PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marty Micheals (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Griffin has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Griffin
vs
Micheals

185 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

165 cm
23
193 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marty Micheals!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, David Schapiro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Micheals tries to close the distance and clinch but Griffin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Griffin gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Micheals's face as Griffin controls the position.
Micheals manages to get back to half guard.
Griffin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Micheals defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Griffin wants to pass the guard but Micheals is defending well.
Griffin stalling away here and it's allowed Micheals to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Micheals working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Griffin.
Griffin trying to control the position from guard on top but Micheals is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Micheals utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin working some strikes from top position.
Griffin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Griffin trying to control the position from guard on top but Micheals is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Micheals wants to stand and escape but Griffin is having none of it.
Griffin trying to control but Micheals is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Micheals can do anything to dispel that myth.
Micheals wants to get back to his feet but Griffin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Griffin throws a strike but Micheals rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Micheals throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Micheals stops Griffin from standing up.
Micheals with a flurry of punches that miss.
Micheals throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Micheals sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Micheals throws a strike but Griffin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Griffin throwing strikes from guard but Micheals blocks nicely.
Micheals utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Griffin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Micheals looking to hit a scissor sweep but Griffin is one step ahead there.
Griffin trying to control but Micheals is working from the bottom.
Micheals not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Griffin trying to control but Micheals is working from the bottom.
Micheals 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.
Micheals utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Griffin tries to free his leg and advance position but Micheals is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Griffin throws a right and a left that both miss.

Griffin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Micheals regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Griffin.
Griffin throws an elbow that misses. Micheals uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Griffin's guard. Nice move by Micheals!
Micheals throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Griffin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Micheals!
Micheals has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Griffin's lack of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Griffin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Micheals is looking to clinch but Griffin is avoiding it.
Griffin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Micheals tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Griffin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Micheals shoots for a takedown but Griffin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Micheals tries to clinch there but Griffin circles away.
Griffin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Griffin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Micheals moves in looking to clinch but Griffin pushes him off.

Griffin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Griffin lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Griffin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Griffin is looking to work some ground and pound but Micheals has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Micheals works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Griffin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Griffin works over Micheals with some ground and pound from guard.
Micheals working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Griffin.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Micheals keeps moving.
Micheals wants to stand but Griffin is controlling the position.

Micheals is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin looking for a takedown.
Micheals is trying to force a seperation but Griffin has the dominant position.

Griffin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Micheals drives through with a takedown into Griffin's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griffin wants to sweep but no luck.
Micheals working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Griffin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Micheals is controlling him.
Marcus Griffin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Micheals with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Micheals throwing strikes but missing.
Micheals loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Griffin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Micheals on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin wants to get back to his feet but Micheals is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Micheals cracks Griffin with a solid left hand.
Micheals works over Griffin with some ground and pound from guard.
Griffin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Micheals postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Micheals scoring with some ground and pound.
Micheals working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Micheals working some strikes from top position.
Micheals postures up and lands a big shot to Griffin's brow.
Micheals missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Griffin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Micheals is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Micheals working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Griffin's head.
Griffin keeping full guard, as Micheals tries to pass.
Micheals sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Griffin's guard.
Micheals is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Micheals winds up and cracks Griffin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Griffin has hold of Micheals's hands but Micheals slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Griffin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Micheals is working away from the top position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin looks like he's trying to stand up.

Micheals is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marty Micheals showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Micheals darts in trying to clinch
and Griffin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Griffin lands with a hook. Micheals tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Griffin jabs at Micheals's body.
Griffin digs a good hook to Micheals's body.
Micheals is trying hard to land a takedown here. Griffin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Marty Micheals seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Micheals looks to clinch
and Griffin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Micheals stuffs the takedown.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Micheals rushes Griffin and presses him up against the cage.

Micheals manages to pull guard.
Griffin throws a strike but Micheals rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Micheals throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Griffin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin is trying to keep Micheals in close.
Micheals makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Micheals connects with a couple of short punches.
Micheals working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Griffin is adopting a defensive guard.
Micheals wants to control from the top but Griffin keeps moving.
Griffin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Micheals throwing strikes but missing.
Griffin keeping moving, preventing Micheals from controlling successfully.
Micheals with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Micheals trying to control but Griffin is working from the bottom.
Griffin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Micheals wants to control from the top but Griffin keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Griffin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown but Micheals shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Griffin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Micheals tries to clinch up.
Griffin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Micheals manages to avoid it.
Micheals tries to clinch but Griffin is having none of it.
Micheals looks for a takedown but Griffin sprawls well.

Griffin feints and as Micheals raises his hands in defense, Griffin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Micheals tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Micheals manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Griffin manages to get himself to full guard.

Micheals stands up from Griffin's guard - Micheals perhaps looking for a knockout.
Micheals stuffs the takedown attempt from Griffin. Griffin gets slowly back to his feet.
Micheals fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Griffin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Micheals.

Micheals shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Griffin's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Griffin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Micheals lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Micheals postures up in Griffin's guard and throws a big left but Griffin blocks it.
Micheals throws a big right hand that misses.
Micheals stands up over Griffin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin trying to control the position.
Micheals content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marty Micheals comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Micheals 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marty Micheals!