PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Trevor Philips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marvin Zerkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Trevor Philips has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Philips
vs
Zerkle

186 cm
28
163 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
161 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Determined

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Trevor Philips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marvin Zerkle!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Philips pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zerkle tries to clinch up but Philips circles away and keeps his distance.
Zerkle is looking to clinch.
Philips takes a swing at Zerkle's ribcage but misses.
Zerkle is looking to clinch but Philips is avoiding it.
Zerkle takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Philips connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zerkle momentarily.
Philips connects with a body shot.
Trevor Philips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zerkle fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Philips to the ground. Zerkle is now in Philips's guard.
Philips has control of Zerkle's left arm, preventing Zerkle from doing any damage.
Zerkle told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Philips 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.
Zerkle wants to control from the top but Philips keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Philips not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Philips keeping moving, preventing Zerkle from controlling successfully.
Philips not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Philips misses with a jab, cross combination.
Philips lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Zerkle gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Philips.
Philips bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zerkle's head backwards.

Zerkle is rocked!
Philips throws a nice looking combination but Zerkle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zerkle is still on wobbly legs! Can Philips finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Philips scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Zerkle seems to have recovered his senses.
Philips scores with a nice right hand.

Zerkle is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Philips's half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Philips wants to get back to full guard.
Philips moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zerkle with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zerkle trying to control but Philips is working from the bottom.
Philips looking to control.
Zerkle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zerkle won't allow Philips to sweep him here.
Zerkle stays in close to Philips's body and controls the position.
Philips has control of Zerkle's left arm, preventing Zerkle from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zerkle is trying hard to land a takedown here. Philips sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A big left from Philips misses.
Philips throws out a powerful jab.
Philips throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Philips tries to keep at a distance but Zerkle has taken the fight into the clinch.

Zerkle gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Philips wants to control but Zerkle is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Philips wants to improve his position but Zerkle is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zerkle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Philips wants to get back to full guard.

Philips is defending against the submission attempts here by Zerkle.
Zerkle wants to pass to mount but Philips is defending the position.
Philips is doing well to control the position and prevent Zerkle from advancing to side control.
Zerkle seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Philips does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trevor Philips 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.

Philips scores with a shot to the body.
Marvin Zerkle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zerkle looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Philips throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zerkle stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Philips with a hook.
Zerkle fails with a takedown attempt.
Philips is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zerkle can do to turn this around?

Zerkle closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zerkle lands in his opponent's guard.
Zerkle trying to control the position from guard on top but Philips is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Philips trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Philips controlling Zerkle's posture.
Zerkle missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zerkle missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Philips preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Philips keeping moving, preventing Zerkle from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Philips waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zerkle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The crowd cheers as Philips lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zerkle doesn't seem phased though.
Trevor Philips is winning the standup battle so far.
Philips with a hook.
Zerkle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Zerkle drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zerkle postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Philips preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zerkle trying to control but Philips is working from the bottom.
Zerkle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Philips 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.
Philips is pulling down on Zerkle's head to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Philips utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Philips seems keen to control Zerkle's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zerkle avoids the body shot from Philips.
Zerkle fails to land the takedown.
Philips fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zerkle manages to avoid it.

Zerkle pushes Philips up against the cage in a clinch.
Philips throws a punch but it's blocked by Zerkle.
A nice right hand lands inside from Philips.

Zerkle gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Zerkle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Philips controlling the position for now.

Zerkle is looking for a kimura here.
Philips gets back to full guard.
Philips is trying to control the position but Zerkle postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Philips preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
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 Trevor Philips will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zerkle shoots in for a takedown but Philips shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Philips misses with a body shot.
Zerkle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Philips sprawls well. Philips wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zerkle gets slowly back to his feet.
Zerkle tries to score a power double leg takedown but Philips sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zerkle somewhat.
Trevor Philips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marvin Zerkle.
Philips fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zerkle manages to avoid it.
Zerkle wants to clinch
and Philips counters with a nice body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zerkle shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Philips lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Zerkle takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Philips scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zerkle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zerkle tries for a kimura but Philips is defending well.
Zerkle slows the pace down.

Zerkle has hold of Philips's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Philips tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Zerkle cranks the arm and Philips screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Philips, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Marvin Zerkle!
A victorious Marvin Zerkle thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.