PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dae Jung Pak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gracie might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Bodies/Drowning pool. Kirk Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Jung Pak

178 cm
28
177 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

182 cm
21
180 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

CEC Nutrition Q160

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kirk Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dae Jung Pak!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pak leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pak throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into Pak's guard.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Pak is keeping the position.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Pak is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pak manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Pak's guard.
Gracie trying to control but Pak is working from the bottom.
Pak is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Pak 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.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is stalling in the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kirk Gracie.
Pak tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gracie is able to avoid easily.
Pak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dae Jung Pak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pak throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pak tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pak pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stops Pak from getting back to his feet.
Gracie trying to control the pace.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie passes the guard and advances to mount!
Pak tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Pak is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie avoids the attempt from Pak to control.
Gracie looking to control but Pak is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gracie tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Pak really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Pak tries to buck Gracie off but he can't manage it.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pak's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Pak is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pak tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pak defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gracie.
Gracie looking to control but Pak is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pak manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie being controlled here momentarily.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Pak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pak wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gracie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kirk Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pak paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Pak shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie moves out of range as Pak throws a body kick.
Pak goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Gracie manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pak on his heels. He'll look to pass Pak's guard now, I'm sure.
Pak is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pak really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Pak is retaining full guard.
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Pak tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pak manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pak attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pak tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pak misses with a head kick.
Pak swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Danga de danga de dang - Pak scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Kirk Gracie has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pak keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracie.
Pak lands a jab.
Pak rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pak stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pak wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pak jabs Gracie right on the nose. Gracie blinks but takes it well.

Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pak was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Pak is trying to keep Gracie in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pak looking for a sweep. Not yet Pak, not yet.
Pak pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
Gracie advances position into side control!
You can see the frustration on Pak's face as Gracie controls the position.
Gracie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Pak!
Gracie controlling from the full mount.
Pak squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Pak tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pak is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Pak wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pak is looking to escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kirk Gracie.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Pak saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
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 Kirk Gracie will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kirk Gracie's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Pak avoids the body shot from Gracie.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pak as he jumps to the side.
Pak throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Pak thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pak misses with a wild combination.
Pak lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Pak lunges at Gracie with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gracie's hand.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Pak ducks down to avoid it.

Gracie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pak's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pak wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie passes into half guard.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gracie is keen to just control but Pak is a slippery customer.
Gracie trying to control from Pak's half guard. Pak has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Pak being controlled here, momentarily.
Dae Jung Pak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Pak keeps moving.

Kirk Gracie has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Pak misses with a series of wild punches.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Pak sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Pak which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
That kick from Pak tenderised Gracie's leg. Gracie is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Pak sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pak uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gracie has time to react.
Dae Jung Pak seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Pak to counter with a crisp jab.

Kirk Gracie's cut is getting worse.

Gracie closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pak's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pak is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gracie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pak wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pak throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pak moves away.
Pak misses with a looping left.
Pak with a nice cross.
Pak throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pak lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pak misses with a low kick.
Pak displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Pak uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie.
Pak tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pak sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Pak.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gracie was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
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!
Gracie tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dae Jung Pak.
I think Gracie 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirk Gracie!
An out of breath Kirk Gracie thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.