PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lenny Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thirsty Thurston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Griffin kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Manowar - Kill With Power. Thirsty Thurston has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Griffin
vs
Thurston

188 cm
18
203 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lenny Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thirsty Thurston!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thurston ducks under a wild hook from Griffin.
Thurston shoots in for a takedown but Griffin shows good takedown defense.
Thurston shoots for a takedown but Griffin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lenny Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thirsty Thurston.
Griffin throws a nice looking combination but Thurston bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Griffin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thurston moves in looking to clinch but Griffin pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin misses with a series of wild punches.
Griffin misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thurston moves away from the strike by Griffin.
Griffin loads up on a big right hand but Thurston slips the punch.
Thurston looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Griffin is fending him off so far but Thurston persists. Nope, Griffin circles away and we're back to standing.
Griffin throws a right and a left that Thurston avoids nicely.
Thurston tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Griffin swivels and escapes.
Griffin tries to bum rush Thurston with a series of wild strikes but Thurston uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Griffin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Griffin throws a series of punches but Thurston moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Griffin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Thurston shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Griffin as he avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Thurston or perhaps it was just good defense by Griffin which made him look bad.
Griffin tries to bum rush Thurston with a series of wild strikes but Thurston uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thurston shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Griffin as he avoids it easily.
Griffin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Griffin lands a nice looking body shot.
Thurston looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin misses with a kick to the body.
Griffin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thurston moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Griffin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Griffin misses with a double jab.
Griffin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thurston.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thurston.
Griffin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Griffin misses with the combination.
Thurston changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Griffin tries to avoid it but Thurston manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Griffin to the ground. Griffin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Griffin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Griffin with a poor takedown

and Thurston counters with a shoot takedown. Griffin fights it but they end up in guard.
Griffin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thurston on the ground.
Thurston trying to control the position from guard on top but Griffin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Griffin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Thurston has passed into side control.
Griffin tries to bench press Thurston off him but Thurston keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thurston fails with the takedown
and Griffin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Griffin misses with a wild combination.
Thurston doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Griffin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thurston blocks a jab.
Thurston looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Thurston avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thurston fails with the takedown
and Griffin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lenny Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thirsty Thurston.
Griffin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Griffin wants to clinch but Thurston slips to the side

and Thurston counters with a single leg into guard. Griffin didn't expect that.
Griffin tries to strike from the bottom.
Griffin is looking to stand back up but Thurston counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Griffin.
Griffin is looking for a sweep.
Thurston working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thurston landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Griffin tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Thurston presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Griffin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Thurston breaks from Griffin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Griffin wants to control but Thurston is having none of it.
Griffin tries to buck Thurston off but Thurston takes his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thurston working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Griffin is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Thurston has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Griffin taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Thirsty Thurston!