PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Dank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piotr Gracublowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracublowski is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Słowiański Wiatr. John Dank had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 266.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dank
vs
Gracublowski

190 cm
18
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
20
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Dank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Piotr Gracublowski!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracublowski connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Dank's hands.
Gracublowski blocks a head kick by Dank.
Gracublowski takes a jab right on the kisser.

It looks like Piotr Gracublowski has been cut.
Dank swinging wildly here.
Gracublowski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dank is fending him off so far but Gracublowski persists. Nope, Dank circles away and we're back to standing.
Dank tried to score with a low kick but Gracublowski checks it.
Gracublowski throws a left and a right that both miss

and Dank counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dank tries to stand but Gracublowski is controlling his head.
Gracublowski tries to escape but Dank is in control.
Dank working away.
Gracublowski gets back to half guard.
Dank is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
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.

Gracublowski makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Gracublowski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Dank counters with a series of strikes. Gracublowski will be more careful next time no doubt.
John Dank seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracublowski throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gracublowski wants to clinch up but Dank keeps it at a distance.
Gracublowski scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Dank throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gracublowski counters with a big head kick but Dank shrugs it off.
Gracublowski shoots in for a double leg but Dank sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
John Dank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Gracublowski.
Gracublowski looks gassed!
Gracublowski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dank misses with the combination.
Nice cross by Dank.
A combination from Dank does no damage.
Gracublowski should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracublowski avoids a punch combination nicely.

Dank scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracublowski gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dank wants to stand up but Gracublowski is controlling the position.
Gracublowski is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dank's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dank's back!
Gracublowski struggling to keep hold of the position.
Gracublowski missing with strikes from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracublowski missing with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracublowski trying to control momentarily.
Gracublowski is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Gracublowski is trying to control but Dank is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Dank wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gracublowski tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Dank on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dank tries to get out of the position.
Gracublowski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dank is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dank has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Dank dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Piotr Gracublowski's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dank looks to land a combination but Gracublowski avoids it well.
Gracublowski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracublowski has his takedown stuffed

so Dank counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gracublowski is trying to keep Dank in close.
Dank wants to stand but Gracublowski has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gracublowski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Dank stands up and waves to Gracublowski to follow him.
Dank misses with a leg kick

and Gracublowski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracublowski looking for a submission but Dank manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracublowski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dank swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Dank pushes Gracublowski off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Dank 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.
Dank wants to stand but Gracublowski is controlling his posture from full guard.

Dank stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Dank closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gracublowski shoots for a takedown but Dank saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracublowski shoots for a double leg takedown but Dank sprawls well. He's pushed Gracublowski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
John Dank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Gracublowski.
Dank falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracublowski counters with a stiff right hand.
Gracublowski is looking to clinch but Dank is avoiding it.
Gracublowski tries to clinch up.
Dank lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracublowski backs up against the cage.
Dank throws a shot to the body.
Dank tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dank misses with a wild body shot.
Dank tries to bum rush Gracublowski with a series of wild strikes but Gracublowski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracublowski doesn't manage to clinch there - Dank circles away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gracublowski.
Gracublowski getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Dank shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gracublowski pinned against the cage. Gracublowski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dank keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracublowski.
Gracublowski fails with a takedown attempt.
Dank lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracublowski circles away quickly and effectively.
Dank throws a combination. Gracublowski tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gracublowski swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Dank counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Gracublowski has managed to clinch.
Dank is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gracublowski gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Gracublowski breaks from the clinch.
Dank lands with a nice combination. Gracublowski backs away looking to recover.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dank misses with a double jab

and Gracublowski moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Dank dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Piotr Gracublowski's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Dank keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Gracublowski pushes Dank up against the cage in a clinch.
Dank is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Gracublowski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dank bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gracublowski's head.
Gracublowski dives in and grabs Dank's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dank pushes down on Gracublowski's head and hops out.
Gracublowski dodges the punch combination from Dank.
Gracublowski misses with a head kick.
Dank will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Dank throws a left and a right that both miss

and Gracublowski counters by moving into the clinch.
Gracublowski tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Dank turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Gracublowski is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Dank off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracublowski wants to control but Dank is keeping busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dank trying to get back to his feet but Gracublowski is in full control for now.
Dank knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracublowski on the ground.
Gracublowski thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Gracublowski somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Gracublowski controls the action.
John Dank is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.

Dank defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Gracublowski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dank is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dank fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracublowski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dank tries to avoid it but Gracublowski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dank to the ground. Dank escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
John Dank has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Gracublowski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dank throws a series of strikes that have Gracublowski backpedaling.
Dank throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Gracublowski counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gracublowski looking to sit in guard and control but Dank gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gracublowski had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dank defends it easily.

Dank avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dank won't allow Gracublowski to sweep him here.

Dank gets to his feet. Gracublowski looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gracublowski showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dank.

Gracublowski has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gracublowski tries to land knees in the clinch but Dank avoids the damage to the body.
Gracublowski is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gracublowski jumps guard but Dank stands there with Gracublowski around his waist. Gracublowski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Piotr Gracublowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dank can't get the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Piotr Gracublowski.
I think Dank 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Dank!