PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paulsen Grickrod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Clark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clark has chosen Silversun Pickups - Comeback Kid as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Grickrod
vs
Clark

175 cm
20
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
24
168 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paulsen Grickrod!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Clark!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Alyssa Summers and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grickrod leaves Clark with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Grickrod circles away from the clinch attempt.
Clark is trying hard to land a takedown here. Grickrod sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Clark misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice sprawl there from Grickrod as Clark shoots in.
Paulsen Grickrod has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Clark.
Clark lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Grickrod lands a jab.

Grickrod closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Grickrod lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Grickrod looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Grickrod working Clark over with strikes.
Grickrod perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Grickrod seems to be working for a kimura but Clark defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Clark looking for submissions off his back.
Clark looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grickrod lands with a punch from half guard.
Clark is trying to stand up here but Grickrod is controlling him well.
Grickrod slips a nice elbow through Clark's hands, connecting with Clark's forehead.
Grickrod lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Grickrod wants to pass the guard but Clark is defending well.
Grickrod is keen to just control but Clark is a slippery customer.
Grickrod wants to pass the guard but Clark is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clark is trying to stand up here but Grickrod is controlling him well.
Clark is staying active underneath Grickrod, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Grickrod looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Grickrod seems to be looking for submissions.
Clark wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ground and pound from Grickrod.
Grickrod 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.
Clark is looking for a sweep. Grickrod is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Grickrod is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Clark flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Clark is staying active underneath Grickrod, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Clark is trying to stand back up but Grickrod is controlling him

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Clark tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Clark tries to bum rush Grickrod with a series of wild strikes but Grickrod uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Grickrod scores with a sloppy right hand. Clark should have avoided that one.

Grickrod shoots in and bounces Clark off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Grickrod working some strikes from top position.
Grickrod lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Clark is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Grickrod is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Grickrod works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Grickrod scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Clark on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grickrod wants to work for an arm triangle but Clark is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Grickrod stops Clark from getting back to his feet.

Grickrod is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Grickrod takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Grickrod perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Grickrod seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Clark on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grickrod passes into side control, despite Clark's attempt to control the position.
Clark tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Grickrod digs a good body shot into Clark's ribs.
A shot to the body from Clark misses
and Grickrod counters with a nice body shot.
Grickrod lands with a nice body punch.
Clark on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Grickrod lands a with a good body shot.
Grickrod lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Clark takes one to the chin there.
Grickrod lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Grickrod wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Clark shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Grickrod throws a good cross that connects.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grickrod lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Clark misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Grickrod feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Grickrod trying to control the position from guard on top but Clark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grickrod passes Clark's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grickrod is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Clark defends it well.
Grickrod slips a nice elbow through Clark's hands, connecting with Clark's forehead.
Clark is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Grickrod's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Grickrod's back!
Grickrod rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Grickrod moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Grickrod tries to strike from the bottom.
Paulsen Grickrod overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Grickrod is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Clark tries to kick Grickrod off but Grickrod keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Grickrod performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Grickrod is working away from the top position though.
Grickrod passes the guard and advances to mount!

Grickrod looking to secure an arm triangle but Clark defends it well.
Grickrod postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Clark looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark can't escape the position.
Grickrod is landing with some decent strikes but Clark is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Grickrod looking to control but Clark is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Grickrod with the ground and pound from mount.
Clark is desperately trying to improve his position but Grickrod has a good base and remains in mount.
Grickrod lands with some strikes.
Grickrod is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Clark can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Grickrod connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Grickrod lands a big elbow.
Clark is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Grickrod wants to control the action but instead Clark gets a body lock and reverses into Grickrod's guard! Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark preventing the sweep.
Grickrod 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.
Clark wants to stand but Grickrod has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Grickrod escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Clark gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Grickrod has a closed guard, preventing Clark from standing up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Grickrod is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Clark is aware though and is defending well.
Grickrod looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulsen Grickrod dominated that second round.
That's time! Grickrod's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Grickrod shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Clark manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Clark throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Grickrod trying to control the position from guard on top but Clark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Clark is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Grickrod scoring with punches to the head and body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Clark is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Grickrod defends well.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grickrod with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Grickrod working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Clark's head.

Clark is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Grickrod defends well.
Grickrod working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Clark's head.
Grickrod prevents Clark from getting back to his feet.
Grickrod stands up over Clark, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Grickrod is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Clark looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two 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.
Clark keeping moving, preventing Grickrod from controlling successfully.
Grickrod stands up over Clark, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Grickrod is stalling in the full guard.
Paulsen Grickrod is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Clark throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Grickrod's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Clark has an active guard here but Grickrod has managed to pass into half guard.
Clark wants to control but Grickrod is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Grickrod is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Clark is trying to get back to full guard.
Grickrod takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Grickrod passes the guard and advances to mount!
Grickrod tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Clark can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Grickrod looking to control and managing it successfully.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Paulsen Grickrod just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Decent striking displayed by Grickrod there.
Clark takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grickrod lands with a shot to the body.
Clark tries to clinch but Grickrod moves out of range.
Clark ducks right into an uppercut from Grickrod.
Josh Clark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clark throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grickrod.
Grickrod uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Clark has time to react.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulsen Grickrod showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Grickrod has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:26
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulsen Grickrod!