PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elijah Baiza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Baiza
vs
Griffin

183 cm
19
299 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
23
300 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Elijah Baiza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Forrest Griffin!
The judges for this bout are , and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baiza shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Baiza could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Baiza trying to control but Griffin is working from the bottom.

Griffin looking for a guillotine here but Baiza defends easily.
Baiza trying to control but Griffin is working from the bottom.

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

Baiza gets the takedown into side control.
Baiza wants to control but Griffin is keeping him busy.
Baiza working the ground and pound but Griffin is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baiza trying to control the action but Griffin is working from the bottom.
Griffin is looking for a sweep.

Baiza is trying to get an arm triangle but Griffin is defending well.
Griffin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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 defending against the ground and pound.

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

Griffin drives through and clinches with Baiza against the cage.

Baiza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Griffin misses with a head kick.
Griffin doesn't manage to clinch there - Baiza circles away.

Baiza closes the distance and pushes Griffin back into the cage.
Griffin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Baiza gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Baiza is trying to drag Griffin to the mat but Griffin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Griffin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Baiza blocks it with crossed arms.

Baiza has clasped his hands together around Griffin's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Griffin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Baiza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Griffin keeps working.

Baiza tries for a kimura but Griffin is defending well.
Baiza is breathing heavily.

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.
Griffin is looking to reverse the position.

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

Baiza looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Griffin!
Griffin wants to hold on but Baiza pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elijah Baiza dominated that 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.

Griffin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Baiza counters with a body kick that stops Griffin in his tracks momentarily.
Baiza throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Griffin's waist but Griffin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Baiza off to one side.

Griffin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Baiza is trying to defend but Griffin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Griffin trying to control the pace.
Baiza is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Griffin controlling the pace.
Griffin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Baiza knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Baiza trying to control from the bottom.

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 is just content to waste time from the top position. Baiza takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Baiza keeping moving, preventing Griffin from controlling successfully.
Griffin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baiza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

Griffin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Griffin is staying tight to Baiza's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Baiza is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Griffin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Baiza wants to control but Griffin is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baiza is trying to stand.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Griffin in particular looking to stall.
Griffin working the head and body with strikes.
Baiza taking some punishment here, with Griffin in his half guard.
Griffin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Griffin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four 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.
Griffin wants to stand up but Baiza has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Griffin is looking to advance position but Baiza won't allow it.
Baiza is looking for a sweep. Griffin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baiza is trying to control but can't.
Baiza is looking for a sweep. Griffin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Griffin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Griffin is looking to clinch but Baiza is avoiding it.
Baiza fails with the takedown.
Griffin with a poor takedown

and Baiza counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Baiza.
Baiza trying to control but Griffin is working from the bottom.
Baiza wanted to stand there but Griffin had control of the position.

Baiza got a little sloppy there for a moment and Griffin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Baiza has managed to get both his arms back between Griffin's legs - danger averted.
Griffin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baiza tries to free his leg and advance position but Griffin is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baiza passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Griffin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Baiza cracks Griffin with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Griffin tries to bench press Baiza off him but Baiza keeps the position.
Baiza trying to control the position but Griffin is working away.
Griffin is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Elijah Baiza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.
Griffin is trying to work for a sweep but Baiza has mounted him!
Griffin wants to hold on but Baiza pushes him away.

Baiza working for a submission but Griffin is keeping him at bay.
Griffin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Baiza looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baiza trying to control but Griffin is having none of it.
Griffin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Baiza landing strikes from the mount and Griffin is in trouble!

Baiza working for a submission but Griffin is keeping him at bay.
Baiza throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Griffin because Baiza loaded up on that one.
Griffin tries to hold on but Baiza pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Baiza looking to ground and pound but Griffin is blocking nicely.
Griffin holds of for dear life.
Griffin blocking the ground and pound.
Griffin tries to hold on but Baiza pushes him away.
Baiza can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Griffin is looking to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffin tries to lock up and control but Baiza gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elijah Baiza showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Baiza has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elijah Baiza!