PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vapun Aukio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marvin Zerkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Aukio might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 2CELLOS (Sulic & Hauser) - Smooth Criminal. Marvin Zerkle acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Aukio
vs
Zerkle

165 cm
28
162 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

180 cm
28
161 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
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 5 - 4 - 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 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marvin Zerkle!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aukio circles away from the clinch attempt
and Aukio counters with a straight right hand.
Zerkle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aukio showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zerkle.
Marvin Zerkle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zerkle wants to clinch up but Aukio keeps it at a distance.
Zerkle moves in looking to clinch but Aukio pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zerkle clinches with his opponent.
Aukio dodges an elbow strike from Zerkle.
Aukio pushes Zerkle back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zerkle misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zerkle lands a right hand.
Aukio has a couple of punches blocked by Zerkle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aukio blocks an elbow strike from Zerkle.
Zerkle throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A short right from Zerkle on the inside.
Zerkle throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Aukio throws a punch but it's blocked by Zerkle.
Aukio blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zerkle.
Zerkle throws an elbow but it misses.
Zerkle misses with a short punch on the inside.

Aukio is trying to trip Zerkle. He has hold of a leg but Zerkle is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Aukio persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Aukio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
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.
Aukio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Aukio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Aukio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Aukio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aukio won't allow Zerkle to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aukio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Our spies down at at Boston MMA inform us that Zerkle has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Zerkle working for a triangle but Aukio defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aukio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zerkle has momentary wrist control but Aukio slips an elbow through the middle.
Zerkle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aukio has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Aukio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Aukio postures up in Zerkle's guard and throws a big left but Zerkle blocks it.
Aukio scoring with punches to the head and body.
Aukio throws a big elbow that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Aukio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Aukio throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aukio passes Zerkle's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Aukio is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Zerkle wants to get back to his feet.
Aukio not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Aukio is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Aukio missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Aukio lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zerkle manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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.
Aukio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zerkle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Aukio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zerkle is keeping the position for now.
Aukio scoring with some ground and pound.
Zerkle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Aukio scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zerkle trying to keep a closed guard but Aukio is proving a slippery customer.
Aukio scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Aukio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Aukio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zerkle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aukio postures up in Zerkle's guard and throws a big left but Zerkle blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vapun Aukio dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zerkle just misses with a punch to the body.

Zerkle darts in and clinches Aukio up against the cage.
Aukio blocks an elbow strike from Zerkle.
Zerkle lands an elbow inside.
Zerkle blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zerkle swings wildly with an uppercut but Aukio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Still in the clinch, Zerkle scores with a nice short uppercut.
Aukio drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zerkle gets through Aukio's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zerkle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zerkle misses with a punch on the inside.
Aukio tries to work over Zerkle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Aukio working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Aukio goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aukio tries to work over Zerkle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Zerkle throws an elbow but misses.

Aukio gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Zerkle wants to stand up but Aukio is controlling him.
Aukio wants to control from the top but Zerkle keeps moving.
Aukio landing some decent shots from guard.
Zerkle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Aukio lands a couple of digs.
Aukio is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Zerkle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aukio is one step ahead there.
Aukio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vapun Aukio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zerkle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aukio throws a strike but Zerkle rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aukio is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Aukio looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Aukio not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Aukio is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
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 Zerkle's temple.
Aukio scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zerkle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Aukio throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zerkle keeping moving, preventing Aukio from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aukio is working Zerkle over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Aukio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
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.
Aukio stands up over Zerkle, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Aukio postures up and lands a big shot to Zerkle's brow.
Aukio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zerkle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Aukio preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zerkle is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Aukio makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aukio.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Zerkle trying to control but Aukio is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Zerkle clinches with his opponent.
Zerkle has a couple of punches blocked by Aukio.
Aukio on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zerkle tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Aukio avoids it.
Zerkle blocks an uppercut.
Zerkle lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Zerkle throws an elbow that misses.
Aukio blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vapun Aukio 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zerkle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zerkle uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aukio.
Zerkle tries to clinch but Aukio is having none of it.
Zerkle moves out of range of the strikes.
Aukio swats away the attempt to clinch by Zerkle.
Zerkle wants to clinch up but Aukio keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zerkle looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zerkle swings for the body but Aukio moves out of range.
Zerkle is looking to clinch but Aukio is avoiding it.
It looked like Aukio wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zerkle has managed to clinch.
Aukio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zerkle can do to turn this around?
Zerkle stalling in the clinch but Aukio improves position.
Zerkle lands an elbow inside.
Come on Aukio - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Aukio blocks an elbow strike.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Aukio lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zerkle backwards.
Zerkle unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Aukio avoiding damage as Zerkle throws knees to the body.
Zerkle blocking some punches.
Zerkle throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Aukios head.
Zerkle scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Aukio misses with a punch to the body.
Aukio fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zerkle swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Aukio lands with a short shot to the head.
Zerkle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aukio blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zerkle creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Aukio's defenses.

Aukio has picked Zerkle up - he's going for a ride! Aukio dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Zerkle manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Zerkle doesn't manage to clinch there - Aukio circles away.
Aukio scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zerkle fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zerkle moves out of range of the strikes.
Zerkle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zerkle uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aukio.
Aukio scores with a hook.
Zerkle looks to land a left hand but Aukio moved out of range nicely.
Marvin Zerkle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zerkle looks to clinch
and Aukio counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zerkle moves out of range as Aukio strikes.
Nice shot lands for Aukio.
Zerkle tries to close the distance and clinch but Aukio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Aukio has managed to clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Zerkle softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zerkle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Aukio is defending well for now.
Zerkle lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Aukio blocks an elbow strike from Zerkle.
Zerkle misses with an elbow strike.
Zerkle is trying to stall.
Zerkle pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Aukio blocks an elbow strike from Zerkle.
Good body shot from Aukio.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aukio avoids a wild elbow strike from Zerkle.
Zerkle misses with an elbow strike.
Zerkle tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Aukio's elbow.
Zerkle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Aukio is defending well for now.
Zerkle throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Aukios head.
Zerkle makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Vapun Aukio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zerkle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Aukio is defending well for now.
Aukio dodges an elbow strike from Zerkle.
Zerkle fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marvin Zerkle.
I think Aukio has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vapun Aukio!
A victorious Vapun Aukio thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.