PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Winchester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Griffin comes to the cage accompanied by Sexy Boy. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Griffin
vs
Winchester

191 cm
23
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rashad Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Winchester!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Damien Edna and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin misses with a head kick.
Winchester avoids the head kick by Griffin.
Griffin is looking to slow Winchester down with leg kicks.
Griffin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Winchester moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Griffin. Winchester shrugs it off though.
A good leg kick by Griffin.
Griffin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Griffin throws a series of punches but Winchester moves out of range.
Rashad Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Winchester slips a jab and a cross from Griffin.
Griffin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A right-left combo lands from Griffin.
Winchester shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Griffin but Griffin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A solid leg kick lands there for Griffin.
Griffin throws a quick inside leg kick.
Griffin scoring well with a low kick there.
Griffin throws a series of punches but Winchester avoids them all with ease.

Griffin gets caught flat footed, as Winchester shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Griffin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Winchester tries to free his leg and advance position but Griffin is retaining full guard.
Griffin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffin scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Winchester is looking to clinch.
Winchester looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Winchester looks gassed!
Griffin throws a nice head kick!
Griffin keeps the fight on the outside.
Griffin swats away the attempt to clinch by Winchester.
Griffin thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Winchester if he has to take too many more of those.
Griffin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Good leg kick by Griffin there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Griffin pushes Winchester away with a front kick.
Griffin scores with a spinning back kick!
Griffin connects with a high kick.
Griffin plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Griffin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Griffin.
Griffin tries to bum rush Winchester with a series of wild strikes but Winchester uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Griffin throws a quick inside leg kick.
Griffin throws a leg kick which misses Winchester's front leg but catches the back leg as Winchester tries to avoid it.
Winchester takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Winchester avoids a punch combination nicely.
Griffin misses with a few strikes there.
Griffin keeps the fight on the outside.
Griffin misses with a wild combination.
Griffin looks to land a combination but Winchester avoids it well.
Griffin lands with a kick to the temple. Winchester shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Griffin misses with a jab, cross combination.

Griffin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Winchester's guard.
Griffin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Griffin stands up over Winchester, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Griffin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Griffin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin passes Winchester's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Griffin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Griffin is looking for a kimura but Winchester is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Griffin to get the leverage.
Winchester is refusing to be controlled, as Griffin sits in half guard.
Winchester 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 trying to control the pace.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Winchester gets back to full guard.
Griffin sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Winchester is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Griffin defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin tries to free his leg and advance position but Winchester is retaining full guard.

Griffin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Winchester, up you get!
Griffin throws a series of punches but Winchester avoids them all with ease.
Griffin scores with a one two! Winchester had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Winchester showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Griffin.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Griffin.
Griffin throws a combination. Winchester tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Winchester tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Griffin lands a head kick. Winchester smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Winchester crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Griffin - the referee stops the clock and Winchester gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Griffin. Winchester manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Griffin lands with a kick to the temple. Winchester shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Griffin throws a nice looking combination but Winchester bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Griffin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Griffin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Griffin fails to land with a series of punches.
Winchester fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Griffin avoids it really well and circles away.
Winchester looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rashad Griffin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Griffin lands a head kick!
Griffin lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Griffin lands with a nice combination. Winchester backs away looking to recover.
Griffin throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Winchester.
Griffin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Winchester circles away quickly and effectively.
Griffin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Winchester waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Griffin.
Winchester is breathing heavily.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Griffin - that will leave a mark!
Griffin throws a head kick that half lands.

Griffin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Winchester can't keep his opponent in guard - Griffin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Griffin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Winchester sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Griffin is looking for a kimura but Winchester is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Griffin to get the leverage.
Winchester is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Winchester trying to control from the bottom.
Griffin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Griffin decides to stand up.
Some wild striking there from Griffin.
Winchester tries to clinch up.
Winchester fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Griffin avoids it really well and circles away.
Rashad Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Winchester.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Griffin. Winchester shrugs it off though.
Winchester's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Griffin lands with a kick to the temple. Winchester shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Winchester takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Griffin.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Griffin!
Winchester tries for a takedown but Griffin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Winchester is looking to clinch but Griffin is avoiding it.
Winchester shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Griffin as he jumps to the side.
Griffin lands a high kick!
Winchester tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Griffin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick from Griffin lands but Winchester takes it in his stride.
Winchester dodges the punch combination from Griffin.
Griffin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Griffin throws a sloppy head kick and Winchester moves out of range easily.
Rashad Griffin is winning the standup battle so far.
Winchester has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Griffin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Winchester.
Winchester has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Griffin.
Griffin misses with a wild combination.

Winchester gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Griffin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Griffin scoring with some ground and pound.
Griffin stays in close to Winchester's body and controls the position.
Griffin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Winchester can do to turn this around?

Griffin stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Griffin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Winchester moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Winchester fails with a takedown attempt.
Griffin throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin throws a one two combo.
Winchester shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Griffin scores with a one two! Winchester had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Winchester avoids the head kick by Griffin.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Griffin - that will leave a mark!
Griffin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Griffin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Griffin throws a right hand that Winchester ducks under and follows up with a left that Winchester also avoids with ease.
Winchester sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Griffin throws a series of punches but Winchester avoids them all with ease.
Winchester takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Griffin throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Griffin thumps Winchester with a low kick.
Winchester dives in and grabs Griffin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Griffin pushes down on Winchester's head and hops out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffin fails to land with a series of punches.
A left and a right from Griffin both land. Nice combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Griffin dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Griffin throws a nice inside leg kick.
Griffin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Winchester wants to clinch.
Griffin throws a leg kick which misses Winchester's front leg but catches the back leg as Winchester tries to avoid it.
Griffin throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Griffin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Griffin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Winchester keeps working.
Winchester is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Griffin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Griffin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winchester is refusing to be controlled, as Griffin sits in half guard.
Winchester is looking to control Griffin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Winchester avoid being mounted?
Griffin controlling the pace.

Griffin seems to be working for a kimura but Winchester defends the submission attempt.
Winchester is looking to improve his position.
Griffin wants to control but Winchester is keeping him busy.
Winchester is pressing down on Griffin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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.
Griffin wants to pass the guard but Winchester is keeping the position.
Winchester looking to control.
Rashad Griffin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Griffin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Winchester is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Griffin throws a right and a left that Winchester avoids nicely.
Griffin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Left hook, right uppercut from Griffin.
Griffin lands with a slapping head kick.
Winchester throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Griffin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Winchester chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Griffin can pounce on him.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Griffin. Winchester shrugs it off though.
Winchester blocks a head kick by Griffin.
An inside leg kick lands from Griffin.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Griffin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Griffin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Winchester counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Griffin has Winchester pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Griffin pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Winchester tumbling to the mat - Griffin dives into Winchester's guard.
Winchester keeping full guard, as Griffin tries to pass.
Griffin trying to control but Winchester is working from the bottom.
Griffin wants to get up but he can't break Winchester's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Winchester trying to control the position.
Griffin trying to control the position from guard on top but Winchester is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Winchester is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Winchester is looking for a triangle but Griffin pushes his legs off easily.
Winchester is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Griffin is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Winchester takes a kick to the side of the head.
Winchester tries to clinch but Griffin is having none of it.
Griffin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Winchester tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Griffin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Winchester tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashad 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:26

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