PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eliod Bunkley Iii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarkko Vaakku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bunkley Iii comes to the cage accompanied by Knocksville Girl. Vaakku is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by I'll Face Myself (Reincarnation). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Bunkley Iii
vs
Vaakku

185 cm
21
194 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

188 cm
26
186 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

FinnSubs
PWNAGE™ (WOT)

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eliod Bunkley Iii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarkko Vaakku!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vaakku misses with a low kick.
Bunkley Iii shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vaakku as he avoids it easily.
Bunkley Iii avoids the head kick by Vaakku.
Vaakku leaves Bunkley Iii with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Vaakku changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bunkley Iii looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Vaakku working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Bunkley Iii's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Vaakku is looking to take a break and control but Bunkley Iii is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Vaakku looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Vaakku working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bunkley Iii tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vaakku wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaakku wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bunkley Iii keeps working.
Bunkley Iii regains half guard.
Bunkley Iii tries to get to full guard but Vaakku has control of the leg.
Vaakku passes into side control, despite Bunkley Iii's attempt to control the position.
Bunkley Iii throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Bunkley Iii tries to bench press Vaakku off him but Vaakku keeps the position.
Vaakku trying to control the position but Bunkley Iii is working away.

Vaakku is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bunkley Iii is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bunkley Iii is looking to regain half guard here but Vaakku keeps moving and retains side control.

Vaakku looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vaakku is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bunkley Iii knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bunkley Iii is looking for a sweep.
Bunkley Iii wants to control but Vaakku postures up.
Bunkley Iii stops Vaakku from passing to mount.
Bunkley Iii struggling a bit here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bunkley Iii gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vaakku wants to work for an arm triangle but Bunkley Iii is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Vaakku is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bunkley Iii sees it coming and defends easily.

Bunkley Iii actively working from the bottom here.
Bunkley Iii is looking to control Vaakku's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bunkley Iii avoid being mounted?

Bunkley Iii looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Vaakku is working for a kimura but Bunkley Iii is defending it quite comfortably.
Bunkley Iii slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Vaakku postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaakku wants to control from the top but Bunkley Iii keeps moving.

Bunkley Iii looking for a guillotine here but Vaakku defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Vaakku trying to control the position from guard on top but Bunkley Iii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bunkley Iii throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bunkley Iii is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vaakku defends well.

Bunkley Iii has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Vaakku is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bunkley Iii.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jarkko Vaakku will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bunkley Iii wants to clinch but Vaakku slips to the side
and Vaakku counters with a head kick.
Eliod Bunkley Iii seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vaakku misses with a head kick.
Vaakku throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Eliod Bunkley Iii has been cut.
Bunkley Iii doesn't manage to clinch there - Vaakku circles away.

Vaakku throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Bunkley Iii stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Vaakku follows into mount!

Bunkley Iii is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bunkley Iii manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Oh Bunkley Iii is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bunkley Iii is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bunkley Iii seems to have got his legs back now.
Eliod Bunkley Iii overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bunkley Iii looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Vaakku is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bunkley Iii manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bunkley Iii has his foot on Vaakku's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vaakku works his way back into a safe position though.
Vaakku looking to pass the guard.

Bunkley Iii has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vaakku can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Vaakku got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bunkley Iii has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vaakku has managed to get both his arms back between Bunkley Iii's legs - danger averted.
Vaakku trying to control the position from guard on top but Bunkley Iii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vaakku keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bunkley Iii's head.
Vaakku stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bunkley Iii swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bunkley Iii working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vaakku.
Vaakku advances to half guard.
Bunkley Iii tries to get to full guard but Vaakku has control of the leg.

Bunkley Iii looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Bunkley Iii is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vaakku pulls his head out easily.
Vaakku moves nicely into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bunkley Iii wants to control but Vaakku postures up.

Vaakku wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bunkley Iii, who protects the arm well.
Bunkley Iii sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vaakku trying to mount his opponent but Bunkley Iii defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vaakku is looking for a kimura but Bunkley Iii is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vaakku to get the leverage.

Bunkley Iii looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vaakku is keen to just control but Bunkley Iii is a slippery customer.
Vaakku looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bunkley Iii trying to control but Vaakku postures up.
Bunkley Iii is looking to improve his position.

Bunkley Iii looking for submissions off his back.

Bunkley Iii is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vaakku pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bunkley Iii is refusing to be controlled, as Vaakku sits in half guard.
Bunkley Iii makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bunkley Iii.
Bunkley Iii avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vaakku passes Bunkley Iii's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bunkley Iii wants to control but Vaakku is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vaakku works his way into full mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vaakku looking to ground and pound but Bunkley Iii is blocking nicely.
Bunkley Iii tries to hold on but Vaakku postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarkko Vaakku showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eliod Bunkley Iii's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Vaakku shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Vaakku thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Bunkley Iii looking for a guillotine here but Vaakku defends easily.

Bunkley Iii working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vaakku doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vaakku manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vaakku sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bunkley Iii's guard.
Bunkley Iii trying to control from the bottom.
Bunkley Iii throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Bunkley Iii looking for submissions off his back.
Bunkley Iii trying to control from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaakku trying to control from half guard but Bunkley Iii is working away.
Vaakku missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vaakku tries to pass to full mount but Bunkley Iii defends it.
Bunkley Iii slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Bunkley Iii throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Vaakku looking to pass the guard.

Bunkley Iii is looking for a triangle but Vaakku pushes his legs off easily.

Bunkley Iii escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vaakku gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bunkley Iii keeping full guard, as Vaakku tries to pass.
Jarkko Vaakku is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bunkley Iii tries to strike from the bottom.

Vaakku is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Vaakku passes Bunkley Iii's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Bunkley Iii is looking for a sweep. Vaakku is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vaakku is looking to take a break and control but Bunkley Iii is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bunkley Iii is trying to maintain the position but Vaakku is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaakku takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jarkko Vaakku wasn't active enough on the ground.
Vaakku tries a head kick but it misses.
Bunkley Iii will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Vaakku throws a head kick but Bunkley Iii moves out of range.
A head kick from Vaakku lands but Bunkley Iii takes it in his stride.
Bunkley Iii with a poor takedown
and Vaakku counters with an inside leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Vaakku throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vaakku avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bunkley Iii looks for a takedown but Vaakku sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eliod Bunkley Iii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vaakku throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Vaakku looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Bunkley Iii working for a triangle but Vaakku defends it easily.

Bunkley Iii looking for a guillotine here but Vaakku defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bunkley Iii working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Vaakku has passed into half guard!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vaakku wants to take a breather but Bunkley Iii is having none of it.
Vaakku performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Eliod Bunkley Iii has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bunkley Iii tries to get to full guard but Vaakku has control of the leg.
Bunkley Iii throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jarkko Vaakku comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vaakku has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarkko Vaakku!
During a confident post fight interview, Jarkko Vaakku thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.