PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Totoy Mola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Griffiths
vs
Mola

170 cm
20
175 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
28
170 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Griffiths!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Totoy Mola!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Griffiths closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mola did well to prevent Griffiths getting side control.
Griffiths is looking to take a break and control but Mola is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mola is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Mola looking for submissions off his back.
Griffiths is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Griffiths seems to be looking for submissions.
Mola is looking to control Griffiths's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mola avoid being mounted?
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths wants to take a breather but Mola is having none of it.

Mola is defending against the submission attempts here by Griffiths.
Griffiths is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Griffiths wants to work for an arm triangle but Mola is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mola slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Griffiths is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Griffiths looking to sit in guard and control but Mola gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mola wants to pass the guard but Griffiths is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths keeping moving, preventing Mola from controlling successfully.

Griffiths escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mola gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Griffiths has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Mola avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Griffiths holds on and takes a little breather.
Mola wants to stand but Griffiths has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths 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.

Griffiths looking for a guillotine here but Mola defends easily.
Griffiths pulls Mola in close to prevent any damage.

Griffiths looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Griffiths looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Griffiths is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mola is just riding it out for now. Griffiths eventually gives up the hold.
Griffiths stalling away here and it's allowed Mola to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Mola looking for a guillotine here but Griffiths defends easily.
Griffiths slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths is looking to take a break and control but Mola is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Griffiths thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Griffiths swings around for an armbar but Mola sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Griffiths's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths working a defensive guard here.
Mola trying to control but Griffiths is working from the bottom.
Griffiths trying to keep a closed guard but Mola is proving a slippery customer.
Griffiths working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mola.

Griffiths has an active guard here but Mola has managed to pass into half guard.
Mola passes into side control, despite Griffiths's attempt to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths is looking to reverse the position.
Griffiths manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Griffiths is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mola's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mola's back!

Griffiths working for a choke but Mola is defending well.
Mola is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Griffiths.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mola is in bad spot here.

Griffiths is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Mola defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Mola defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Griffiths's arms.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mola showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Griffiths dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Mola fails with the takedown

and Griffiths counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mola!
Griffiths trying to control the action but Mola is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Mola is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Griffiths asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Griffiths trying to control the position but Mola is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffiths is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mola knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Griffiths wants to take a breather but Mola manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Griffiths.
Griffiths trying to control but Mola is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths looking to pass the guard.
Griffiths trying to control but Mola is working from the bottom.
Mola tries to strike from the bottom.
Stephen Griffiths overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Griffiths tries to free his leg and advance position but Mola is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths wants to control from the top but Mola keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Stephen Griffiths.

Griffiths gets a takedown into half guard.

Griffiths seems to be working for a kimura but Mola defends the submission attempt.
Stephen Griffiths is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Griffiths not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths works his foot free and advances to mount.
Griffiths tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Griffiths showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Griffiths has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Griffiths!
Our winner, Stephen Griffiths, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.