PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Griffith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Spear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spear is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Be Survivor. Mike Spear has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Griffith
vs
Spear

211 cm
23
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
26
184 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ray Griffith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Spear!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Spear shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Griffith manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spear stops Griffith from standing up.
Spear wants to control from the top but Griffith keeps moving.
Griffith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Spear is controlling him.
Griffith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Spear avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Griffith looking for a sweep. Not yet Griffith, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spear tries to free his leg and advance position but Griffith is retaining full guard.

Griffith has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Spear is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Griffith.
Griffith is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spear creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Griffith sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Spear is looking to take a break and control but Griffith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A lull in the action here as Spear stalls from top position.
Griffith manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Griffith is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Griffith decides to stand and escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spear manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Griffith on his heels. He'll look to pass Griffith's guard now, I'm sure.
Griffith looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Spear puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Spear seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Spear seems to be working for a kimura but Griffith defends the submission attempt.
Still in half guard, Spear seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffith wants to get back to full guard.
Griffith is working hard here to advance position.

Griffith with the active half guard here but Spear passes nicely into side control.

Spear goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Griffith has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Spear but great work by Griffith.
Griffith working away.
Spear is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Griffith is controlling him well.
Spear is not content to let Griffith control the position.
Spear struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffith wants to control but Spear is keeping him busy.
Griffith sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Spear is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Spear is looking to reverse the position.
Spear is not content to let Griffith control the position.
Griffith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Spear is letting Griffith control him for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Griffith is looking to take a break and control but Spear is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Spear will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Spear throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Spear changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Griffith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Spear gets to mount! Griffith was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Griffith is wriggling around trying to escape.

Spear working for a guillotine from mount but Griffith is in no mood to give up.
Spear thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffith working to try and regain half guard.
Griffith manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffith tries to get to full guard but Spear has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Griffith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Spear is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Spear has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Griffith lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Griffith wants to control from the top but Spear keeps moving.
Spear looking for a sweep. Not yet Spear, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffith wants to stand but Spear is controlling his posture from full guard.
Spear looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Griffith trying to control but Spear is working from the bottom.
Mike Spear has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mike Spear seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Spear closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Griffith quickly recovers to half guard.
Griffith wants to get back to full guard but Spear has passed into side control.
Spear controls the position.
Spear gets to mount! Griffith was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Spear misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Griffith is looking to improve his position but Spear isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spear throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Griffith because Spear loaded up on that one.
Spear controlling from mount.

Spear is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Griffith can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Spear thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spear controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Spear showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Spear has managed to clinch.
Griffith goes for a takedown attempt but Spear pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Griffith takes one on the button.
Griffith moves out of range as Spear throws a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Griffith gets tackled into the cage by Spear. Spear maintains the clinch.

Griffith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Spear scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffith tries to improve position but can't.
Griffith seems a little lost for a moment, as Spear dominates the positioning.
Griffith throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

Spear has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Griffith scores with a punch to the head.
Spear throws a head kick but Griffith moves out of range.

Spear darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Griffith is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffith is trying to get back to full guard.

Spear gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Griffith works Spear's body with a nice hook.
Griffith just misses with a punch to the body.

Griffith gets caught napping as Spear dives in and scores a takedown. Griffith manages to retain guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Griffith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spear can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Spear pushes down on Griffith's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spear has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Griffith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Spear working for a guillotine from mount but Griffith is in no mood to give up.
Spear controlling from the full mount.
Griffith is trying to reverse the position but instead Spear has taken his back - oops!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spear keeps control of the position as Griffith tries to break free.
Good control from Spear.

Griffith defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Spear's arms.
Griffith wants to escape the position.
Ray Griffith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Spear is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Spear comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Spear 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Spear!