PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vapun Aukio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Utah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aukio comes into the arena with 2CELLOS (Sulic & Hauser) - Smooth Criminal blaring out of the sound system. Vapun Aukio has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aukio
vs
Utah

165 cm
25
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

192 cm
24
162 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Namunamu Clothing

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vapun Aukio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Johny Utah!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Utah fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Utah has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Aukio is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Utah shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Aukio counters with a straight right hand.
Utah tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aukio misses with a two punch combination.

Utah has managed to clinch.
Utah softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Utah is trying to pull guard but Aukio has him pressed against the cage.
Vapun Aukio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johny Utah.
Aukio tries to work over Utah's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Utah with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Aukio leaning against his opponent.
Aukio tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aukio has a couple of punches blocked by Utah.
Aukio leaning against his opponent.
Aukio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Utah blocks a body shot from Aukio.
Aukio misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Utah breaks the clinch.
Aukio stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Aukio wants it to stay on the feet.
Aukio throws a looping overhand right but Utah ducks down to avoid it.
Aukio misses with a wild body shot.
Utah showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aukio.
Utah tries to counter with a clinch but Aukio shakes him off and moves away.
Utah takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Aukio just misses with a punch to the body.
Aukio missing with a left hand there. Utah was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Aukio lands with a shot to the body.
Aukio misses with a hook. Utah ducked under it nicely.
Aukio displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Utah.
Aukio throws a right and a left that Utah avoids nicely.
Utah is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Utah closes the distance but Aukio moves to the side
and Aukio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Aukio swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Utah lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aukio circles away quickly and effectively.
Aukio has been working on his boxing with his coaches at gym closing in the buildup to the fight.
Utah fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Utah keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Aukio drives through with a takedown into guard.
Utah trying to control the position.
Aukio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Aukio with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Utah has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Aukio has passed into side control.
Aukio scores with a couple of short elbows.
Aukio scoring with punches from side control.
Aukio wants to control but Utah is keeping him busy.
Aukio controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aukio scores with a couple of short elbows.
Utah is trying to control Aukio's posture but Aukio avoids it.
Utah is looking for a sweep.
Aukio 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.
Aukio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Utah keeps working.
Utah takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
You can see the frustration on Utah's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Utah manages to work his way to half guard, despite Aukio's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Utah is not content to let Aukio control the position.
Aukio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Aukio lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Utah taking some punishment here, with Aukio in his half guard.
Aukio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Aukio is pressing down on Utah's thigh, looking to free his foot. Utah is holding on for now.

Utah is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aukio pulls his head out easily.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Aukio connects with a nice short shot to Utah's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vapun Aukio dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Aukio throws a body punch but Utah moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aukio. Utah does a little dance to reset his feet.
Utah uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aukio.
Aukio is looking to wear down Utah with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Aukio shoots in and gets a takedown into Utah's guard.
Aukio throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Utah is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Aukio defends well.
Aukio slips nicely into half guard.
Utah trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aukio working the head and body with strikes.
Aukio seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Utah wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aukio works his foot free and advances to mount.
Aukio lands a big shot there that rocks Utah but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Utah tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aukio sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Aukio is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Utah keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Aukio trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Utah regains half guard.
Aukio perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Aukio is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Aukio thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Utah's head.
Aukio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Utah can do to turn this around?
Aukio takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ground and pound from Aukio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aukio landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Aukio sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Utah is staying active underneath Aukio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Aukio throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Aukio connects with a nice short shot to Utah's temple.
Utah tries to get to full guard but Aukio has control of the leg.
Utah taking some punishment here, with Aukio in his half guard.
Aukio scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Aukio works his way into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Utah is looking to improve his position but Aukio isn't that keen on the idea.

Aukio looking to secure an arm triangle but Utah defends it well.
Utah regains half guard.
Aukio drops an elbow to the side of Utah's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Utah is refusing to be controlled, as Aukio sits in half guard.
Utah wants to control but Aukio is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vapun Aukio dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A looping hook to the body misses from Aukio. Utah does a little dance to reset his feet.
Johny Utah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Utah slips a jab from Aukio.
Utah keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Utah misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Utah looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Johny Utah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Aukio closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Aukio lands in his opponent's guard.
Aukio lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Utah working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aukio.
Aukio cracks Utah with a solid left hand.
Aukio works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Aukio works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Utah's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Aukio scoring with punches and elbows.
Utah is not content to let Aukio control the position.
Utah struggling a bit here.
Utah is looking for a sweep.
Aukio scores with punches from side control.
Utah being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Utah tries to buck Aukio off but Aukio is having none of it.
Utah is trying to control Aukio's posture but Aukio avoids it.
Aukio moves into full mount!
Aukio with good strikes from the mount here!
Aukio trying to control but Utah is having none of it.
Utah is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aukio with shots to the head and body - Utah looks very uncomfortable down there.
Johny Utah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Utah is rocked!
Aukio avoids the attempt from Utah to control.
Utah is still in real trouble! Can Aukio finish him?
Utah in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Utah wants to hold on but Aukio pushes him away.
Oooooh, big shot lands for Aukio! Utah is hurt baaadly! Aukio is firing away with more strikes - Utah is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vapun Aukio!
After the fight, Vapun Aukio was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.