PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gary Grice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grice kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is GZA - Shadowboxin'. Rourke has chosen Rolling Stones - Paint it black 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.

Grice
vs
Rourke

184 cm
27
194 lbs
6 - 0 - 1

182 cm
38
196 lbs
31 - 19 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Project Mayhem

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Gary Grice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Mikko Rourke!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grice throws out a powerful jab.
Rourke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rourke lands a nice looking body shot.
A leg kick checked by Grice.
Grice takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rourke walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rourke finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Grice throws a lazy right hand but Rourke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rourke throws the kick towards the body but Grice avoids it.
Grice avoids the head kick by Rourke.
We've been hearing reports that Grice has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Rourke tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Grice is able to avoid easily.
Rourke stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rourke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mikko Rourke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rourke keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grice looks to throw the jab but Rourke is out of range.
Grice avoids a kick to the body.
Rourke throws an off balance right hand

and Grice counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rourke won't be happy with that.
Grice in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
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.
Grice tries to score with some ground and pound. Rourke controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rourke manages to get back to half guard.
Grice throwing shots but Rourke is blocking nicely.
Grice throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Grice passes to side control.

Grice is trying to get an arm triangle but Rourke is defending well.
Rourke can't do much from the bottom here.
Rourke tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke is not content to let Grice control the position.
An elbow from Grice crashes against the mat.
Rourke tries to buck Grice off but Grice is having none of it.
Rourke keeps trying to improve his position.
Grice tries to move to mount but Rourke blocks the move with his legs.
Rourke seems a little lost for a moment, as Grice dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grice is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rourke knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Grice swings around for an armbar but Rourke sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Grice's guard.

Grice is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rourke trying to control the position from guard on top but Grice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grice looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rourke controls from within his opponent's guard.
Grice keeping moving, preventing Rourke from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grice looking for a sweep. Not yet Grice, not yet.
Grice avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mikko Rourke.
Rourke throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Grice wants to clinch.
Rourke connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Grice avoids a punch combination nicely.
Grice misses with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rourke. Grice does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grice throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rourke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Grice throws a good cross that connects.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rourke scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Grice dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rourke chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rourke moves out of range as Grice throws a body kick.
Rourke ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Grice misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rourke finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Grice uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rourke.
Rourke scores with a body shot.
Grice thows a leg kick but Rourke checks it
and Rourke counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Grice thinking.
Good work by Rourke as he checks the leg kick.
Grice checks a low kick from Rourke.
Rourke dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Grice. That did some damage!
Grice checks the leg kick nicely there.
Grice digs a good body shot into Rourke's ribs.
Rourke attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rourke wants to land a leg kick but Grice is out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grice pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Rourke finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rourke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rourke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rourke uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Grice.
A clash of legs there as Grice blocks the low kick.
Rourke swings for the body but Grice moves out of range.
Rourke is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Grice rather than just go for the knockout.
Grice throws a good cross that connects.
Rourke connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rourke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rourke chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Grice can pounce on him.
Good work by Rourke as he checks the leg kick.
Grice throws a lazy right hand but Rourke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Grice.
Good leg kick by Grice there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grice misses with a low kick as Rourke jumps back.
Grice misses with a shot to the body
and Rourke counters with a left to the body.
Grice has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A solid body kick from Rourke.
Grice scores with a hook to the body. Rourke takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Grice is looking to slow Rourke down with leg kicks.
Grice is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rourke lands a body shot.
Grice wants to land a leg kick but Rourke is out of range.
Rourke takes one on the button.
Grice walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rourke checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A leg kick checked by Rourke.
Grice walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rourke.
Grice shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Grice misses with a low kick.
Rourke throws a solid leg kick but Grice takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rourke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mikko Rourke seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rourke closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Grice thows a left - swing and a miss!
Grice fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gary Grice is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A low kick from Grice is predictable there
and Rourke counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Grice explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Rourke throws a lazy right hand but Grice sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jab, jab by Rourke - just one landing.
Grice is looking to chop away at Rourke's legs.
Rourke swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rourke. Grice does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grice works the jab nicely.
Grice punishes Rourke's body with a nice straight punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grice feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rourkes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourke tests Grice's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rourke gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rourke ducks under a wild hook from Grice.
Grice scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rourke in his tracks.
Rourke throws a nice head kick!
That kick from Rourke tenderised Grice's leg. Grice is trying to keep his angry face on.
Grice slips a straight right by Rourke.
Grice throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Grice throws a leg kick but Rourke checks it.
Grice throws the left hand but Rourke avoids the punch easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rourke lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Good work by Grice as he checks the leg kick.
Grice motions for Rourke to come forward. Grice throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mikko Rourke will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

Grice moves out of range of the body kick from Rourke.
Grice tries to clinch but Rourke is having none of it.
Rourke throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Grice decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rourke's guard.
Grice pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rourke is keeping the position for now.
Grice has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Grice throwing strikes but missing.
Grice postures up in Rourke's guard and throws a big left but Rourke blocks it.
Grice wants to control from the top but Rourke keeps moving.

Grice avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Grice trying to control the position from guard on top but Rourke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grice working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Grice trying to move into half guard but instead Rourke has managed to sweep!
Grice trying to keep a closed guard but Rourke is proving a slippery customer.
Rourke 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.
Rourke preventing the sweep.
Rourke must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rourke trying to control the position from guard on top but Grice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grice controls Rourke momentarily but Rourke frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rourke finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rourke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grice.
A good leg kick by Grice.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rourke. Grice does a little dance to reset his feet.
A swing and a miss from Rourke.
Rourke cracks Grice with an open hand slap.
Rourke takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rourke throws a hook but Grice blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rourke has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Grice.
Grice keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Grice takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Grice takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Grice checks a leg kick.
Grice dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rourke. That did some damage!
Rourke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rourke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Grice looks to throw the jab but Rourke is out of range.
Rourke steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Grice. That one must have hurt.
Grice throws the kick towards the body but Rourke avoids it.
Rourke misses the shot to the body.
Grice looks to throw the jab but Rourke is out of range.
Rourke works Grice's body with a nice hook.
Rourke on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rourke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grice thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Rourke if he has to take too many more of those.
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!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rourke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grice lunges at Rourke with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rourke's hand.
Rourke misses the jab.
Rourke's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Grice connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rourke scrambles back to his feet.
Rourke throws the left hand but Grice avoids the punch easily.
Grice cracks Rourke with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Grice lands the left hand.
Rourke takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grice. Rourke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grice looks to throw the jab but Rourke is out of range.
Rourke takes a swing at Grice's ribcage but misses.
Rourke closes this distance looking for a takedown but Grice circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Grice throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rourke doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Grice counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Grice showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Grice has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Grice!
Gary Grice decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.