PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Henrik Haga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Haga
vs
Griffin

158 cm
25
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
134 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Henrik Haga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tyler Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin throws a lazy head kick
and Haga counters with a head kick.
Griffin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Griffin falls off balance throwing a combination

and Haga counters by moving into the clinch.
Haga fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Griffin throws a punch but it's blocked by Haga.
Haga's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Griffin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Griffin misses with a punch on the inside.
Griffin tries to circle away but Haga has him pinned against the cage.

Haga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Griffin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Griffin blocks a head kick by Haga.

Griffin clinches.
Haga is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Haga pulls guard successfully.
Griffin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Haga working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Griffin.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Haga working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Griffin.
Haga might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin tries to free his leg and advance position but Haga is retaining full guard.
Griffin postures up and lands a big shot to Haga's brow.
Griffin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Griffin landing some decent shots from guard.
Griffin is looking to work some ground and pound but Haga has wrist control.
Haga is trying to keep Griffin in close.
Griffin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Griffin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Haga working a defensive guard here.
Griffin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Haga. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Griffin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Griffin postures up in Haga's guard and throws a big left but Haga blocks it.
Griffin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haga manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Griffin tries to lock up and control but Haga gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Griffin is looking to improve his position but Haga isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Griffin is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Haga looking to control and managing it successfully.
Haga sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Griffin is wriggling around trying to escape.

Griffin somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin misses with a combination
and Haga counters with a two punch combo.
Haga is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Griffin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Haga.
Haga is breathing heavily.

Griffin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Haga doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Haga manages to break the clinch.
Griffin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Griffin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Haga shoots in and drives through. Griffin sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henrik Haga. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Haga gets a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Griffin.
Griffin misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haga misses with a punch to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Haga.
Griffin misses with a hook from the clinch.

Haga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Griffin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Haga, pushing him back against the cage.
A short right from Haga.
Griffin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Haga is keeping busy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Griffin lands a shoulder strike.

Griffin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Haga throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Griffin looks to land a combination but Haga avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin tries to bum rush Haga with a series of wild strikes but Haga uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tyler Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griffin dives in for a single leg takedown but Haga sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Haga tries to land knees in the clinch but Griffin avoids the damage to the body.

Haga jumps guard and drags Griffin to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Griffin 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 misses with a double jab.
Haga shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Griffin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Griffin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Haga back to the cage. Griffin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Henrik Haga has been cut.
Haga throws a half hearted mid kick.
Haga closes this distance looking for a takedown but Griffin circles away.

Griffin closes the distance and clinches.
Haga has been working on his balance at MMA Sanok Training Center, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Griffin.

Haga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Griffin scores with a nice strike.
Griffin scores with a decent looking hook.
Griffin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Griffin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Haga misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haga blocking some punches.
Griffin has a couple of punches blocked by Haga.

Haga ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Haga no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Griffin lands a couple of elbows.
Griffin throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffin throws a big elbow that misses.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Haga keeps moving.
Haga tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Haga pushes Griffin off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Griffin throws a nice looking combination but Haga bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Haga fails with an attempt to clinch.

Griffin darts in and clinches Haga up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haga is trying to pull guard but Griffin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henrik Haga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Griffin is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Griffin working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Griffin is trying to drag Haga to the mat but Haga just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Griffin throws a punch but it's blocked by Haga.
Griffin is trying to push Haga away but Haga has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Griffin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Griffin fails to pull guard.
Haga misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Haga.
Griffin stalling in the clinch but Haga improves position.
Haga wants a takedown.
Griffin is looking for a takedown.
Haga tries to stall but Griffin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Griffin scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin tries to work over Haga's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Griffin throws a punch but it's blocked by Haga.
Griffin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Haga just stands there and leans against the cage.
Haga working Griffin over with knees to the body.
Griffin is working for takedown but Haga is calmly controlling the position for now.
Haga wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Griffin has him pressed against the cage.
Haga blocks an uppercut.

Haga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Haga as he jumps to the side.
Haga changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Griffin tries to avoid it but Haga manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Griffin to the ground. Griffin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Haga showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Griffin.
Griffin scores with a body shot.
Griffin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffin has managed to clinch.
Griffin tries to break the clinch but Haga is controlling the position.
Griffin tries to circle away but Haga has him pinned against the cage.
Haga fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Haga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Griffin misses with a series of wild punches.
Griffin misses with a two punch combination.
Haga with a poor takedown
and Griffin counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Haga has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin has a takedown stuffed.
Griffin lands a lovely overhand right.
Haga darts in looking for a takedown but Griffin gets double underhooks and turns Haga into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Griffin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Henrik Haga's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Griffin works the jab nicely.
Griffin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Haga sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt - Haga sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Haga takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Griffin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Haga throws a quick inside leg kick.
Griffin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Haga.

Haga instigates a clinch.
Tyler Griffin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A head punch on the inside from Haga fails to land.

Haga drags the fight down to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Haga is trying to keep Griffin in close.
Haga utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haga keeping full guard, as Griffin tries to pass.
Griffin preventing the sweep.
Griffin is fighting to break Haga's control of his arms but Haga is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Griffin stands up over Haga, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Haga is controlling Griffin's posture.

Griffin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Griffin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Griffin pushing down on Haga's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Griffin working the head and body with strikes.
Griffin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin lands with a punch from half guard.
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. Griffin connects with a nice short shot to Haga's temple.
Griffin working the head and body with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haga tries to kick Griffin off in order to stand up. Griffin Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Griffin is chipping away with strikes.
Griffin landing strikes.
Griffin lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Haga down.
Griffin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Haga to see if he's OK.
Griffin lands an elbow.
Haga takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Haga struggling a bit here.
Griffin cracks Haga with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haga on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Griffin is working Haga over with some ground and pound from side control.
Griffin connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Haga some visible discomfort.
Griffin working the head with strikes.
Griffin lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Haga down.
Haga tries to improve position but can't.
Griffin lands some shots froms side control.
Haga can't do much from the bottom here.
Griffin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Haga takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Griffin cracks Haga with a big elbow.
Griffin working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haga takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Griffin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Griffin scores with punches from side control.
Griffin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Haga is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Griffin asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Griffin cracks Haga with a big right hand but Haga just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Tyler Griffin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Haga can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Griffin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Haga knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Haga struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyler Griffin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Griffin 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Griffin!