallo just misses with a punch to the body.

Zoku looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Zoku postures up in Margallo's guard and throws a big left but Margallo blocks it.
Zoku slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zoku has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoku throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zoku lands some shots froms side control.
Zoku landing strikes.
Zoku in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Margallo seems a little lost for a moment, as Zoku dominates the positioning.
Aku Zoku overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zoku seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Margallo for as long as he can get away with.
Zoku lands a few punches from side control.
Zoku misses with the ground and pound.
Margallo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zoku. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoku controlling the position.
Margallo is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Margallo's face as Zoku controls the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zoku throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zoku misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aku Zoku dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Zoku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Margallo.
Zoku shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Horrible takedown by Zoku or perhaps it was just good defense by Margallo which made him look bad.
Margallo looks to land a right hand but Zoku moved out of range.
A slow jab from Margallo misses its intended target.
Zoku misses with a takedown attempt - Margallo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aku Zoku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zoku blocks a jab.
Margallo throws a big shot that misses.
Margallo stuffs the takedown.
Margallo stuffs the takedown attempt from Zoku. Zoku gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Zoku or perhaps it was just good defense by Margallo which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Margallo.
Nice sprawl there from Margallo as Zoku shoots in.
Zoku avoids the body shot from Margallo.
Zoku slips a jab from Margallo.
Margallo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zoku.
Zoku fails with a takedown attempt.
Margallo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zoku.
Lucio Margallo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zoku moves away from the strike by Margallo.
Margallo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Margallo takes a swing at Zoku's ribcage but misses.
Zoku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Margallo.
Lucio Margallo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lucio Margallo seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoku fails to land the takedown.

Zoku drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zoku slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zoku trying to control the position but Margallo is working away.
Margallo managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zoku.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zoku staying calm.
Zoku trying to control the position but Margallo is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Margallo dodges the ground and pound from Zoku.
Zoku lands a nice forearm strike.
You can see the frustration on Margallo's face as Zoku controls the position.
Zoku is putting a hurting on Margallo here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoku content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Margallo taking punishment in the form of punches.
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!
Zoku working the head with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zoku controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aku Zoku showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zoku, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aku Zoku!