PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Amir Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khadzhimurat Gatsalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Griffin comes to the cage accompanied by REMIX Turn Down. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Griffin
vs
Gatsalov

192 cm
29
207 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

184 cm
20
209 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

V-Mask Clothing (10%)
Mohito Fightwear

Mohito Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Amir Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Khadzhimurat Gatsalov!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gatsalov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Griffin, pushing him back against the cage.
Griffin tries to pull guard but Gatsalov won't allow it.
Gatsalov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Griffin backwards.

Griffin gets control of Gatsalov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Griffin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Gatsalov trying to control but Griffin is working from the bottom.
Gatsalov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Griffin keeping moving, preventing Gatsalov from controlling successfully.
Gatsalov stands up over Griffin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Griffin definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Gatsalov wants to control from the top but Griffin keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatsalov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatsalov throws a big right hand that misses.
Gatsalov wants to pass the guard but Griffin is keeping the position.
Gatsalov stays in close to Griffin's body and controls the position.
Griffin keeping full guard, as Gatsalov tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gatsalov thuds his right hand into Griffin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Griffin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gatsalov.

Gatsalov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatsalov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Gatsalov misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Gatsalov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gatsalov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Griffin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gatsalov lands a body shot.
Gatsalov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Amir Griffin has been cut.
Gatsalov scores with a jab to the head.
Gatsalov's coach down at Wolf Training Lair was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Gatsalov's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gatsalov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Griffin's calf.
Gatsalov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gatsalov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gatsalov lands with a nice body punch.

Griffin gets caught napping as Gatsalov dives in and scores a takedown. Griffin manages to retain guard.
Griffin working a defensive guard but Gatsalov manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatsalov lands some shots froms side control.
Griffin is not content to let Gatsalov control the position.
The strikes coming from Gatsalov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Gatsalov taking a break here but Griffin is having none of it and regains half guard.
Griffin is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gatsalov controlling the pace.
Gatsalov trying to control from half guard but Griffin is working away.
Gatsalov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Griffin regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Gatsalov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Griffin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gatsalov wants to control from the top but Griffin keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khadzhimurat Gatsalov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Amir Griffin's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gatsalov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gatsalov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gatsalov jabs Griffin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gatsalov scores with a jab. Griffin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Griffin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gatsalov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Griffin rather than just go for the knockout.
Gatsalov lands a slapping body shot.
Gatsalov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Gatsalov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Griffin's calf.
Griffin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gatsalov is fending him off so far but Griffin persists. Nope, Gatsalov circles away and we're back to standing.
Gatsalov lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griffin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gatsalov can pounce on him.
Gatsalov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Griffin on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gatsalov controlling the position for now.
Gatsalov is looking to improve his position.

Griffin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gatsalov defends it well.
Gatsalov wants to get back to full guard.
Gatsalov is trying to control but Griffin passes into side control!
Griffin trying to control the position but Gatsalov is working away.
Amir Griffin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gatsalov is looking to regain half guard here but Griffin keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatsalov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Griffin slips a nice elbow through Gatsalov's hands, connecting with Gatsalov's forehead.
Griffin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gatsalov gets full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gatsalov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gatsalov is controlling Griffin's posture.
Let's hope that Gatsalov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Gatsalov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Gatsalov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin keeping moving, preventing Gatsalov from controlling successfully.
Gatsalov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffin is keeping the position for now.
Gatsalov passes Griffin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gatsalov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Griffin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gatsalov is trying to control. Griffin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gatsalov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gatsalov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Griffin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gatsalov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gatsalov trying to control the action but Griffin is working from the bottom.
Gatsalov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gatsalov wants to pass to mount but Griffin is defending the position.
Gatsalov is looking to take a break and control but Griffin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khadzhimurat Gatsalov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Amir Griffin's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Griffin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gatsalov misses with a right hand

and Griffin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gatsalov is pulling down on Griffin's head. It's preventing any offense from Griffin, at least for the moment.
Griffin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gatsalov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gatsalov looking for a sweep. Not yet Gatsalov, not yet.
Gatsalov has his hands on Griffin's head, controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatsalov 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.
Gatsalov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Griffin manages to get himself to full guard.

Gatsalov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffin is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatsalov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gatsalov is pushing down on Griffin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Griffin is fighting to maintain full guard but Gatsalov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gatsalov controlling the action here.
Gatsalov is pressing down on Griffin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Griffin is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gatsalov is controlling the pace.
Gatsalov lands with a punch from half guard.
Khadzhimurat Gatsalov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gatsalov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Griffin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gatsalov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gatsalov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatsalov is trying to control the action in half guard but Griffin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gatsalov misses with a double jab.
It looked like Griffin was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
The crowd cheers as Gatsalov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Griffin doesn't seem phased though.

Gatsalov moves into the clinch successfully.
Gatsalov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Griffin takes a shot to the head.
Griffin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gatsalov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gatsalov can't find room to land a body shot as Griffin controls the action.
Griffin tries for a takedown but Gatsalov manages to get underhooks.

Gatsalov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gatsalov is just content to waste time from the top position. Griffin takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gatsalov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gatsalov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gatsalov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Griffin keeping full guard, as Gatsalov tries to pass.
Amir Griffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gatsalov postures up in Griffin's guard and throws a big left but Griffin blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khadzhimurat Gatsalov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gatsalov 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khadzhimurat Gatsalov!
During a confident post fight interview, Khadzhimurat Gatsalov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
In defeat, Amir Griffin stepped up to the mic, saying 'I took to many Drinks last night sorry guys I will try not to do that again =)but back to real stuff I am retiring after this fight so thanks to everyone I will miss all of you Cheers!'.