PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juji Gatame (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gatame might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Storm. 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.

Gatame
vs
Griffiths

186 cm
38
174 lbs
32 - 17 - 1

170 cm
30
175 lbs
27 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juji Gatame!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Stephen Griffiths!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffiths lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Gatame is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Griffiths's half guard.
It looks like Gatame is going to stand back up.
Griffiths moves into full guard.
Gatame is looking to stand up but Griffiths won't let him.
Griffiths wants to sweep but no luck.
Gatame would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatame goes for a double leg but Griffiths avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Griffiths continues to drive forward.

Gatame shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Griffiths is trying to defend but Gatame finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Griffiths makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Griffiths.
Gatame has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Griffiths is trying to keep Gatame in close.
Griffiths pulls Gatame in close to prevent any damage.
Gatame trying to stand up but can't free himself from Griffiths's guard.
Gatame will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Griffiths looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gatame wanted to stand there but Griffiths had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gatame fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Griffiths moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Gatame shoots in and drives through. Griffiths sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juji Gatame. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gatame shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gatame wants to get up but he can't break Griffiths's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Gatame got a little sloppy there for a moment and Griffiths has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gatame has managed to get both his arms back between Griffiths's legs - danger averted.
Gatame would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatame 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.

Griffiths is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gatame defends well.

Griffiths is looking for a triangle but Gatame pushes his legs off easily.
Gatame is looking to stand up but Griffiths won't let him.
Griffiths is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gatame would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Griffiths is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Gatame stands up from Griffiths's guard - Gatame perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gatame shoots in looking for a takedown. Griffiths tries to sprawl out of it but Gatame keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Griffiths manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Juji Gatame seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griffiths misses with a looping left.
Gatame is looking for a counter combo.
Griffiths throws the kick towards the body but Gatame avoids it.

Gatame gets the takedown into side control.
Gatame tries to stand but Griffiths is controlling his head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 Juji Gatame will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gatame.
Gatame will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Griffiths looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gatame!
Griffiths tries to move into full mount but can't pass Gatame's legs.
Griffiths is staying tight to Gatame's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Griffiths tries to move to mount but Gatame blocks the move with his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffiths wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gatame keeps working.
Griffiths tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths working away.
Griffiths controls the position from side control.
Gatame controls the position for a moment.
Griffiths tries to advance to mount but can't.
Juji Gatame overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Griffiths slows the pace down.
Gatame prevents Griffiths from moving into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gatame is being controlled here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Griffiths goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gatame has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Griffiths but great work by Gatame.
Gatame tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Gatame stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Gatame shoots in looking for a takedown but Griffiths manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gatame's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juji Gatame. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatame shoots for a takedown but Griffiths saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gatame misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Griffiths scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
No luck for Gatame with that takedown attempt.
Griffiths keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gatame shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Griffiths pinned against the cage. Griffiths gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Griffiths drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gatame defends it well.
Nice takedown defense from Griffiths. No joy for Gatame on that attempt.
Gatame fails with the takedown.
Griffiths fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gatame.
Gatame shoots in and drives through. Griffiths sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatame shoots in looking for a takedown but Griffiths manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gatame's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Griffiths closes the distance and clinches.
Griffiths lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gatame is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Griffiths to keep the fight standing.
Still in the clinch, Griffiths scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gatame tries to pull guard but Griffiths holds him up against the cage and eventually Gatame drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griffiths lands a right hand.
Gatame tries to pull guard but Griffiths holds him up against the cage and eventually Gatame drops back down to his feet.
Griffiths has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Gatame manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Griffiths is looking to pass into half guard but Gatame pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gatame is in guard.

Gatame is sitting in close to Griffiths's body. Griffiths has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Gatame is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Gatame is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Griffiths.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Stephen Griffiths!
Our winner, Stephen Griffiths, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.