PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Armstrong comes to the cage accompanied by "Bullet Soul" Switchfoot. Griffin has chosen Killing In The Name as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Armstrong
vs
Griffin

191 cm
23
223 lbs
7 - 3 - 2

190 cm
25
210 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Ka-POW Clothing

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 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Xavier Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Forrest Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Summer Carpenter and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Armstrong.
Griffin misses with a combination
and Armstrong counters with a nice low kick that buckles Griffin's knee momentarily.

Griffin closes the distance and clinches.
Armstrong misses with a short punch on the inside.
Griffin stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Griffin.
Armstrong misses with a hook to the ribs.
Armstrong trying to land knees to the body.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Armstrong misses with the head strike.
Griffin lands a hook that snaps the head of Armstrong backwards.
Armstrong misses with the head strike.
Griffin scores with a hook to the body.
Armstrong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Griffin lands with a short shot to the head.
Griffin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Armstrong has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Armstrong misses with a hook to the ribs.
Griffin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Griffin lands an elbow just above Armstrong 's eye.
Armstrong has a couple of punches blocked by Griffin.
Griffin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Griffin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Armstrong is breathing heavily.
Griffin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong tries to land knees in the clinch but Griffin avoids the damage to the body.
Armstrong swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Armstrong can't find room to land a body shot as Griffin controls the action.
Armstrong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Griffin's elbow.
Armstrong misses with the head strike.
Griffin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Griffin slowing the pace effectively.
Griffin pushes Armstrong back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Griffin looking to throw knees to the head but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
Armstrong misses with a hook to the ribs.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Griffin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Griffin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Griffin lands a body punch.
Griffin lands a hook that snaps the head of Armstrong backwards.
Nice elbow from Griffin.
Griffin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Griffin has Armstrong pressed against the cage.
Griffin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Griffin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Griffin stalls.
The crowd are getting on Griffin's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
A short right from Griffin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Griffin.
Griffin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice body punch from Griffin.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Griffin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Armstrong letting Griffin take a breather here.
Griffin throws a knee to the head but misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Armstrong.
Griffin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Griffin throws an elbow that misses.
Griffin blocks a body shot from Armstrong.
Armstrong tries to land knees in the clinch but Griffin avoids the damage to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Griffin.
Griffin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Armstrong blocks it with crossed arms.
Armstrong trying to land knees to the body.
Griffin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Armstrong blocks it with crossed arms.
Griffin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Armstrong.
Knees in the clinch landing for Griffin.
Griffin has Armstrong pushed against the cage.
Griffin misses with a knee strike.
Griffin lands a shoulder strike.
Griffin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Armstrong in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Griffin.
Griffin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Griffin lands a good knee to the midsection. Armstrong won't want to take too many of those.
Armstrong swings wildly with an uppercut but Griffin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Griffin effectively controlling the action here.
Armstrong goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Armstrong throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Griffins head.
Griffin stalling in the clinch but Armstrong improves position.
Armstrong is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Griffin is defending well for now.
Armstrong can't find room to land a body shot as Griffin controls the action.
Griffin taking a breather.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Griffin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Griffin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Griffin scores with a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Griffin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Armstrong takes a knee right on the jaw!
Griffin connects with a knee to the head.
Griffin landing knees to the head.

Armstrong is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Oh Armstrong is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
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!
Griffin receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Griffin blocks an uppercut.
Armstrong seems to have got his legs back now.
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Griffin avoids it.
Griffin manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Griffin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Armstrong misses with a short punch on the inside.
Griffin scores with a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Griffin.
Griffin prevents a body shot from Armstrong.
Griffin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Griffin avoids it.
Armstrong struggles to land a body shot inside as Griffin controls his hands.
Knees to the body from Griffin.
Griffin throws an elbow that misses.
Griffin tries to land a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks with his arms.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Armstrong struggles to land a body shot inside as Griffin controls his hands.
Griffin just leaning against Armstrong, taking a breather.
Griffin lands a nice uppercut.
Armstrong blocks an elbow strike.
Griffin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Griffin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Griffin scores with a nice head shot.
Armstrong lands with a thumping leg kick.
Armstrong missing with a left hand there. Griffin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Griffin throws a low kick but Armstrong moves out of range easily.
Griffin blocks a head kick by Armstrong.

