PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Lapis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lapis has chosen Once Solemn as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Griffiths
vs
Lapis

170 cm
24
175 lbs
14 - 4 - 1

178 cm
23
185 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Wild Ones Apparel (Fightwear and Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Griffiths!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Lapis!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lapis scores with a hook to the body. Griffiths takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Griffiths misses with a low kick.
Griffiths takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Andrey Lapis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lapis scores with a shot to the body.
Lapis misses with a series of wild punches.
Lapis has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Lapis blocks a low kick nicely.

Griffiths looking to score a takedown here. Lapis is defending well but Griffiths drives through and ends up in Lapis's guard.

Griffiths is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lapis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lapis wants to stand up but Griffiths is controlling him.
Griffiths trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Lapis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Griffiths defends it easily.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Griffiths trying to control but Lapis is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths forces his way into half guard.
Lapis is controlling Griffiths's trapped leg to prevent Griffiths from advancing to side control.
Griffiths passes the guard and advances to mount!

Griffiths looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Lapis is trying to escape the mount.
Lapis regains half guard.
Lapis tries to get to full guard but Griffiths has control of the leg.

Griffiths moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Lapis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lapis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Griffiths wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lapis, who protects the arm well.

Griffiths is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lapis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lapis is trying to control Griffiths's posture but Griffiths avoids it.

Griffiths goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lapis has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Griffiths but great work by Lapis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapis fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Griffiths tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Griffiths manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lapis's best efforts.
Lapis looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Griffiths is not content to let Lapis control the position.

Lapis is working for a kimura but Griffiths is defending it quite comfortably.
Griffiths wants to get back to full guard.

Griffiths is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lapis pulls his head out easily.
Griffiths trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Griffiths is defending against the submission attempts here by Lapis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths wants to improve his position but Lapis is controlling well.
It looks like Lapis is going to stand back up.
Griffiths wants to improve his position but Lapis is controlling well.

Griffiths looking for submissions off his back.
Griffiths makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Griffiths.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lapis has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Griffiths is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Stephen Griffiths will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Griffiths keeps Lapis at a distance using the push kick.
Lapis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Griffiths thumps Lapis with a low kick.
Griffiths throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Griffiths slips a straight right by Lapis.
Lapis throws an overhand right that lands on Griffiths's shoulder, as Griffiths tries to avoid the shot.
Griffiths dives in and grabs Lapis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lapis pushes down on Griffiths's head and hops out.

Griffiths shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Griffiths was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Griffiths goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lapis has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Griffiths but great work by Lapis.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Griffiths is trying to get back to half guard.
Lapis tries to stand but Griffiths is controlling his head.

Lapis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Griffiths, who protects the arm well.
Lapis wants to stand but Griffiths is controlling his arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapis is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Griffiths is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lapis off and has taken his back!
Lapis just trying to survive but Griffiths is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Griffiths is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Lapis defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Griffiths gets his hands free as Lapis looks to control.
Lapis is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Griffiths is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Lapis is defending well though. Griffiths let's go of the attempt for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapis controlling Griffiths 's hands.
Lapis is trying to stand back up.

Griffiths tightening his grip on Lapis, looking for the choke.

Griffiths has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Lapis has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Griffiths not allowing Lapis to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Lapis is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lapis trying to control the hands but Griffiths breaks the grip.

Lapis fending off the submission attempt from Griffiths.

Griffiths working for the choke.
Stephen Griffiths overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Griffiths gets his hands free as Lapis looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapis is trying to stand back up.

Lapis showing good submission defense here.
Lapis rolls, trying to escape but Griffiths keeps control of the position.
Griffiths not allowing Lapis to control his hands.
Lapis is trying to break free.
Lapis just trying to survive but Griffiths is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
I really don't envy Lapis right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Griffiths dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lapis looks to land a combination but Griffiths avoids it well.
A big right from Lapis misses.
Griffiths ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lapis displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A jab lands there for Lapis.
Lapis slaps away a takedown attempt from Griffiths, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lapis throws a series of punches but Griffiths moves out of range.
Lapis stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Griffiths.
Lapis takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Griffiths is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lapis's half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lapis wants to improve his position but Griffiths is controlling well.

Griffiths is trying to work for a kimura but Lapis is defending well.

Lapis looking for a kimura from the bottom but Griffiths passes into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths trying to control the position but Lapis is working away.
Griffiths is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lapis can do to turn this around?

Griffiths is working to tighten his grip on Lapis's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Lapis has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Griffiths is really squeezing tight and eventually Lapis passes out! Griffiths breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Stephen Griffiths!
Stephen Griffiths retains his welterweight title!
An out of breath Stephen Griffiths thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.