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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul OConnell (ranked 1784 p4p, 214 weight class) and John Wayne Gracie (ranked 1074 p4p, 139 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Gracie's choice of entrance music: Thriller by Michael Jackson. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!
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| 209 cm
39
285 lbs
23 - 16 - 1 |
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194 cm
35
269 lbs
18 - 8 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
23 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, Paul OConnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Wayne Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie feints and then cracks OConnell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow OConnell down.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Gracie has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Gracie cracks OConnell with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
OConnell misses the body punch
and Gracie counters with a nice leg kick.
OConnell throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gracie scores with a hook.
Gracie misses with an uppercut
and OConnell counters with a right hand to the body.
OConnell fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
OConnell pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gracie is out of range and OConnell settles back down.
OConnell ducks right into an uppercut from Gracie.
OConnell loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Gracie is clearly trying to counter these attacks from OConnell with a body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gracie.
Nice defenses there by OConnell.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big left from OConnell misses.
John Wayne Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
OConnell definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Gracie throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie misses with a low kick.
OConnell with a body punch. A glancing blow.
OConnell lands a glancing blow to the side of Gracie's head.
OConnell chopping away at his opponent's legs.
OConnell throws a sloppy head kick
and Gracie counters with a low kick, right behind OConnell 's knee.
Gracie rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and OConnell counters with a nice uppercut.
OConnell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Paul OConnell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
OConnell takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An attempted straight right counter from OConnell misses the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie lands a nice looking body shot.
Gracie throws a body punch but OConnell moves out of range.
OConnell on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gracie. Gracie obviously looking to wear him down.
OConnell misses with a right hand
and Gracie counters with an outside leg kick.
OConnell throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from OConnell.
Gracie feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to OConnell's calf.
OConnell blocks the body kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
OConnell misses with a straight right.
Gracie misses with a left hand
and Gracie takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from OConnell.
Gracie scores with a push kick.
Gracie throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and OConnell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gracie paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Gracie lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. OConnell was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but OConnell is retaining full guard.
Gracie lands a couple of digs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie trying to control but OConnell is working from the bottom.
OConnell is looking to stand back up but Gracie counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by OConnell.
OConnell pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but OConnell is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed OConnell's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
John Wayne Gracie dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Some bone on bone action there as OConnell checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Gracie throws a lazy uppercut
and OConnell cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie throws a leg kick
and OConnell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
OConnell throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
OConnell lands a body shot.
Gracie throws a leg kick
enabling OConnell to counter with a crisp jab.
OConnell lands hard precision jab right on the jaw that stiffens Gracie up and sends him tumbling to the mat! The ref grabs OConnell from behind before he can pounce. Some folks in the crowd didn't like that stoppage, but I saw Gracie's eyes roll way back in his head, he was done.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Paul OConnell!
Paul OConnell decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
49% |
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