PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Orpo Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Bodies/Drowning pool. Kirk Gracie has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Gracie
vs
Jokinen

178 cm
29
177 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

175 cm
21
180 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Hardcore Nutrition
Perkele!

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kirk Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Orpo Jokinen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jokinen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jokinen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Jokinen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jokinen is looking to slow Gracie down with leg kicks.
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jokinen thows a body kick. Gracie tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Gracie throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jokinen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Kirk Gracie has been cut.
Jokinen looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Jokinen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gracie. Gracie circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Jokinen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Jokinen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gracie is trying to defend but Jokinen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Jokinen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Jokinen eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen controlling the pace.
Jokinen wants to pass to mount but Gracie is defending the position.

Jokinen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie trying to control but Jokinen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen uses his free foot to push down on Gracie's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gracie.
Gracie tries to lock up and control but Jokinen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Jokinen is looking to work his way around to Gracie's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jokinen tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Jokinen pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Jokinen looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.

Jokinen is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gracie has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gracie!

Jokinen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Jokinen is keeping the position.
Jokinen 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.
Jokinen is pulling down on Gracie's head to control his posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Jokinen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orpo Jokinen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kirk Gracie's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gracie has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jokinen.
Gracie stuffs the takedown attempt from Jokinen. Jokinen gets slowly back to his feet.
Jokinen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jokinen with a hook.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and Jokinen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jokinen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd cheers as Jokinen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gracie doesn't seem phased though.
Kirk Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie avoids a kick to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Jokinen, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Jokinen against the cage but Jokinen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jokinen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Jokinen.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Jokinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie takes a swing at Jokinen's ribcage but misses.
Gracie stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gracie wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jokinen shoots in looking for a takedown but Gracie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jokinen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kirk Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Orpo Jokinen.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jokinen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Decent striking displayed by Jokinen there.
Jokinen stuns Gracie with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jokinen shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gracie checks a low kick from Jokinen.
Gracie misses with a left hand
and Jokinen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jokinen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Gracie fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Jokinen to the ground. Gracie is now in Jokinen's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jokinen is adopting a defensive guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jokinen is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Jokinen manages to get to full guard.
Gracie has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jokinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jokinen wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jokinen is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Jokinen is working 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jokinen has his foot on Gracie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gracie works his way back into a safe position though.
Jokinen 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.
Jokinen is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jokinen is keeping the position for now.
Jokinen controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orpo Jokinen 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!

A decent looking body kick lands there for Jokinen.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jokinen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Jokinen counters with a nice body shot.
Jokinen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gracie's sensitive parts.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jokinen sprawls well and keeps this one 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.
Jokinen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Orpo Jokinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jokinen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gracie. Gracie circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie moves forwards but Jokinen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gracie takes a kick to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Jokinen.
Jokinen lands a nice looking body shot.
Gracie takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Jokinen.
Jokinen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jokinen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Kirk Gracie's cut is getting worse.
Jokinen scoring well with a low kick there.
Jokinen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gracie under the eye.
Jokinen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie dives in and grabs Jokinen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jokinen pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Jokinen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jokinen connects with an inside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Jokinen.
Gracie is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Jokinen thuds his right hand into Gracie's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Gracie is rocked!
Gracie wants to stay close but Jokinen steps back to make room for something. Gracie seems frozen to the spot and bam! huge swing of the leg from Jokinen and Gracie drops like he has been shot! A huge head kick and it's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Orpo Jokinen!