PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Quagmire Griffin (ranked 5879 p4p, 5302 weight class) and Sam Raymond (ranked 273 p4p, 260 weight class). Sam Raymond has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Griffin
vs
Raymond

171 cm
25
142
1 - 2 - 0

176 cm
24
135
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Quagmire Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Raymond!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Chris Saunders and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raymond fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Griffin, pushing him back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Raymond is working for takedown but Griffin is calmly controlling the position for now.
Griffin is pressed up against the cage. Raymond has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Griffin down to the mat. Griffin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Raymond scores with a takedown into Griffin's guard.
Raymond engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Raymond tries to free his leg and advance position but Griffin is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raymond's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Raymond trying to control the position from guard on top but Griffin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raymond preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raymond 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.

Raymond stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Griffin closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Raymond's guard.
Griffin is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Raymond seems keen to control Griffin's posture.
Raymond wants to stand up but Griffin is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Raymond manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Griffin has Raymond in his guard.

Raymond is pushing down on Griffin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Griffin is fighting to maintain full guard but Raymond has managed to sneak the leg through.
Raymond sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Raymond decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Griffin shoots in for a double leg but Raymond sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Griffin keeps control of Raymond as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Griffin breaks the clinch.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Raymond as he jumps to the side.
Griffin is breathing heavily.
Raymond shoots in for a takedown but Griffin shows good takedown defense.
Quagmire Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Raymond.
Griffin misses with a kick to the body.
Raymond goes for a double leg but Griffin avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Griffin continues to drive forward.
Raymond throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Griffin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Raymond pushes Griffin off and gets back to his feet.
Griffin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Raymond.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Raymond forces Griffin back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin trying to land knees to the body.
Griffin is trying to drag Raymond to the mat but Raymond just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Raymond gets control of Griffin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Raymond will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Raymond uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Raymond throws a right and a left that Griffin avoids nicely.

Raymond clinches with his opponent.
Raymond is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Raymond takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Raymond has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Griffin clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Griffin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Raymond on the ground.
Good control from Raymond.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Raymond dominated that round.
That's time! Griffin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Raymond.

Raymond drives through and clinches with Griffin against the cage.

Raymond pulls guard effortlessly.

Raymond has his foot on Griffin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Griffin works his way back into a safe position though.
Griffin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raymond swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Griffin lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raymond is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Griffin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raymond swinging wildly here.
Griffin tries to counter with a takedown but Raymond is quick to defend against it.
Griffin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Raymond moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Raymond thows a left - swing and a miss!
Griffin seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Quagmire Griffin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Raymond fails with the takedown.
Griffin is looking to clinch.
Raymond unleashes a big counter combination but Griffin bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Raymond swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Griffin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Griffin wants it to stay on the feet.
Quagmire Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Raymond.
Griffin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Raymond dives in for a single leg takedown but Griffin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Griffin closes the distance and clinches up with Raymond, looking for a takedown. Griffin pushes Raymond against the cage but Raymond circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Griffin avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raymond drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Raymond trying to control the position from guard on top but Griffin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Griffin is working an open guard so Raymond takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
An inside leg kick from Raymond misses.
Griffin leaves Raymond with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Raymond keeps the fight on the outside.
Raymond tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Griffin swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Raymond sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Griffin somewhat.

Raymond drives through and clinches with Griffin against the cage.

Raymond has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Griffin uses from the top position.
Raymond is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Griffin is controlling him.
Raymond seems keen to control Griffin's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raymond lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Raymond decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
No luck for Raymond with that takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big right from Raymond misses.
A lazy body kick from Raymond

and Griffin counters with a takedown into side control.

Raymond sneaks out the side door and pushes Griffin away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Raymond showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Raymond throws a low kick but Griffin avoids it.
Sloppy strikes from Raymond. Those never looked like landing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Griffin.
Griffin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Raymond misses with the combination.

Raymond clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raymond stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Raymond has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Raymond is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Griffin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Raymond pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin wants to break free but Raymond has control.
Griffin is trying to pull guard but Raymond turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Quagmire Griffin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Raymond manages to break the clinch.
Raymond throws a body punch but Griffin moves out of range.
Raymond misses with a two punch combination.

Raymond has closed the distance and engaged Griffin in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Raymond.

Raymond is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Griffin can't fight it off and eventually Raymond manages to take the fight to the floor. Griffin looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Raymond stands up from Griffin's guard - Raymond perhaps looking for a knockout.

Raymond has Griffin up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin has Raymond pressed against the cage, preventing Raymond from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Raymond jumps into guard, dragging Griffin to the mat.

Raymond is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Griffin presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Raymond pulls guard effortlessly.
Raymond is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Raymond wants to lay and pray for a moment but Griffin keeps working.
Raymond blocks the strikes from Griffin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is looking to control Raymond's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Griffin avoid being mounted?
Griffin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Griffin tries to get out of the position.

Raymond stands up out of the half guard.
A combination from Raymond does no damage.
Raymond swings away with a body shot that misses
and Griffin counters with a one-two to the body.
Sam Raymond seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Raymond looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Griffin attempts a counter takedown but Raymond avoids it well and moves away.
Griffin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Raymond moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Raymond misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raymond has a takedown stuffed.
Griffin half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Raymond rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Griffin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Raymond closes the distance and clinches.

Raymond has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Griffin uses from the top position.
Raymond is pulling down on Griffin's head to control his posture.
Griffin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Griffin trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Raymond manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

This has been an exciting period of action!
Raymond with a nice head shot there.
Quagmire Griffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sam Raymond is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Raymond is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Raymond comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Raymond has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Raymond!