PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Growden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Dubbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Craig Growden has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Growden
vs
Dubbs

163 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig Growden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Dubbs!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dubbs tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Growden swivels and escapes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Growden looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Growden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Growden misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dubbs looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dubbs circles away from the clinch attempt

and Dubbs counters with a nice double leg into side control. Growden won't be happy with that.
Growden is not content to let Dubbs control the position.

Dubbs decides to stand back up.

Dubbs drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Growden looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dubbs is one step ahead there.
Dubbs looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Growden working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dubbs.
Dubbs trying to control but Growden is working from the bottom.
Dubbs content to stall in guard here.
Growden knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dubbs on the ground.
Growden keeping full guard, as Dubbs tries to pass.
Growden is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dubbs is staying active underneath Growden, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ground and pound from Growden.
Growden wants to pass the guard but Dubbs is defending well.
Dubbs is staying active underneath Growden, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dubbs is looking to improve his position.
Growden could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Dubbs misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Dubbs is refusing to be controlled, as Growden sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dubbs wants to get back to full guard.
Dubbs trying to hold on to Growden's head to control him but Growden postures up.
Dubbs tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Growden manages to move to mount!
Growden tries to control but Dubbs wriggling away.
Dubbs tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dubbs looks gassed!
Growden won't let Dubbs get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Growden throwing strikes here but Dubbs is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Growden thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Growden wants to control the pace but Dubbs is squirming around nicely.
Dubbs really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Dubbs is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Growden tries to control but Dubbs wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Dubbs dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dubbs slips a jab and a cross from Growden.
Dubbs tries a head kick but it misses.
Dubbs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Growden as he jumps to the side.
Growden tries to clinch up

and Dubbs counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dubbs trying to control the position from guard on top but Growden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dubbs looking to sit in guard and control but Growden gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dubbs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dubbs is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dubbs keeping moving, preventing Growden from controlling successfully.
Dubbs is trying to keep Growden in close.
Dubbs wants to sweep here but Growden controlling him for the moment.
Growden trying to control the position from guard on top but Dubbs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dubbs can't keep his opponent in guard - Growden advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dubbs taking some punishment here, with Growden in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Growden is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Dubbs has managed to free his arm - good work.
Dubbs wants to control but Growden is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dubbs is trying to control but Growden passes into side control!
Dubbs gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Growden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dubbs keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Growden is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dubbs is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Growden thows a huge punch but Dubbs dodges it nicely.
Growden wants to take a breather but Dubbs is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dubbs trying to hold on to Growden's head to control him but Growden postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dubbs tries for a takedown but Growden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nice sprawl there from Growden as Dubbs shoots in.
Craig Growden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Dubbs.
Dubbs tries to close the distance and clinch but Growden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Craig Growden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Growden lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Dubbs shoots in but no luck this time.
Growden is looking to clinch but Dubbs is avoiding it.
Growden swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Growden tries to clinch there but Dubbs circles away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Growden!
Growden fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Growden is looking to clinch.
Dubbs looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Growden dominated that second round.
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!

Growden wants to clinch up but Dubbs keeps it at a distance.
Dubbs fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Growden is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dubbs darts in trying to clinch

and Growden counters with a series of strikes that sends Dubbs to the canvas! Growden follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!

Dubbs is rocked!
Growden prevents Dubbs from getting back to his feet.
Growden might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Growden has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dubbs is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dubbs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dubbs keeping moving, preventing Growden from controlling successfully.
Growden has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Growden thows a big elbow that misses.
Growden has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dubbs is proving hard to escape from.
Growden wants to control from the top but Dubbs keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Growden wants to clinch

and Dubbs holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Growden tries for a takedown. No joy.

Growden breaks the clinch.
Growden looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Dubbs feints and as Growden raises his hands in defense, Dubbs changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dubbs sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dubbs loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Growden not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Dubbs stands and steps away. Growden gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Growden swats away the attempt to clinch by Dubbs.
Dubbs tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Growden counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Growden.

Growden pulls Dubbs into guard.
Dubbs showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dubbs wants to control from the top but Growden keeps moving.
Growden is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dubbs passes Growden's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dubbs trying to mount his opponent but Growden defends it.
Growden is controlling Dubbs's trapped leg to prevent Dubbs from advancing to side control.
Growden is staying active underneath Dubbs, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Growden is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Craig Growden.
I think Growden has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Growden!