PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Forrest Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giampaolo Pietravallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Griffin comes to the cage accompanied by Killing In The Name. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Griffin
vs
Pietravallo

190 cm
35
213 lbs
24 - 20 - 1

195 cm
29
210 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER

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 24 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Forrest Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Giampaolo Pietravallo!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Kavanagh and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pietravallo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Pietravallo is looking to take a break and control but Griffin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pietravallo is looking to advance position but Griffin won't allow it.
Pietravallo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Griffin tries to roll over but Pietravallo keeps him under control.
Griffin is looking to escape.
Pietravallo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Griffin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pietravallo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pietravallo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pietravallo is trying to control the action in half guard but Griffin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pietravallo not doing much here.
Pietravallo stalling away here and it's allowed Griffin to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pietravallo is pushing down on Griffin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Griffin is fighting to maintain full guard but Pietravallo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Griffin tries to roll over but Pietravallo keeps him under control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Pietravallo working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Pietravallo stalling.
Pietravallo wants to take a breather but Griffin is having none of it.
Griffin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pietravallo.
Griffin trying to control but Pietravallo postures up.
Griffin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pietravallo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Forrest Griffin has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Griffin misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Griffin drops his hands momentarily and Pietravallo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Jab, jab by Pietravallo - just one landing.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Griffin enables Pietravallo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Griffin manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pietravallo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pietravallo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pietravallo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffin is keeping the position for now.
Pietravallo postures up in Griffin's guard and throws a big left but Griffin blocks it.
Griffin is trying to keep Pietravallo in close.
Pietravallo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pietravallo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pietravallo looking to sit in guard and control but Griffin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pietravallo is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pietravallo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffin is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pietravallo throwing strikes from guard but Griffin blocks nicely.
Griffin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pietravallo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pietravallo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Griffin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pietravallo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Griffin keeping moving, preventing Pietravallo from controlling successfully.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo passes into half guard.
Pietravallo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Griffin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pietravallo is trying to control the action in half guard but Griffin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pietravallo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Griffin haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Pietravallo drops an elbow to the side of Griffin's head.
Pietravallo not doing much here.
Griffin wants to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin wants to improve his position but Pietravallo is controlling well.
Griffin has hold of Pietravallo's hands but Pietravallo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giampaolo Pietravallo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Griffin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Griffin lands a jab to Pietravallo's midsection.
Pietravallo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Griffin looks to land a left hand but Pietravallo moved out of range nicely.
Pietravallo just misses with a punch to the body.
Griffin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Griffin throws a head kick but Pietravallo moves out of range.
Pietravallo digs a good hook to Griffin's body.
Griffin throws a right hand that Pietravallo ducks under and follows up with a left that Pietravallo also avoids with ease.
Pietravallo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Griffin.
Pietravallo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Griffin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pietravallo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pietravallo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Griffin on the side of the head.
Pietravallo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Griffin clobbers Pietravallo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Griffin attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pietravallo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pietravallo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pietravallo is looking to take a break and control but Griffin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Griffin tries to kick Pietravallo off but Pietravallo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Pietravallo is trying to control the action in half guard but Griffin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pietravallo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Giampaolo Pietravallo has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Griffin wants to get back to full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Giampaolo Pietravallo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pietravallo.

Pietravallo gets a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pietravallo throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Griffin to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pietravallo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Griffin's head.
Griffin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pietravallo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pietravallo wants to control from the top but Griffin keeps moving.
Pietravallo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Griffin keeping moving, preventing Pietravallo from controlling successfully.
Pietravallo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Griffin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin trying to control the action but Pietravallo is working from the bottom.
Pietravallo is looking to improve his position.
Pietravallo is trying to maintain the position but Griffin is very close to passing his half guard.

Giampaolo Pietravallo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Pietravallo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Griffin throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Griffin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Forrest Griffin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A thudding body kick lands there by Pietravallo!
Pietravallo slips under a jab.
Griffin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Griffin dodges the punch combination from Pietravallo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Griffin.
Griffin misses with a body kick.
Griffin throws a shot from downtown. Pietravallo moves away and avoids it.
Pietravallo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pietravallo throws a leg kick but Griffin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nice cross by Griffin.
Pietravallo lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Pietravallo checks a leg kick nicely.
A head kick misses from Griffin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pietravallo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Griffin.
Pietravallo uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Griffin has time to react.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Griffin.
Forrest Griffin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Griffin misses with a body shot.
Griffin looks to throw the jab but Pietravallo is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giampaolo Pietravallo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Pietravallo lands a slapping body shot.
Griffin takes one on the button.
Griffin stuffs the takedown attempt from Pietravallo. Pietravallo gets slowly back to his feet.
Pietravallo throws an overhand right that lands on Griffin's shoulder, as Griffin tries to avoid the shot.
Griffin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Griffin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Pietravallo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Griffin's guard now.
Griffin keeping moving, preventing Pietravallo from controlling successfully.
Pietravallo with a nice head shot there.
Griffin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Griffin has momentary wrist control but Pietravallo slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pietravallo wants to control from the top but Griffin keeps moving.
Pietravallo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Pietravallo tries to free his leg and advance position but Griffin is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pietravallo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Pietravallo trying to control but Griffin is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Giampaolo Pietravallo.
Pietravallo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pietravallo swings for the body but Griffin moves out of range.
Pietravallo is looking to slow Griffin down with leg kicks.
Pietravallo misses with a leg kick.
Griffin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Pietravallo. Pietravallo obviously looking to wear him down.
Pietravallo throws a front kick that sends Griffin stumbling back into the cage.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pietravallo.
Forrest Griffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Pietravallo lands.
Pietravallo moves out of range of the body kick from Griffin.
Griffin misses with a combination

and Pietravallo counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Griffin tries to bench press Pietravallo off him but Pietravallo keeps the position.
Pietravallo trying to control the action but Griffin is working from the bottom.
Griffin is looking to regain half guard here but Pietravallo keeps moving and retains side control.
Pietravallo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Griffin tries to bench press Pietravallo off him but Pietravallo keeps the position.
Griffin is working to avoid the ground and pound but Pietravallo connects with a decent elbow.
Pietravallo looks up at the clock and then as Griffin takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Pietravallo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
You can see the frustration on Griffin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Griffin is looking to regain half guard here but Pietravallo keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo working the head with strikes.
Pietravallo working the ground and pound from side control.
Griffin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Pietravallo grinds an elbow into Griffin's temple.
Pietravallo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Griffin dodges the ground and pound from Pietravallo.
Pietravallo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pietravallo takes a little break here. Griffin wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Pietravallo working the head with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pietravallo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Pietravallo is putting a hurting on Griffin here, landing some big shots from side control.
Pietravallo lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Griffin down.
Pietravallo takes a little break here. Griffin wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Pietravallo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Pietravallo wants to control but Griffin is keeping him busy.
Griffin is trying to improve his position.
Griffin is not content to let Pietravallo control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pietravallo advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giampaolo Pietravallo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pietravallo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giampaolo Pietravallo!