PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rab Ferd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marvin Zerkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Ferd
vs
Zerkle

172 cm
25
158 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
27
161 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rab Ferd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marvin Zerkle!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zerkle instigates a clinch.
Ferd is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zerkle gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ferd's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zerkle is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Zerkle trying to land knees to the body.
Zerkle lands a nice uppercut.
Zerkle lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zerkle lands a nice knee to the body.
Zerkle scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ferd tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zerkle smiles and moves away.
Ferd looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ferd scores with a jab to the body.
Ferd is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Zerkle misses with a straight left.
Ferd drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zerkle sprawls and moves away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zerkle tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ferd swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ferd drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zerkle sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferd throws out a loose jab but Zerkle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ferd moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ferd moves into range and connects with a jab.
Zerkle misses with a looping left.
Zerkle throws a lazy right hand but Ferd sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zerkle has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Ferd displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zerkle throws out the jab.
Ferd attempts a counter takedown but Zerkle avoids it well and moves away.
Marvin Zerkle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ferd tries to keep at a distance but Zerkle has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zerkle creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Ferd's defenses.
Zerkle working Ferd over with knees to the body.
Ferd tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zerkle just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rab Ferd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zerkle misses with an elbow strike.

Ferd gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ferd is working for a submission of some sort.
Zerkle trying to control but Ferd postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zerkle is looking for a sweep. Ferd is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zerkle trying to control here.
Zerkle is trying to stand.
Ferd thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zerkle's head.
Ferd missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zerkle tries to roll over but Ferd keeps him under control.
Ferd landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zerkle manages to get to full guard.
Zerkle wants to stand up but Ferd is controlling him.
Ferd postures up in Zerkle's guard and throws a big left but Zerkle blocks it.
Ferd chips away with some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zerkle is on top in guard.

Ferd is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zerkle throwing strikes but missing.
Zerkle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zerkle is looking to work some ground and pound but Ferd has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferd utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Ferd has his foot on Zerkle's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zerkle works his way back into a safe position though.
Zerkle passes into half guard.
Ferd tries to get to full guard but Zerkle has control of the leg.

Zerkle is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Zerkle is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Zerkle thows a huge punch but Ferd dodges it nicely.
Ferd wants to improve his position but Zerkle is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ferd looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marvin Zerkle dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Jab by Zerkle.
Ferd misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zerkle throws out a loose jab but Ferd uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ferd looks to score with a jab to the body but Zerkle is just out of range.
Zerkle misses with a left hand

and Ferd counters with a takedown into side control.
Zerkle is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ferd off and has taken his back!
Ferd is really stuck here.
Zerkle doesn't have the hooks in and Ferd manages to turn into his guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ferd throwing strikes from guard but Zerkle blocks nicely.
Ferd trying to control but Zerkle is working from the bottom.
Zerkle seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zerkle controls Ferd momentarily but Ferd frees himself.
Ferd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ferd postures up.
Ferd controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ferd loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zerkle is trying to keep Ferd in close.
Zerkle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ferd wants to control from the top but Zerkle keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ferd preventing the sweep.
Ferd postures up in Zerkle's guard and throws a big left but Zerkle blocks it.
Zerkle is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ferd stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zerkle swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Zerkle rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Ferd counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zerkle won't be happy with that.
Ferd scores with a couple of short elbows.
Ferd lands a few punches from side control.

Ferd tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zerkle keeping his opponent close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zerkle is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Zerkle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ferd 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.
Who's going to make the next move?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ferd working the head with strikes.
Ferd working the ground and pound.
Ferd gets to mount! Zerkle was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Ferd content just to control the position here.
Ferd looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Zerkle covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rab Ferd!
Rab Ferd decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.