PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Atakan Akkaynak (ranked 3018 p4p, 2154 weight class) and Marko Zrinski (ranked 362 p4p, 271 weight class). Zrinski comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Devil eyes kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Marko Zrinski enters the cage!

Akkaynak
vs
Zrinski

180 cm
28
195
9 - 6 - 0

183 cm
29
185
13 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Champion Apparel
Furnace Performance 🔥

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Atakan Akkaynak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marko Zrinski!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zrinski takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A jab from Akkaynak finds it's way through Zrinski's defenses.
Akkaynak darts in looking for a takedown but Zrinski gets double underhooks and turns Akkaynak into the cage.
Akkaynak blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Akkaynak turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Akkaynak in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Akkaynak lands some shots froms side control.
Akkaynak lands a decent elbow from side control.
Akkaynak is looking to take a break and control but Zrinski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Akkaynak working the ground and pound but Zrinski is defending the strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zrinski struggling a bit here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes there by Akkaynak.
Zrinski is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Akkaynak has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zrinski tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Akkaynak easily slips into full mount!
Akkaynak sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Akkaynak definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Akkaynak landing punches.
Zrinski is squirming around, avoiding Akkaynak's attempts to control the action.
Zrinski tries to hold on but Akkaynak pushes him away.
Zrinski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Akkaynak. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Akkaynak sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Akkaynak throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Akkaynak dominating with strikes here.
Akkaynak trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zrinski tries to hold on but Akkaynak postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akkaynak with the ground and pound from mount.
Akkaynak lands a big shot there that rocks Zrinski but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Akkaynak controlling the pace for now.
Zrinski blocking the ground and pound.
Akkaynak fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Akkaynak connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Zrinski is rocked!
Akkaynak drops a big elbow. That's hurt Zrinski! More shots from Akkaynak and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Atakan Akkaynak!
A relieved looking Atakan Akkaynak thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.