PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Connor McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Parker Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McManus's entrance music is Jeff Danna - 'The Blood of Cú Chulainn'. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McManus
vs
Griffin

177 cm
22
167 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

179 cm
23
169 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

QFClothing

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Parker Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McManus misses with a left hand
and McManus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Griffin looks to land a combination but McManus avoids it well.
McManus blocks a head kick by Griffin.
McManus misses with a low kick.
McManus connects with a leg kick. Griffin looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
McManus takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Griffin is looking to chop away at McManus's legs.
McManus blocks a head kick by Griffin.
Griffin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McManus ducks under a wild hook from Griffin.

McManus looking to score a takedown here. Griffin is defending well but McManus drives through and ends up in Griffin's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
McManus passes Griffin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
McManus scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin wants to get back to full guard.
McManus misses with a head shot. Griffin uses the momentum to regain guard.
McManus showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
McManus preventing the sweep.
McManus throws an elbow that misses. Griffin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McManus's guard. Nice move by Griffin!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Griffin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McManus manages to get to full guard.
McManus looking for a sweep. Not yet McManus, not yet.
McManus manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
McManus throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
McManus landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus controlling his opponent.
Griffin blocking the ground and pound.
McManus sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Griffin tries to reverse the position but McManus maintains control.
Griffin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus landing strikes from the mount and Griffin is in trouble!
McManus misses with a head shot.
McManus trying to control but Griffin is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McManus dominated that round.
That's time! McManus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McManus scores with a sloppy right hand. Griffin should have avoided that one.
McManus misses with an attempted mid kick.
McManus throws out a powerful jab.
Griffin looks to land a left hand but McManus moved out of range nicely.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Griffin.
A slapping leg kick lands for McManus.
Griffin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McManus paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Griffin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McManus tries to stall but Griffin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
McManus is looking for a takedown.
McManus displaying some good clinch control by pressing Griffin up against the cage.
McManus 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus lands a nice uppercut.
McManus is working for takedown but Griffin is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Griffin is trying to maintain a safe position but McManus gets an underhook and turns Griffin into the cage.
McManus will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Griffin up against the cage.
Griffin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McManus's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McManus throws an overhand right that lands on Griffin's shoulder, as Griffin tries to avoid the shot.
Griffin misses with an uppercut. McManus saw that one coming.
Griffin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Griffin scores with a shot to the body.

McManus has closed the distance and engaged Griffin in a clinch.
McManus tries to throw a body punch but Griffin avoids it by throwing McManus back against the cage.
Griffin prevents the takedown attempt.
McManus has Griffin pressed against the cage, preventing Griffin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McManus has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Griffin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Griffin stalling in the clinch but McManus improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Griffin is defending well.
Griffin blocking some punches.
McManus has Griffin pushed against the cage.
Griffin is looking to break free of the clinch but McManus has double underhooks.
Griffin is trying to maintain a safe position but McManus gets an underhook and turns Griffin into the cage.
McManus is trying to stall.
McManus misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McManus manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Griffin displaying some good clinch control by pressing McManus up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Griffin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Griffin punishes McManus's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffin on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
McManus takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Griffin's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Griffin duly obliges.
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 Connor McManus will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Griffin cracks McManus with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Griffin throws a low kick, looking for McManus's leg but McManus calmly moves out of range.
McManus loads up on a big right hand but Griffin slips the punch.
McManus misses with a body kick.
Connor McManus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McManus gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McManus doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McManus tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McManus has a couple of punches blocked by Griffin.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McManus.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Griffin.
Griffin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin letting McManus take a breather here.
McManus swings wildly with an uppercut but Griffin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Griffin stalling against the cage.
Griffin being controlled against the cage.

McManus lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus trying to control the action but Griffin is working from the bottom.
Well, if McManus is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Griffin wants to improve his position but McManus is controlling well.
McManus trying to control the action but Griffin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Griffin is trying to get back to full guard.

McManus seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Griffin is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Connor McManus!
During a confident post fight interview, Connor McManus thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.