PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drake comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Sweep The Leg kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Griffin
vs
Drake

200 cm
21
315 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

225 cm
24
300 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randy Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thomas Drake!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin shoots for a takedown but Drake saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Drake keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Griffin blocks a head kick by Drake.
Drake lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Griffin circles away quickly and effectively.
Drake rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Griffin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Griffin closes the distance and clinches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Griffin takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Griffin breaks from the clinch.
Drake misses with a wild combination.
Griffin shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Griffin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin shoots in but Drake avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Griffin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Drake did well to prevent Griffin getting side control.
Griffin wants to free his trapped foot but Drake is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Drake's head.
Griffin working Drake over with strikes.
Griffin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Drake won't allow Griffin to pass to mount.
Griffin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Drake wants to get back to his feet.
Griffin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Griffin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Griffin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drake keeps working.
Drake looks like he's trying to stand up.
Griffin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin prevents Drake from improving his position.
Griffin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Drake's head.
Griffin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Drake blocking the ground and pound attempt from Griffin.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Griffin closes the distance and clinches.

Griffin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Griffin trying to pass the guard but Drake defending well.
Drake keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Griffin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Griffin is looking to pass Drake's guard but actually Drake recovers to full guard.
Griffin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drake swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Griffin throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drake wants to sweep but no luck.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Griffin dodges the punch combination from Drake.

Griffin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Drake sprawls well initially but Griffin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Griffin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin throwing shots but Drake is blocking nicely.
Griffin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Griffin thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Drake to regain full guard.
Griffin trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Griffin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Griffin postures up in Drake's guard and throws a big left but Drake blocks it.
Griffin working some strikes from top position.
Griffin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drake works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Griffin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Griffin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Griffin thows a big elbow that misses.
Drake utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Griffin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Griffin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Drake pushes Griffin off and gets back to his feet.
Drake looks to land a combination but Griffin avoids it well.
Drake throws a leg kick but Griffin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown but Drake shows good takedown defense.
Griffin fails with the takedown.

Griffin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Griffin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Drake scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Drake swinging wildly here.

Griffin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Drake defending well though.
Drake keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Drake is trying to stand.

Griffin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Griffin throwing shots but Drake is blocking nicely.
Drake keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Griffin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Randy Griffin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Griffin winds up and cracks Drake with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Drake blocking the ground and pound attempt from Griffin.

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.
Griffin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Drake is looking for a sweep. Griffin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Griffin is looking for a kimura but Drake is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Griffin to get the leverage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Griffin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Drake's head.
Griffin is trying to control. Drake wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Griffin throws a strike but Drake avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Drake keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Drake throws a head kick that misses.
Drake throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Griffin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Drake utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Griffin is looking to work some ground and pound but Drake has wrist control.
Griffin advances position into side control!
Drake regains half guard, as Griffin was trying to land strikes.
Griffin thows a huge punch but Drake dodges it nicely.
Griffin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Griffin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Griffin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Drake defending well though.
Griffin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Drake is trying to stand back up but Griffin is controlling him
Griffin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Some wild striking there from Drake.

Griffin scores a takedown into full mount!
Drake squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Griffin postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Drake looks a forlorn figure.
Griffin lands with some strikes.
Griffin lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Griffin swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Drake is now in Griffin's guard. A big mistake from Griffin there, giving up the dominant position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Griffin dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Griffin rushes Drake and presses him up against the cage.
Drake gets underhooks to prevent Griffin's takedown attempt.
Drake stops a takedown attempt from Griffin.
Griffin wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Griffin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Griffin lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Drake tries to get to full guard but Griffin has control of the leg.
Drake is trying to stand back up but Griffin is controlling him
Griffin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Drake is looking to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Griffin not doing much here.
Griffin is trying to control the action in half guard but Drake is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Griffin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Drake keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Griffin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Drake's head.
Griffin stalling.
Griffin thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Drake to regain full guard.
Griffin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Drake working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Griffin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Griffin works over Drake with some ground and pound from guard.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Drake keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Griffin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Griffin preventing the sweep.
Drake avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Drake preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Griffin trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Griffin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Drake is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Griffin is controlling him.
Griffin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drake is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Griffin is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

It looks like Randy Griffin has been cut.

Griffin has managed to clinch.
Griffin wants a takedown.

Griffin jumps guard and drags Drake to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Drake with a flurry of punches that miss.
Griffin manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Griffin with good strikes from the mount here!
Griffin with a couple of short strikes.
Drake is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake is bucking up trying to escape but Griffin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Drake tries to hold on but Griffin pushes him away.
Griffin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Griffin working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Randy Griffin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Griffin lands a big shot there that rocks Drake but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Drake tries to hold on but Griffin postures up.
Griffin scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffin putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Griffin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Thomas Drake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Griffin with shots to the head and body - Drake looks very uncomfortable down there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Griffin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Griffin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Griffin!