PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gaston Alford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalju Pakk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kalju Pakk has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alford
vs
Pakk

165 cm
22
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

186 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gaston Alford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalju Pakk!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alford closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pakk circles away.

Pakk moves into the clinch.
Pakk wants to take the fight to the mat but Alford manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Alford working hard to break the clinch.
Alford really is a fat lump.
Alford fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Alford is trying to push Pakk away but Pakk has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Pakk trying to land knees to the body.
Alford can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gaston Alford. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Alford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alford fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Alford avoids the head kick by Pakk.
Pakk throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pakk shoots in but Alford avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pakk misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pakk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alford swivels and escapes.
Pakk with a lazy takedown attempt

and Alford counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Pakk!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Pakk manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Alford wants to control but Pakk is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alford tries to get to full guard but Pakk has control of the leg.
Pakk is controlling the pace.
Alford flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alford is controlling Pakk's trapped leg to prevent Pakk from advancing to side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gaston Alford wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nice takedown defense from Pakk. No joy for Alford on that attempt.
Alford tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pakk defends well and Alford ends up having to push Pakk into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Alford keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pakk's efforts to push away.
Pakk wants to get back to striking at distance but Alford won't allow it.
Alford wants to get back to striking at distance but Pakk won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pakk displaying some good clinch control by pressing Alford up against the cage.
Pakk is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Alford pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Alford breaks the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pakk.
Pakk tries to work over Alford's front leg with a kick but Alford checks it.
Alford displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pakk.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Pakk pulls guard effortlessly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pakk 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.

Pakk manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Pakk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alford tries to avoid it but Pakk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alford to the ground. Alford escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pakk tries for a takedown but Alford circles away easily
and Alford counters with a series of strikes. Pakk will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pakk looks winded!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alford closes the distance and clinches up with Pakk, looking for a takedown. Alford pushes Pakk against the cage but Pakk circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pakk looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kalju Pakk will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Alford closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pakk circles away.
Kalju Pakk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alford stuffs the takedown.
Pakk misses with a wild combination.
Alford looks for a takedown but Pakk sprawls well.
Alford shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pakk defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gaston Alford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alford fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pakk misses with a hook to the body
and Alford counters with a body kick that stops Pakk in his tracks momentarily.
A left and a right from Pakk both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Gaston Alford has been cut.
Alford tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pakk defends well and Alford ends up having to push Pakk into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Pakk tries for a takedown. No joy.
Pakk controlling the action here for a moment.
Pakk is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Alford to keep the fight standing.
Pakk is trying to push Alford away but Alford has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pakk.
Alford prevents the takedown attempt.
Pakk has had enough of the clinch but Alford keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alford turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Alford manages to end up in side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alford fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Pakk is trying to buck Alford off.
Pakk is breathing heavily.
Pakk takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Alford working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alford in side control, throwing shots but Pakk defends.
Pakk struggling a bit here.

Alford tries for a kimura but Pakk is defending well.
Pakk tries to control but Alford manages to take his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Pakk right now.
Alford is trying to stick to Pakk's back but Pakk is turning into Alford. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Alford's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Pakk.
Pakk throwing strikes but missing.
Gaston Alford overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pakk not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Alford is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pakk slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalju Pakk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gaston Alford's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Pakk shoots in for a double leg but Alford sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alford circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alford stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alford wants it to stay on the feet.
Pakk closes the distance and clinches up with Alford, looking for a takedown. Pakk pushes Alford against the cage but Alford circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gaston Alford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kalju Pakk.
Good standup being displayed there by Pakk as he connects with a hook.
Pakk avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pakk misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pakk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pakk throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pakk misses with a low kick.
Pakk tries to bum rush Alford with a series of wild strikes but Alford uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pakk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alford as he jumps to the side.
Alford throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pakk's waist but Pakk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alford off to one side.
Alford closes the distance and clinches up with Pakk, looking for a takedown. Alford pushes Pakk against the cage but Pakk circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A low kick from Pakk is predictable there
and Alford counters with a big head kick but Pakk shrugs it off.
Kalju Pakk seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pakk throws a low kick but it's checked well by Alford.
Alford shoots in for a takedown but Pakk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Alford displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pakk.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pakk fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alford fails with a takedown attempt.
Pakk tries to close the distance and clinch but Alford swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pakk is defended easily by Alford.
Alford shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pakk pinned against the cage. Pakk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Pakk as Alford shoots in.
Pakk tries to close the distance and clinch but Alford swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alford fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pakk avoids it really well and circles away.
Pakk tries to land a body kick
and Alford counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Pakk is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Pakk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alford as he jumps to the side.
Alford misses with a takedown attempt - Pakk sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pakk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alford shoots in but no luck this time.
Pakk looks for a takedown but Alford sprawls well.

Pakk closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Alford has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Pakk uses from the top position.
Gaston Alford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kalju Pakk is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Alford has an active guard here but Pakk has managed to pass into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalju Pakk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pakk 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalju Pakk!