PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Noel James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Griswald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think James might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Whats New pussy Cat by Tom Jones. Griswald is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Grizz' Hype Song. Johnny Griswald has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

James
vs
Griswald

195 cm
22
211 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

191 cm
26
221 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Noel James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Johnny Griswald!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James misses with a double jab.
Griswald ducks under a wild hook from James.
Griswald misses with a wild combination.
Griswald misses with a body shot.
Griswald uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
James fails to land with a series of punches.
James looks to land a combination but Griswald avoids it well.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Griswald.
James shoots in for a double leg but Griswald sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The fighters circling - Griswald throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Griswald clinches up with James and pushes him back against the cage.

Griswald breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James throws a hook but Griswald blocks it.

Griswald shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches James napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ground and pound from Griswald seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Griswald thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
James can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Griswald lands a big uppercut and James crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but James looks OK. Griswald waves James back to his feet!

It looks like Noel James has been cut.
Griswald lands a slapping body shot.
James is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Griswald fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Griswald avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griswald with a hook.
Griswald misses with an uppercut. James saw that one coming.
Griswald misses with a wild combination.
A jab from Griswald misses.
James throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Griswald to counter with a crisp jab.
Griswald misses with a hook. James ducked under it nicely.
Griswald connects with the punch.
Griswald throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Griswald with a poor takedown
letting James counter with a right hand.
Griswald looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Noel James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Griswald.
James slaps away a takedown attempt from Griswald, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griswald has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from James finds it's way round the side to connect with Griswald's head.
Griswald throws a hook to the side of James's head but James sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
James throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Johnny Griswald has been cut.
James pulls out of a head kick attempt.
James throws a right hand that Griswald ducks under and follows up with a left that Griswald also avoids with ease.
Johnny Griswald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James throws a shot from downtown. Griswald moves away and avoids it.
Griswald jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A punch combination from James misses.
Griswald gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and James counters with a left to the body.
Griswald moves out of range of the strikes.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Griswald.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griswald dodges the punch combination from James.
Griswald connects with a jab.

Griswald closes the distance and clinches.
Griswald keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
Griswald is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
James tries to circle away but Griswald has him pinned against the cage.
Griswald tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
James working hard to break the clinch.
Griswald has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. James is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griswald jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as James walks away with a smile on his face. Griswald gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Griswald shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice cross by James.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Griswald dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

James misses with the combination.
Griswald throws a hook but James avoids it easily.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Griswald tests James's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Griswald with a poor takedown
and James counters with a nice uppercut.
James throws a head kick but Griswald moves out of range.
Griswald pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Griswald has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by James.
Griswald wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
James throws a jab when Griswald was well out of range.
James swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Griswald counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Griswald has his takedown stuffed

and James counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Griswald is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to advance to mount but Griswald denies him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Griswald regains half guard.
James stalling.
Griswald wants to improve his position but James is controlling well.
James slips a nice elbow through Griswald's hands, connecting with Griswald's forehead.
Griswald wants to get back to full guard.
James is figuring out what he wants to do next.
James is keen to just control but Griswald is a slippery customer.
James takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are battling for position here. Griswald manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
James passes into half guard.
James prevents Griswald from improving his position.
James controlling the pace.
Griswald works his way to full guard. Good work.
James is pushing down on Griswald's leg trying to pass to half guard. Griswald is fighting to maintain full guard but James has managed to sneak the leg through.
James wants to take a breather but Griswald is having none of it.
James throwing shots but Griswald is blocking nicely.
James trying to control the action but Griswald is working from the bottom.
Griswald wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control from half guard but Griswald is working away.

Griswald kicks James off and gets back to his feet.
Griswald tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Griswald might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Griswald will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Griswald uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from James.
James bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Griswald.
Noel James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Griswald.
James slips a jab from Griswald.
Griswald with a lazy takedown attempt
and James counters with a big head kick but Griswald shrugs it off.
James lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griswald showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
James scores with a jab to the head.
James scores with a three punch combo!
James throws a head kick that misses.
James throws a right hand that Griswald ducks under and follows up with a left that Griswald also avoids with ease.
Nice shot by James.
Griswald misses with a hook. James ducked under it nicely.
Griswald looks to land a left hand but James moved out of range nicely.
Griswald tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
enabling James to counter with a crisp jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A jab from Griswald misses.
James misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noel James dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

James moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Griswald tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James ducks under a wild hook from Griswald.
Griswald misses with a looping left.
James pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Griswald throws a jab but it's blocked by James.
Griswald avoids a punch combination nicely.
James throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Griswald throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck James on the side of the head.
A nice inside leg kick there by James. That's going to slow Griswald down.
James lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Griswald takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Griswald cracks James with a right hand to the side of the head.
Griswald fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by James!
James scores with a jab.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Griswald tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
and James counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Griswald is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Griswald throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Griswald circles away quickly and effectively.
James lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
James stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
James goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Griswald tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Griswald throws an overhand right that lands on James's shoulder, as James tries to avoid the shot.
Griswald jabbing away but nothing is landing.
James throws a right hand that Griswald ducks under and follows up with a left that Griswald also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griswald throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
James lands with a kick to the temple. Griswald shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Griswald takes one to the side of the head.
Johnny Griswald seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Griswald throws a looping overhand right but James ducks down to avoid it.
James uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Griswald.
Griswald has his takedown stuffed
and James counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice defenses there by James.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Griswald looks to land a left hand but James moved out of range nicely.
Griswald takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Griswald tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
James uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Griswald.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griswald cracks James with a good jab.
James uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Griswald.
James lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Griswald throws a looping overhand right but James ducks down to avoid it.
Griswald looks to score with a jab to the body but James is just out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for James. That snapped Griswald's head back.
James throws a wild body kick that Griswald sees coming a mile off.
Griswald waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract James.
James lands the left hand.
James works over Griswald's head and body with a nice combination.
James tries to bum rush Griswald with a series of wild strikes but Griswald uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Griswald avoids the head kick by James.
Griswald throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
Griswald shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Noel James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Griswald.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griswald is on the wrong end of a nice combination from James.
Griswald with a poor takedown
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!
James loads up on a big right hand but Griswald slips the punch.
James throws a head kick but Griswald moves out of range.
Griswald just misses with a punch to the body.
Griswald misses with a takedown
and James counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Griswald misses with an uppercut. James saw that one coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griswald takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Griswald fails with the takedown
and James counters with a head kick.
James ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noel James showed his dominance in that final round.
I think James 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noel James!