PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Imani Raheem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdullah Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abdullah Griffin acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Raheem
vs
Griffin

185 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Imani Raheem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdullah Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raheem has a takedown stuffed.
Raheem showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Griffin.
Griffin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Griffin pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Griffin closes the distance but Raheem moves to the side
and Raheem counters with a head kick.
No luck for Raheem with that takedown attempt.
Imani Raheem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Raheem tries to sprawl but Griffin drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Raheem moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Raheem controls Griffin momentarily but Griffin frees himself.
Raheem can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Griffin controls the pace.
Griffin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raheem swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin trying to control but Raheem is working from the bottom.
Raheem manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Raheem sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Raheem misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Griffin is working to get back to half guard.

Raheem working for a guillotine from mount but Griffin is in no mood to give up.
Griffin is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Raheem looks to land a strike but Griffin avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Raheem trying to control but Griffin is working from the bottom.

Griffin is working an open guard so Raheem takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Raheem scoring well with a low kick there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Griffin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Griffin swats away the attempt to clinch by Raheem.
Griffin doesn't manage to clinch there - Raheem circles away.
Raheem lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raheem slips a jab and a cross from Griffin.
Griffin looks gassed!
Raheem turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Raheem throws a sloppy head kick and Griffin moves out of range easily.
Raheem throws a head kick that misses.
Raheem looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Griffin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Raheem tries to avoid it but Griffin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Raheem to the ground. Raheem escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Griffin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Griffin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Raheem thumps Griffin with a low kick.
Raheem shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Griffin sprawls well. Griffin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Raheem gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Imani Raheem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
No luck for Raheem with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raheem shoots in for a takedown but Griffin shows good takedown defense.
Griffin dives in and grabs Raheem's left leg, looking for a takedown. Raheem pushes down on Griffin's head and hops out.
Raheem misses with a head kick.
Raheem shoots for a double leg takedown but Griffin sprawls well. He's pushed Raheem's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Raheem shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Griffin pinned against the cage. Griffin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Griffin lands with a shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raheem has his takedown stuffed

and Griffin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Imani Raheem will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Raheem gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Raheem 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.
Abdullah Griffin has got the better of the ground game so far.

Raheem has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Griffin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Raheem 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.
Griffin won't allow Raheem to get back to his feet.
Griffin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Raheem's guard.
Raheem is looking to stand up but Griffin isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raheem trying to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Griffin drops back looking for a leg! Raheem is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Raheem manages to kick Griffin off! Griffin jumps back into Raheem's guard.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Raheem keeps moving.
Raheem wants to get back to his feet but Griffin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Raheem trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raheem is looking to stand back up but Griffin counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Raheem.
Griffin tries to pass to full mount but Raheem defends it.
Griffin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Griffin is trying to control the action in half guard but Raheem is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Raheem slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Raheem is looking to stand up but Griffin isn't so interested in that idea.
Griffin trying to control but Raheem is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah Griffin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Griffin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Raheem tries to avoid it but Griffin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Raheem to the ground. Raheem escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Raheem throws a sloppy head kick and Griffin moves out of range easily.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt - Raheem sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Raheem has managed to clinch.

Raheem ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Raheem no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Griffin won't allow Raheem to get back to his feet.
Griffin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Raheem is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Griffin stands and throws Raheem's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raheem is trying to buck Griffin off.
Griffin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Raheem to see if he's OK.

Griffin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Raheem misses with an elbow from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Raheem throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Griffin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Raheem circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Imani Raheem will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Griffin walks into a left hand.
Griffin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Raheem paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raheem 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 Raheem off to one side.
Griffin tries to clinch up but Raheem circles away and keeps his distance.
Griffin throws a series of punches but Raheem moves out of range.
Griffin fails to land the takedown.
Griffin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Griffin wants it to stay on the feet.
Raheem fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Imani Raheem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Griffin closes the distance and clinches up with Raheem, looking for a takedown. Griffin pushes Raheem against the cage but Raheem circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Raheem swats away the attempt to clinch by Griffin.
Griffin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Raheem misses.
Griffin shoots in looking for a takedown but Raheem manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Griffin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Raheem tries to clinch but Griffin is having none of it.
Raheem scores with a body shot.
Raheem fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Griffin avoids it really well and circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Griffin. Those never looked like landing.
Griffin misses with a wild combination.
Raheem lands a nice shot that snaps Griffin's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raheem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Griffin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raheem throws a series of punches but Griffin moves out of range.
Raheem is trying hard to land a takedown here. Griffin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Raheem.

Griffin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Griffin is working Raheem over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Griffin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Raheem wants to stand but Griffin is controlling the position.
Griffin passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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 stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raheem shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Griffin but Griffin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Imani Raheem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Griffin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Raheem as he avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Raheem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Griffin closes the distance and clinches up with Raheem, looking for a takedown. Griffin pushes Raheem against the cage but Raheem circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Raheem tries to clinch but Griffin is having none of it.
Griffin blocks a head kick by Raheem.
Raheem misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffin gets a takedown into half guard.

Raheem pushes Griffin off and gets back to his feet.
Griffin slips a jab and a cross from Raheem.

Griffin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raheem is trying to stand up here but Griffin is controlling him well.
Nice strikes from Griffin there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raheem is not content to let Griffin control the position.
Raheem is trying to stand back up but Griffin is controlling him

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdullah Griffin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Raheem 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Abdullah Griffin!