PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thunder Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Bodies/Drowning pool. Thunder Jackson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gracie
vs
Jackson

178 cm
29
177 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

178 cm
22
183 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kirk Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thunder Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Jackson.
Kirk Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jackson.
Jackson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Kirk Gracie has been cut.
Jackson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jackson obliges.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jackson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jackson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jackson connects with a knee to the head.
Jackson working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Jackson lands a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Jackson.
Jackson scores with a knee to the head.
Jackson lands a nice knee to the body.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jackson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!

Kirk Gracie's cut is getting worse.
A knee to the head by Jackson.
Jackson scores with a knee to the head.
Jackson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Jackson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Jackson.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Jackson gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Gracie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jackson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jackson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gracie in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Jackson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jackson tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Jackson holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Gracie trying to stall but Jackson improves his position.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
Jackson keeps control of Gracie as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gracie has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jackson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jackson scores with a knee to the head.
Jackson landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jackson connects with a knee to the head.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jackson walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Jackson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Jackson closes the distance and pushes Gracie back into the cage.
Jackson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jackson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Jackson with a knee to the head.
Gracie wants to break free but Jackson has control.
Jackson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jackson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracie jumps guard but Jackson stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gracie has had enough of the clinch but Jackson keeps him there for the moment.
Jackson misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Jackson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A knee to the head by Jackson.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gracie jumps guard but Jackson stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gracie can't break the clinch.
Jackson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jackson prevents Gracie from breaking the clinch.
Jackson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Jackson won't allow it.
Jackson misses with a knee strike.
Jackson tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Jackson is controlling him.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie is trying to break free.
Gracie jumps guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jackson lands a nice knee to the body.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jackson smiles and moves away.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jackson circles away.

Jackson rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jackson lands a knee to the body.
Jackson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Jackson scores with a knee to the head.
Jackson scores with a knee to the head.
Gracie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gracie wants to stall.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jackson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thunder Jackson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kirk Gracie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jackson sprawls well. Jackson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Jackson is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Jackson tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Jackson.
Jackson is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Jackson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jackson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson tries a head kick but it misses.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie checks a low kick from Jackson.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jackson sprawls well. Jackson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Jackson moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.

Jackson gets caught napping as Gracie dives in and scores a takedown. Jackson manages to retain guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gracie trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Jackson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control the position but Jackson says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Jackson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Jackson is very close to passing his half guard.
Jackson controlling the pace.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson wants to stand up but Gracie has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Thunder Jackson.
Jackson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jackson is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Jackson circles away and we're back to standing.
Jackson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jackson is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Jackson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.

Jackson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.
Jackson landing knees to the head.
Jackson landing knees to the head.
A knee to the head by Jackson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gracie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Jackson scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Jackson lands a knee to the body.
Jackson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Jackson holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Gracie's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gracie is trying to push Jackson away but Jackson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jackson landing knees to the head.
Gracie has had enough of the clinch but Jackson keeps him there for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jackson landing knees to the head.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Jackson is controlling him.
Thunder Jackson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jackson walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jackson counters with a big head kick but Gracie shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thunder Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kirk Gracie's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Jackson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gracie loads up on a big right hand but Jackson slips the punch.
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracie shoots in but Jackson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jackson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Jackson closes the distance and clinches.
Jackson with a knee to the head.
Gracie is looking to break free of the clinch but Jackson has double underhooks.
Jackson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Jackson working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jackson with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Jackson.
Jackson misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gracie has had enough of the clinch but Jackson keeps him there for the moment.
Gracie is trying to push Jackson away but Jackson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Jackson lands a knee to the body.
Gracie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jackson scores with a knee to the head.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Jackson misses with a knee strike.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie is trying to break free.
Gracie jumps guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jackson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Jackson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Jackson scores with a knee to the head.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Jackson won't allow it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Jackson.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jackson to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Jackson gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Jackson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gracie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gracie working hard to break the clinch.
Jackson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie jumps guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jackson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Gracie decides to pull guard.
Gracie has Jackson pulled in close to control his posture.

Gracie throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Jackson escapes and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Jackson trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jackson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Jackson looking to control but Gracie passes into half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Jackson is keeping him busy.
Gracie perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Jackson is defending it quite comfortably.
Thunder Jackson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jackson is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Jackson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kirk Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie prevents Jackson from standing back up.
Kirk Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

And that's the end of the fight!
Thunder Jackson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jackson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thunder Jackson!
Thunder Jackson took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, ANABOLIC Nutrition 160Q for their support in the buildup to the fight.