PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chul Moo Pak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Kiptanui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kiptanui has chosen Eddie B - Alla kaupungin valojen as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Moo Pak
vs
Kiptanui

180 cm
25
181 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

173 cm
27
171 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chul Moo Pak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gabriel Kiptanui!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pak swats away the attempt to clinch by Kiptanui.
Gabriel Kiptanui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pak works over Kiptanui's head and body with a nice combination.
Kiptanui swings for the body but Pak moves out of range.
Kiptanui keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pak.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pak.
Kiptanui misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pak.
Pak doesn't manage to clinch there - Kiptanui circles away.
Kiptanui staying out of range there.
Kiptanui throws a leg kick that misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kiptanui.

Kiptanui drives through with a takedown into Pak's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Pak seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kiptanui thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kiptanui forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pak avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kiptanui.
Kiptanui tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pak knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kiptanui is nestled in close to Pak, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pak wants to control but Kiptanui is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kiptanui takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Pak won't allow Kiptanui to pass to mount.
Pak is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pak has his hands clasped together around Kiptanui's back. He's all about the action.

Kiptanui is trying to work for a kimura but Pak is defending well.
Kiptanui not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Kiptanui is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pak won't allow Kiptanui to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pak holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Pak regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kiptanui.
Pak trying to keep a closed guard but Kiptanui is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kiptanui wants to control from the top but Pak keeps moving.
Kiptanui missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pak is trying to control the position but Kiptanui postures up.
Kiptanui wants to pass the guard but Pak is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pak works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pak is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kiptanui throws a big right hand that misses.
Kiptanui working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pak's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pak is trying to keep Kiptanui in close.
Kiptanui wants to pass the guard but Pak is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Kiptanui 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.

Kiptanui tries to clinch but Pak moves out of range.
Pak takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Pak thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kiptanui tries to clinch up but Pak circles away and keeps his distance.
Kiptanui moves in looking to clinch but Pak pushes him off.
Nice takedown defense from Pak. No joy for Kiptanui on that attempt.
Pak swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kiptanui throws a lazy head kick
and Pak counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kiptanui looks to score with a jab to the body but Pak is just out of range.
Kiptanui shoots in for a takedown but Pak shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pak tries to close the distance and clinch but Kiptanui swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pak takes a swing at Kiptanui's ribcage but misses.
Pak looks for the body kick but Kiptanui saw that one coming.
Kiptanui displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pak throws out the jab.
Kiptanui misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiptanui throws a head kick that misses.

Kiptanui shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kiptanui is looking to take a break and control but Pak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kiptanui is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pak doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kiptanui.
Pak gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kiptanui working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kiptanui wants to control from the top but Pak keeps moving.
Pak is controlling Kiptanui's posture.
Kiptanui pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pak is keeping the position for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kiptanui is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kiptanui scoring with some ground and pound.
Kiptanui missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pak trying to keep a closed guard but Kiptanui is proving a slippery customer.
Pak is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kiptanui is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

We're going to have a standup here because Chul Moo Pak wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kiptanui gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Pak.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pak moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kiptanui will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Chul Moo Pak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Kiptanui.
Pak avoids the body shot from Kiptanui.
Kiptanui fails with a takedown attempt.
Kiptanui shoots in for a takedown but Pak shows good takedown defense.
Pak misses with a body shot.
Pak ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kiptanui moves away.
Kiptanui tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pak's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kiptanui under the eye.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pak throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pak avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pak throws out a leg kick but Kiptanui moves out of range and Pak only half commits.
Kiptanui avoids the head kick by Pak.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gabriel Kiptanui will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pak throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kiptanui wants to clinch.
Gabriel Kiptanui is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kiptanui throws a sloppy head kick
and Pak counters with a left to the body.
Kiptanui pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pak lands the left hand.
A head kick misses from Kiptanui.
Kiptanui throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kiptanui punishes Pak's body with a nice straight punch.
Kiptanui swings for the body but Pak moves out of range.
Kiptanui fails with a takedown attempt.
Kiptanui throws a sloppy head kick and Pak moves out of range easily.
Pak takes a swing at Kiptanui's ribcage but misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Kiptanui checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kiptanui is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pak rather than just go for the knockout.
Pak slaps away a takedown attempt from Kiptanui, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pak.
Kiptanui misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pak.
Pak thows a body shot but no joy.
Pak lands with a nice body punch.
Kiptanui throws a head kick but Pak moves out of range.
Kiptanui shoots in for a double leg but Pak sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Chul Moo Pak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Kiptanui.
Pak lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kiptanui looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kiptanui misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kiptanui looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Pak defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kiptanui.
Kiptanui takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pak misses with a body shot.
Pak falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kiptanui counters with a right hand to the body.
Chul Moo Pak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pak circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kiptanui just misses with a punch to the body.
Chul Moo Pak is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pak looks to land a combination but Kiptanui avoids it well.
Pak scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kiptanui fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pak avoids it really well and circles away.
Pak looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kiptanui tries a head kick but it misses.
Pak keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Kiptanui clinches.
Pak landing knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pak prevents Kiptanui from breaking the clinch.
Pak lands with a short shot to the head.
Gabriel Kiptanui is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pak trying to land knees to the body.
Pak misses with a punch to the body.
Kiptanui tries to land knees in the clinch but Pak avoids the damage to the body.
Kiptanui stalling in the clinch but Pak improves position.
Kiptanui tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pak smiles and moves away.
Kiptanui stuns Pak with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Pak tries a low kick but Kiptanui avoids it.

Kiptanui bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pak is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pak is working hard here to advance position.
Pak holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Kiptanui trying to control the position but Pak is working away.
Kiptanui is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Gabriel Kiptanui has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pak is looking to regain half guard here but Kiptanui keeps moving and retains side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chul Moo Pak.
I think Kiptanui has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 29:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!