You must remember that K-1 is Gurkan's preferred rules... not modified or full Thai. Under K-1 rules you can't lock onto the back of the neck and Thai grapple an opponent and knee them consistently. You can lock, knee but then MUST release. People confuse K-1 rules too much with modified Thai in which you can grapple three mins straight with an opponent. K-1 doesn't allow that.
Gurkan has fought some good knee fighters, namely Vermes, Jacobs and Dendenai and all gave him problems in the clinch - all of these fights were under modified or full Thai rules. Hence his comfort zone is under K-1 rules in which he also likes the fact that some opponents will come in and try to knee and that's where he likes to come underneath with uppercuts or over the top with his overhands. It may not be the way to combat a Thai stylist... but hey, if that's what he's comfortable doing, it has worked for him in the past on a few occasions.

By the way... he WILL be fighting Scott Bannan. Confirmed that with him today. He's hungry for the megamatch.