PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yang Leiden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forest Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Leiden
vs
Griffin

191 cm
22
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Hell's Balls Fightwear
MMA's Best Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yang Leiden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Forest Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin tries for a takedown but Leiden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Griffin fails with a takedown attempt.
Leiden lands with a kick to the ribs.
Leiden feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Griffin's calf.
Leiden fakes the leg kick and cracks Griffin in the body.
Griffin looks gassed!
The fight stays on the outside here - Griffin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Leiden lands a high kick to the side of Griffin's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Leiden dives into guard, looking to finish.

Griffin is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Leiden passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Griffin is still in real trouble! Can Leiden finish him?
Leiden moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Griffin seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leiden has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Griffin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Leiden content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Leiden decides to stand back up. Leiden steps back and let's Griffin get back to his feet.
Leiden throws a leg kick which misses Griffin's front leg but catches the back leg as Griffin tries to avoid it.
Griffin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Leiden moves into range and clinches up with Griffin.
Leiden stalling the fight.
Griffin has had enough of the clinch but Leiden keeps him there for the moment.
The is referee keeping an eye on Leiden - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Leiden digs a right hand underneath Griffin's ribcage. Griffin let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Griffin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yang Leiden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Forest Griffin.
Leiden lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Leiden has Griffin pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leiden lands a right hand.
Leiden lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Griffin or not.
Leiden using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Leiden 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 throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Leiden lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Griffin backwards.
A short body shot lands from Leiden as the two fighters clinch.
Leiden lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Leiden.
A right handed body shot lands from Leiden.
The referee calls for Leiden to work.
Leiden lands a knee to the body.
Leiden's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Leiden lands a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leiden taking a breather.
A right hand to the body from Leiden.
Leiden pushes Griffin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Leiden connects with a knee to the head.
Leiden scores with a shoulder strike.
Leiden landing knees to the head.
Leiden controlling the action here for a moment.
A short body shot lands from Leiden as the two fighters clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leiden taking a breather.
Knees in the clinch landing for Leiden.
Leiden scores with a shot to the side of Griffin's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yang Leiden dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Griffin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Leiden can pounce on him.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Leiden chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Leiden fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Griffin, pushing him back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Leiden.
Leiden unloads a knee to the mid-section. Griffin lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Leiden taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Leiden landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Leiden works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Leiden manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Leiden pushes Griffin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Leiden scores with a knee to the head.
Leiden's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leiden prevents Griffin from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leiden lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Griffin.
Leiden holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Leiden lands a nice shot to the body.
Griffin tries to score a body lock takedown but Leiden shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Knees in the clinch landing for Leiden.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Leiden.
Leiden looking to throw knees to the head but Griffin is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Leiden is working Griffin over against the cage.
Nice body punch from Leiden - that landed with a thud.
Leiden crunches a lovely knee into Griffin's ribcage.
Leiden landing knees to the head.
Leiden holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leiden gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Yang Leiden has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Leiden scores with a hook to the body.
Leiden trying to stall but Griffin improves his position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Yang Leiden.
Leiden fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leiden buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Leiden lands with a kick to the temple. Griffin shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Griffin shoots in looking for a takedown. Leiden tries to sprawl out of it but Griffin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Leiden manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yang Leiden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Forest Griffin.
Decent striking displayed by Leiden there.
Leiden lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leiden throws a head kick that Griffin semi-blocks.
Leiden lands with a slapping head kick.
A good leg kick by Leiden.
Leiden is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Griffin can do to turn this around?
Leiden throws a head kick that Griffin semi-blocks.
Leiden throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Leiden throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A punch combination from Griffin misses.
Griffin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A solid leg kick lands there for Leiden.
Leiden doesn't manage to clinch there - Griffin circles away.
Yang Leiden is winning the standup battle so far.
Leiden thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Griffin if he has to take too many more of those.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is trying to break the clinch but Leiden has him pressed against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Leiden.
Leiden seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Leiden scores with a nice hook to the head.
The is referee keeping an eye on Leiden - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Leiden tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Griffin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Leiden digs a right hand into Griffin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Griffin's gas tank.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leiden slows down the pace here.
Griffin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yang Leiden 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!

Leiden clinches up with Griffin and pushes him back against the cage.
Leiden leaning against his opponent.
Leiden is looking to control Griffin's arms but Griffin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Leiden has his back to the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Yang Leiden.
Leiden throws a nice outside leg kick.
Forest Griffin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Griffin slips a jab and a cross from Leiden.
Leiden pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Griffin tries to close the distance and clinch but Leiden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Leiden lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leiden scores with the left hand. Griffin knows he should have avoided that one.
Leiden lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leiden lands with a slapping head kick.
Leiden fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Leiden, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Yang Leiden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griffin tries to clinch up.
Griffin blocks a head kick by Leiden.
Griffin tries to clinch up but Leiden circles away and keeps his distance.
Leiden chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Griffin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Horrible takedown by Griffin or perhaps it was just good defense by Leiden which made him look bad.
Leiden lands a glancing blow to the side of Griffin's head.
Griffin shoots in looking for a takedown. Leiden tries to sprawl out of it but Griffin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Leiden manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yang Leiden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Forest Griffin.
An inside leg kick lands from Leiden.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leiden lands with a kick to the temple. Griffin shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Griffin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Griffin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Leiden.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Leiden. Griffin shrugs it off though.
Leiden lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Griffin at a distance.
Griffin gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Leiden ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Leiden throws a head kick that half lands.
Leiden feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Griffin's calf.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Leiden, right into the meat.
Griffin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Leiden connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Griffin tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Leiden scoring well with a low kick there.
Leiden tries to clinch up.
Griffin shoots in looking for a takedown. Leiden tries to sprawl out of it but Griffin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Leiden manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Leiden scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Leiden throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Leiden feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Griffin's calf.
Leiden bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Leiden fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Griffin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A head kick from Leiden lands but Griffin takes it in his stride.
Yang Leiden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Leiden lands a high kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leiden throws a head kick that Griffin semi-blocks.
Griffin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Leiden lands a body shot.
Griffin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Leiden closes the distance and clinches.
Griffin jumps guard but Leiden stands there with Griffin around his waist. Griffin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Leiden lands a shoulder strike.
Knees to the body from Leiden.
The referee calls for Leiden to work.
Leiden landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Griffin ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Griffin no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Griffin trying to keep a closed guard but Leiden is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yang Leiden showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Leiden 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:25
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:25
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yang Leiden!