Armstrong gets a clinch.
Griffin digs a right hand into Armstrong's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Armstrong's gas tank.
Armstrong tries to throw a body punch but Griffin avoids it by throwing Armstrong back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Armstrong.
Armstrong tries to land knees in the clinch but Griffin avoids the damage to the body.
Griffin has Armstrong pushed against the cage.
Griffin working Armstrong over with knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Armstrong as Griffin tries to tie him up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Griffin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Griffin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Armstrong or not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong takes an elbow to the temple.
Griffin lands a left hand.
A hook to the body from Griffin.
Griffin stalling against the cage.
Griffin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Armstrongs head.
Griffin digs a right hand into Armstrong's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Armstrong's gas tank.
Griffin digs a right hand underneath Armstrong's ribcage. Armstrong let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Griffin misses with a knee to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Griffin.
Griffin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Armstrong.
Armstrong misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Griffin effectively controlling the action here.
Griffin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Griffin scores a nice knee to the body.
A short uppercut from Griffin.
Griffin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Griffin lands an elbow inside.
Griffin landing knees to the head.
Griffin manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Armstrong tries a body shot but Griffin blocks it.
Griffin trying to stall but Armstrong improves his position.
Griffin lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Good body shot from Armstrong.
Griffin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Griffin scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Armstrong is trying to stall.
Griffin lands an elbow inside.
Griffin lands a knee to the head.
Armstrong takes an elbow to the temple.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Griffin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Griffin leaning his opponent against the cage.
Griffin lands an elbow inside.
Griffin just leaning against Armstrong, taking a breather.
Armstrong fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Griffin's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Good body shot from Griffin.
Armstrong takes an elbow to the forehead.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Griffin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Griffin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Griffin connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Griffin scores with a nice short uppercut.
Griffin slowing the pace effectively.
Griffin lands with a left to the head.
Griffin tries to land knees in the clinch but Armstrong avoids the damage to the body.
Griffin wants to stall.
Griffin lands with a short shot to the head.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Griffin's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Griffin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Armstrong has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Armstrong connects with a nasty looking knee right to Griffin's face.
Armstrong working aggressively here.
Griffin displaying some good clinch control by pressing Armstrong up against the cage.
Griffin works on Armstrong's body with a couple of short punches.
Griffin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice body punch from Griffin.
Armstrong pushes Griffin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Griffin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Armstrong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin slows down the pace here.
Armstrong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Griffin.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Armstrong misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Griffin lands an elbow just above Armstrong 's eye.
Griffin trying to land knees to the body.
Armstrong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Griffin.
Griffin lands an elbow inside.
Griffin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Griffin takes a shot to the head.
Nice elbow from Griffin.
Griffin lands a damaging elbow.
A right hook to the body lands for Griffin.
Griffin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Griffin is trying to stall.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Armstrong.
Armstrong lands a body shot in the clinch.
Griffin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A nice left hand lands by Griffin.
Armstrong connects with a nasty looking knee right to Griffin's face.
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.
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. And we move into the final round!

Griffin moves into the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Armstrong as the two fighters clinch.
Griffin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Griffin managing to block the knees to the body from Armstrong.
A short left from Armstrong.
Griffin blocks a body shot from Armstrong.
Griffin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Armstrong tries to throw a body punch but Griffin avoids it by throwing Armstrong back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Griffin.
Griffin with a knee to the head.
Griffin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Griffin leaning his opponent against the cage.
Griffin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Armstrong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Griffin is trying to maintain a safe position but Armstrong gets an underhook and turns Griffin into the cage.
Griffin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Griffin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Griffin tries to land a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks with his arms.
A shot in the inside from Armstrong.
Griffin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Forrest Griffin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Armstrong is working Griffin over against the cage.
A short right from Armstrong on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong crunches a lovely knee into Griffin's ribcage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Griffin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Armstrong landing knees to the head.
Griffin pushes Armstrong back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Griffin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Armstrong is keeping busy.
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Griffin lands a body punch.
Griffin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Griffin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Armstrong misses with a knee strike.
Griffin lands a good knee to the midsection. Armstrong won't want to take too many of those.
Griffin is looking to control Armstrong's arms but Armstrong gets an underhook and turns him. Now Griffin has his back to the cage.
Armstrong misses with a punch on the inside.
Griffin connects with a knee to the head.
Griffin blocks an uppercut.
Griffin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Armstrong stalling in the clinch.
Griffin landing knees to the body.
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Armstrong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin connects with a knee to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Griffin.
Griffin tries a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks it.
A right hand to the body from Armstrong.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Griffin blocking some punches.
Armstrong takes a shot to the head.
Armstrong tries a body shot but Griffin blocks it.
Griffin misses with a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Griffin.
Armstrong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Armstrong is working for takedown but Griffin is calmly controlling the position for now.
Armstrong takes an elbow to the forehead.
Griffin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Armstrong misses with a punch on the inside.
Armstrong takes an elbow to the temple.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Griffin has Armstrong pressed against the cage.
Armstrong lands an uppercut.
Xavier Armstrong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Griffin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Armstrong lands a good knee to the midsection. Griffin won't want to take too many of those.
Griffin lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Armstrong takes a shot to the head.
Griffin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Armstrong swings wildly with an uppercut but Griffin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Griffin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Griffin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Griffin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Armstrong missing with knees to the body.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Griffin wants to stall.
Griffin tries a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks it.
Griffin tries a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks it.
Armstrong goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short left from Griffin.
Griffin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Armstrong is defending well for now.
Griffin misses with some punches.
Griffin missing with knees to the body.
Armstrong wants to stall.
Armstrong misses with a hook to the ribs.
Griffin looking to throw knees to the head but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
Forrest Griffin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Armstrong lands a body punch.
Griffin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Armstrong.
Armstrong is leaning against Griffin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Armstrong lands a nice shot to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Armstrong creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
With the fighters up against the cage, Griffin throws an elbow but misses.
Armstrong scores a nice knee to the body.
Armstrong lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Armstrong misses with some punches.
Griffin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Armstrong.
Armstrong is struggling to control the position.
Griffin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Armstrong tries to stall but Griffin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Armstrong's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Griffin stalling in the clinch but Armstrong improves position.
Armstrong misses with a body punch.
Armstrong tries to land knees in the clinch but Griffin avoids the damage to the body.
Griffin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Armstrong has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Griffin misses with a knee strike.
Griffin slowing the pace effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Xavier Armstrong.
I think Griffin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

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