PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abel Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Griffin
vs
Cruz

172 cm
20
158 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

171 cm
24
145 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Big Bear Nutrition 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abel Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Jonathan Paton and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin misses with a low kick.
Cruz tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cruz fails with the takedown.
Griffin throws a counter high kick but Cruz was just alert enough to avoid it.
Griffin throws a head kick that Cruz semi-blocks.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Griffin throws a counter high kick but Cruz was just alert enough to avoid it.
Abel Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Chris Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abel Cruz.

Cruz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Griffin to the ground. Cruz is now in Griffin's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.
Cruz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Griffin is refusing to be controlled, as Cruz sits in half guard.
Griffin has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz wants to pass the guard but Griffin is defending well.
Griffin is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Griffin is looking to escape.
Cruz looks to land a strike but Griffin avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Griffin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.
Griffin keeping full guard, as Cruz tries to pass.
Cruz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Griffin wants to get back to his feet but Cruz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cruz trying to control the position from guard on top but Griffin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Griffin as he avoids it easily.
Cruz dives in for a single leg takedown but Griffin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Griffin missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Griffin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz wants to slow Griffin down by chopping away at his legs.
Griffin misses with a body kick.
Cruz darts in looking for a takedown but Griffin gets double underhooks and turns Cruz into the cage.
Griffin connects with a solid leg kick.

Griffin rushes Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Griffin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Griffin lands with a light punch inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Griffin.

Cruz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Griffin moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Cruz rushes Griffin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cruz tries to score a body lock takedown but Griffin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cruz has Griffin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Griffin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is trying to force a seperation but Griffin has the dominant position.
Cruz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Griffin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cruz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Griffin lands a hook that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Griffin missing with knees to the body.
Cruz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Griffin has him pressed against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Griffin.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cruz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Griffin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris 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 body kick.
Cruz flicks out a counter leg kick but Griffin steps away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Griffin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cruz feints the counter takedown.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Griffin as he jumps to the side.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Griffin looks to land a left hand but Cruz moved out of range nicely.
Good leg kick by Griffin there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Griffin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Griffin connects with a high kick.
Griffin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Griffin sprawls well.
It appears Griffin was looking to counter with a kick there.

Griffin rushes Cruz and presses him up against the cage.
Griffin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cruz avoids it.
Griffin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Griffin crunches a lovely knee into Cruz's ribcage.
Cruz is trying to break free.
Griffin throws a punch but it's blocked by Cruz.

Cruz lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Cruz seems to be looking for submissions.
Cruz wants to free his trapped foot but Griffin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Griffin is not content to let Cruz control the position.
Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin won't allow Cruz to pass to mount.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cruz in particular looking to stall.

Cruz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Griffin wants to get back to his feet.

Griffin manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Cruz keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Griffin lands a left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Griffin.
Cruz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Griffin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Chris Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abel Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Griffin has a couple of punches blocked by Cruz.
Cruz managing to block the knees to the body from Griffin.
Cruz jumps guard but Griffin stands there with Cruz around his waist. Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Cruz gets control of Griffin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cruz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Griffin gets to his feet - Cruz follows without any prompting.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Griffin shows good takedown defense.
It looked like Griffin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cruz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Griffin doesn't manage to clinch there - Cruz circles away.
Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Griffin.
Cruz fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries for a takedown but Griffin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
It appears Griffin was looking to counter with a kick there.
Griffin swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.

Griffin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Griffin working aggressively here.
Griffin pushes Cruz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Griffin after a bit of a struggle.
Cruz wants a takedown but no success here.
Griffin tries a knee to the head but Cruz blocks it.
Griffin misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Griffin dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cruz avoids the head kick by Griffin.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Cruz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Griffin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Griffin throws the left hand but Cruz avoids the punch easily.
Cruz is looking for the big counter here.

Griffin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cruz, pushing him back against the cage.

Cruz turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Cruz manages to end up in side control.
Griffin is trying to buck Cruz off.

Cruz looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin tries to escape but Cruz is in control.
Cruz wants to control but Griffin is keeping him busy.
Griffin is pushing Cruz's head away, looking to escape. Cruz manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to score with some ground and pound. Griffin controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cruz trying to control the position but Griffin is working away.
Griffin tries to escape but Cruz is in control.
Griffin trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Cruz trying to control the action but Griffin is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Griffin.
Cruz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Griffin tries to avoid it but Cruz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Griffin to the ground. Griffin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Griffin is looking for a counter combo.
Chris Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abel Cruz.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Griffin as he jumps to the side.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz dives in and grabs Griffin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Griffin pushes down on Cruz's head and hops out.
Cruz has a takedown stuffed.
Griffin tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Griffin tries to bum rush Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Chris Griffin is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Griffin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Griffin tries to clinch but Cruz is having none of it.
Griffin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cruz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to clinch but Griffin is having none of it.
Chris Griffin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No joy there for Griffin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cruz with the counter takedown but Griffin avoids it easily.

Griffin closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Griffin.
Griffin misses with a knee to the head.
Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Griffin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cruz misses with a short punch on the inside.

Cruz gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Abel Cruz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz prevents Griffin from getting back to his feet.
Cruz trying to control but Griffin is working from the bottom.
Griffin wants to stand but Cruz is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Griffin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cruz won't allow Griffin to get back to his feet.
Cruz tries to free his leg and advance position but Griffin is retaining full guard.
Griffin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Cruz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cruz tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Abel Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffin is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Cruz is controlling him well.
Cruz controlling from side mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abel Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Griffin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Griffin!
Chris Griffin bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.