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, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Griffiths
vs
Lapis

170 cm
24
175 lbs
16 - 4 - 1

178 cm
24
185 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 16 - 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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Lapis!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lapis throws a series of punches but Griffiths moves out of range.
Griffiths dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lapis. That did some damage!
Griffiths misses with an uppercut. Lapis saw that one coming.
Griffiths uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lapis.
Lapis digs a good hook to Griffiths's body.
Griffiths throws a front kick that sends Lapis stumbling back into the cage.
Griffiths fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lapis.
Griffiths is looking to chop away at Lapis's legs.
Griffiths throws a nice outside leg kick.
A combination from Lapis does no damage.
Lapis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Some bone on bone action there as Lapis checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Griffiths misses with a body kick.
No joy there for Lapis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Griffiths displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lapis.
Griffiths cracks Lapis with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Andrey Lapis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lapis tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Griffiths defends well and Lapis ends up having to push Griffiths into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Griffiths has a couple of punches blocked by Lapis.
Lapis is trying to push Griffiths away but Griffiths has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Lapis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Griffiths there as he acknowledges the shot.

Lapis manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Griffiths on his heels. He'll look to pass Griffiths's guard now, I'm sure.
Griffiths looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lapis is one step ahead there.

Griffiths is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Griffiths has a closed guard, preventing Lapis from standing up.

Griffiths is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Griffiths looking to control.
Lapis stopping the sweep attempt from Griffiths.

Griffiths working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lapis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lapis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Griffiths has a closed guard, preventing Lapis from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lapis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lapis passes Griffiths's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Griffiths looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Griffiths works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lapis wants to stand but Griffiths is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lapis wants to pass the guard but Griffiths is keeping the position.
Griffiths keeping moving, preventing Lapis from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths is looking for a triangle but Lapis pushes his legs off easily.

Lapis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lapis slips nicely into half guard.
Lapis is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Griffiths is working to get back to half guard.
Griffiths sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Lapis passes to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapis wants to stand but Griffiths is controlling his arm.
Lapis advances to full mount.
Lapis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Griffiths is looking to escape.
Griffiths regains half guard.

Griffiths looking for submissions off his back.
Lapis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Griffiths knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Griffiths looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Griffiths is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lapis pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andrey Lapis will probably get the nod.
That's time! Griffiths's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lapis closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Stephen Griffiths has been cut.
Griffiths showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lapis.
Lapis shoots in for a takedown but Griffiths shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lapis scores with a crisp jab that stopped Griffiths in his tracks.
Lapis misses with a two punch combination.
Lapis misses with a double jab.
Andrey Lapis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Griffiths throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lapis was covering up waiting for the punch and Griffiths finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lapis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lapis keeping full guard, as Griffiths tries to pass.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griffiths trying to control the position from guard on top but Lapis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lapis working for a triangle but Griffiths defends it easily.
Griffiths trying to control but Lapis is working from the bottom.
Griffiths pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lapis is keeping the position for now.
Lapis wants to hit a switch here but Griffiths passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Lapis there!
Lapis tries to hold on but Griffiths postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've been hearing that Griffiths has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Griffiths is trying to take his opponent's back.
Griffiths trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Lapis defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Griffiths.
Lapis is desperately trying to improve his position but Griffiths has a good base and remains in mount.

Griffiths working for a guillotine from mount but Lapis is in no mood to give up.
Lapis is trying to escape the mount.

Griffiths is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Lapis is surviving well by controlling Griffiths's body position as best he can.
Griffiths can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lapis is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapis is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lapis bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Lapis tries to stand but Griffiths is controlling from the bottom.
Lapis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

Griffiths has his foot on Lapis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lapis works his way back into a safe position though.
Lapis has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Griffiths is proving hard to escape from.
Lapis wants to control from the top but Griffiths keeps moving.
Griffiths wants to sweep here but Lapis controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths working for a triangle but Lapis defends it easily.

Griffiths is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lapis is looking to stand up but Griffiths won't let him.

Griffiths looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lapis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffiths is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffiths lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Griffiths trying to control but Lapis is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Stephen Griffiths will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Stephen Griffiths's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lapis throws out a loose jab but Griffiths uses good head movement to avoid it.
Griffiths shoots in but Lapis avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Griffiths looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Griffiths got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lapis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Griffiths has managed to get both his arms back between Lapis's legs - danger averted.

Lapis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Griffiths passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Griffiths is working for a kimura but Lapis is defending it quite comfortably.
Lapis won't allow Griffiths to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffiths is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lapis has managed to free his arm - good work.
Stephen Griffiths overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lapis is trying to control but can't.
Griffiths controlling the action here.

Griffiths looking for a submission but Lapis manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

Griffiths thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lapis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Lapis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lapis pulls Griffiths in close to his closed guard and prevents Griffiths from doing any damage or advancing position.
Griffiths wants to control from the top but Lapis keeps moving.
Lapis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lapis keeping moving, preventing Griffiths from controlling successfully.
Lapis is trying to control the position but Griffiths postures up.

Lapis has his feet on Griffiths's thighs here. He's pushed Griffiths off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Griffiths screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Andrey Lapis!
Andrey Lapis is the new welterweight champion!
As Andrey Lapis got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: My belt! Try to take it from me!'.