PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Griffin might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Stick Stickly . Tony Gonzalez will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Griffin
vs
Gonzalez

180 cm
20
269 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

200 cm
21
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Gonzalez!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin fails with a takedown attempt.

Gonzalez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gonzalez lands in his opponent's guard.
Griffin scores with a nice shot.
Gonzalez works over Griffin with some ground and pound from guard.
Griffin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gonzalez!
Griffin really is a fat lump.
Griffin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gonzalez can't escape the position.
Gonzalez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Griffin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gonzalez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin is looking to stand but Griffin has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Gonzalez can't escape the position.

Griffin stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Gonzalez misses with a takedown attempt - Griffin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Griffin shoots for a takedown but Gonzalez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Gonzalez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Griffin is looking to escape.
Griffin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez lands strikes from half guard.
Gonzalez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gonzalez connects with a nice short shot to Griffin's temple.
Gonzalez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Griffin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Griffin is looking to control Gonzalez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Griffin avoid being mounted?
Gonzalez tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Griffin is looking for a sweep. Gonzalez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gonzalez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Griffin is pressing down on Gonzalez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gonzalez wanted to stand there but Griffin had control of the position.
Griffin is breathing heavily.
Gonzalez throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin trying to control the position.
Gonzalez stopping the sweep attempt from Griffin.
Gonzalez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gonzalez throws a strike but Griffin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gonzalez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Gonzalez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Griffin wants to clinch up but Gonzalez keeps it at a distance.
Gonzalez moves out of range of the body kick.

Gonzalez rushes Griffin and presses him up against the cage.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt

and Gonzalez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Griffin's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Griffin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gonzalez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Griffin is trying to control the position but Gonzalez postures up.
Gonzalez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Griffin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Griffin trying to keep a closed guard but Gonzalez is proving a slippery customer.

Griffin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Gonzalez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Griffin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Griffin fails to land the takedown.
Griffin with a poor takedown

and Gonzalez counters by clinching up.
Griffin is looking to control Gonzalez's arms but Gonzalez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Griffin has his back to the cage.
Griffin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gonzalez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Griffin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gonzalez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Griffin fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Gonzalez clinches up with Griffin and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gonzalez jumps guard.

Gonzalez pushes Griffin off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Gonzalez counters by clinching up.

Gonzalez gets control of Griffin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gonzalez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Griffin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gonzalez is keeping the position for now.
Gonzalez striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Gonzalez is striking but Griffin is not phased and passes to half guard.
Gonzalez flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Gonzalez looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Gonzalez landing small, sideways elbows.
Griffin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Griffin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gonzalez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Griffin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gonzalez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Griffin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Griffin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gonzalez throwing strikes from guard but Griffin blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Griffin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tony Gonzalez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gonzalez postures up.
Gonzalez scoring with some ground and pound.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Gonzalez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Griffin controls Gonzalez momentarily but Gonzalez frees himself.
Griffin throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gonzalez postures up in Griffin's guard and throws a big left but Griffin blocks it.
Gonzalez working some strikes from top position.
Gonzalez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gonzalez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Griffin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gonzalez.
Griffin is trying to keep Gonzalez in close.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Griffin tries to keep at a distance but Gonzalez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Griffin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Griffin taking a breather.
Gonzalez tries for a takedown but Griffin manages to get underhooks.
Griffin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gonzalez.
Griffin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Griffin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Gonzalez jumps into guard, dragging Griffin to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Gonzalez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gonzalez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gonzalez working the ground and pound from side control.
Griffin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Griffin trying to hold on to Gonzalez's head to control him but Gonzalez postures up.

Griffin manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Griffin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gonzalez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Gonzalez instigates a clinch.
Gonzalez lands an elbow inside that Griffin shrugs off.

Gonzalez pulls guard successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gonzalez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Griffin is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Griffin trying to control but Gonzalez is working from the bottom.
Gonzalez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Gonzalez keeps moving.
Griffin wants to stand but Gonzalez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mark Griffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gonzalez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Griffin tries to keep at a distance but Gonzalez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gonzalez lands an elbow inside.
Gonzalez is trying to drag Griffin to the mat but Griffin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Griffin tries to break the clinch but Gonzalez is controlling the position.
Knees to the body from Gonzalez.
Griffin has had enough of the clinch but Gonzalez keeps him there for the moment.
Gonzalez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Griffin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gonzalez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gonzalez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
You can see the frustration on Griffin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gonzalez wants to stand but Griffin has his arm trapped.
Griffin wants to control but Gonzalez postures up.
Gonzalez in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez throwing strikes but Griffin manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Griffin blocks the strikes from Gonzalez.
Griffin trying to control the action but Gonzalez is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Griffin pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gonzalez darts in and clinches Griffin up against the cage.
Griffin gets underhooks to prevent Gonzalez's takedown attempt.
Mark Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Gonzalez.
Gonzalez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Griffin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Griffin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gonzalez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Gonzalez is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Griffin can't fight it off and eventually Gonzalez manages to take the fight to the floor. Griffin looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Griffin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gonzalez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Gonzalez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gonzalez 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Tony Gonzalez!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Tony Gonzalez!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Tony Gonzalez!

Tony Gonzalez wins by unanimous decision!