PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jenean Garafallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kim Tae Hook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Garafallo
vs
Tae Hook

152 cm
26
141 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jenean Garafallo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kim Tae Hook!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Chris Dean and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tae Hook dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Garafallo. That did some damage!
Jenean Garafallo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garafallo takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Garafallo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Garafallo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Garafallo definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Tae Hook misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tae Hook delivers a nice body kick.

Garafallo closes the distance and clinches.
Garafallo lands a nice shot to the body.
Garafallo lands an elbow that stopped Tae Hook in his tracks for a moment.
Tae Hook avoiding damage as Garafallo throws knees to the body.
Tae Hook is struggling to control the position.
A short right from Garafallo on the inside.

Garafallo lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garafallo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Tae Hook tries to get to full guard but Garafallo has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tae Hook is still trying to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tae Hook wants to control but Garafallo is keeping busy.
Tae Hook is looking to improve his position.

Tae Hook looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Garafallo slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tae Hook wants to control but Garafallo is keeping busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tae Hook is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tae Hook lands with an uppercut that bounces Garafallo off the cage and back into range.
Tae Hook throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Garafallo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Tae Hook looks to land a combination but Garafallo avoids it well.
Tae Hook lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Tae Hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garafallo lands with a hook. Tae Hook tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tae Hook tries to land a front kick but Garafallo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Garafallo appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Garafallo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tae Hook's guard.
Garafallo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tae Hook is looking to sweep but instead, Garafallo has passed into half guard.
Tae Hook looks winded!
Tae Hook is trying to get back to full guard.
Garafallo passes to full mount!

Garafallo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garafallo looking to finish Tae Hook with some ground and pound. This is bad for Tae Hook!

Garafallo has hold of Tae Hook's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Tae Hook manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Tae Hook wants to control but Garafallo is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tae Hook takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Garafallo moves into the clinch.
Garafallo digs a right hand underneath Tae Hook's ribcage. Tae Hook let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Garafallo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tae Hook can do to turn this around?

Garafallo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Garafallo avoids the head kick by Tae Hook.
A nice inside leg kick there by Garafallo. That's going to slow Tae Hook down.
Garafallo misses with a few strikes there.
Garafallo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tae Hook throws a solid leg kick but Garafallo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tae Hook.
Garafallo avoids the head kick by Tae Hook.
Tae Hook throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Garafallo.

Garafallo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Garafallo postures up and lands a big shot to Tae Hook's brow.
Garafallo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garafallo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tae Hook knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Garafallo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Jenean Garafallo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tae Hook trying to hold on to Garafallo's head to control him but Garafallo postures up.
Tae Hook is breathing heavily.
Garafallo stalling.
Tae Hook is looking for a sweep. Garafallo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Garafallo lands strikes from half guard.
Garafallo is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Tae Hook!
Garafallo lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garafallo has control of Tae Hook's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tae Hook regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Garafallo swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Tae Hook is now in Garafallo's guard. A big mistake from Garafallo there, giving up the dominant position!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Garafallo has his foot on Tae Hook's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tae Hook works his way back into a safe position though.
Garafallo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Garafallo will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Tae Hook got a little sloppy there for a moment and Garafallo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tae Hook has managed to get both his arms back between Garafallo's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tae Hook with a nice head shot there.
Tae Hook trying to control the position from guard on top but Garafallo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tae Hook throws a strike but Garafallo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Garafallo is looking to work some ground and pound but Tae Hook has wrist control.
Tae Hook is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tae Hook looking to control but Garafallo passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tae Hook on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tae Hook has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Garafallo is working away from the top position though.
Garafallo thows a huge punch but Tae Hook dodges it nicely.
Garafallo is taking a breather. Tae Hook says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Tae Hook flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Garafallo is controlling the pace.
Garafallo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenean Garafallo dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tae Hook fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Garafallo bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Garafallo tries to clinch up but Tae Hook circles away and keeps his distance.
Tae Hook is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Garafallo appears to be looking for a big counter.
Garafallo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tae Hook paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Garafallo misses with a few strikes there.
Tae Hook throws a head kick but Garafallo moves out of range.
Tae Hook lands a slapping body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garafallo scores with a shot to the body.
Tae Hook misses with a two punch combination.
Tae Hook takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tae Hook blocks a head kick by Garafallo.
Tae Hook misses with a wild body shot.
Tae Hook avoids the head kick by Garafallo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garafallo scores with a head kick.
Tae Hook fails in his attempt to clinch.

Garafallo closes the distance and clinches.
Garafallo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tae Hook creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Garafallo's defenses.
Garafallo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Garafallo lands a shoulder strike.
Garafallo has Tae Hook pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tae Hook manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tae Hook trying to land knees to the body.

Garafallo gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Garafallo controlling the action here.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Garafallo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tae Hook misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Garafallo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Tae Hook is looking to control Garafallo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tae Hook avoid being mounted?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tae Hook wants to improve his position but Garafallo is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garafallo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tae Hook circles away quickly and effectively.
Garafallo tries to clinch but Tae Hook is having none of it.
Tae Hook doesn't manage to clinch there - Garafallo circles away.
Tae Hook has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Garafallo.
Garafallo cracks a nice hook into Tae Hook's ribs.
Garafallo throws a series of punches but Tae Hook moves out of range.
A shot to the liver by Tae Hook. Beautiful body shot.
Tae Hook dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Garafallo. That did some damage!
Garafallo misses with a looping right.
Tae Hook swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Garafallo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tae Hook.
Tae Hook avoids a punch combination nicely.
Garafallo is looking to clinch.
Tae Hook swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garafallo throws a head kick but Tae Hook moves out of range.
Tae Hook is looking for the big counter here.
Jenean Garafallo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Garafallo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tae Hook or perhaps it was just good defense by Garafallo, which made it look bad.
Jenean Garafallo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kim Tae Hook.
Tae Hook moves in looking to clinch but Garafallo pushes him off.
Garafallo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Garafallo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garafallo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Garafallo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Garafallo takes the fight into the clinch.
Tae Hook can't get the takedown.
Garafallo tries to score a body lock takedown but Tae Hook shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kim Tae Hook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jenean Garafallo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Garafallo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jenean Garafallo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Garafallo 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jenean Garafallo!