PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Hayes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Griffiths
vs
Hayes

170 cm
31
175 lbs
28 - 13 - 1

179 cm
30
173 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Gentlemens Laundry - 10 %
Museum of Monsters & Madmen

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 28 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Stephen Griffiths!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Hayes!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Griffiths.
Griffiths throws a leg kick which misses Hayes's front leg but catches the back leg as Hayes tries to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Hayes misses the target.
Griffiths fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hayes looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've been hearing reports that Griffiths has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Hayes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Griffiths seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Hayes misses with a combination
and Griffiths counters with a nice uppercut.
Hayes throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Griffiths to counter with a crisp jab.
Griffiths chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hayes leaves Griffiths with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stephen Griffiths seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayes avoids the head kick by Griffiths.
Griffiths throws a leg kick that misses.
Griffiths is looking to clinch.
Hayes lands a lovely overhand right.
Hayes blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayes moves out of range of the leg kick from Griffiths.
Hayes lands a nice shot that snaps Griffiths's head back.
Hayes misses with a straight right.
Griffiths throwing a counter right hand but Hayes manages to avoid it.
Hayes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Griffiths moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Griffiths takes one to the side of the head.
Griffiths lands with a nice body kick.
Hayes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griffiths was well out of range. Poor timing from Hayes.
Griffiths lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hayes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hayes misses with a straight left.
A swing and a miss from Griffiths.
Griffiths wants to land a leg kick but Hayes is out of range.
Griffiths scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hayes takes one to the chin there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Griffithss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Griffiths shoots in and drives through. Hayes sprawls well.
Hayes throws out a counter right but Griffiths avoids it with no problem.
Nice shot lands for Griffiths.
Griffiths scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Jab by Griffiths.
Griffiths jabs at Hayes's body.
Hayes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Griffiths. Griffiths obviously looking to wear him down.
Hayes on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Griffiths tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hayes tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hayes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Griffiths.
Griffiths appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hayes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griffiths was well out of range. Poor timing from Hayes.
Hayes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Griffiths.

Hayes drops Griffiths with a beautiful combination! Griffiths stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Hayes is looking for the KO!

It looks like Stephen Griffiths has been cut.
Hayes misses with a lunging right hand
and Griffiths counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hayes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Griffiths misses with a low kick.
Griffiths sets himself, and Hayes steps forward looking for the clinch! Griffiths avoids it this time.
Hayes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Griffiths manages to avoid it.
Hayes throws an off balance right hand
and Griffiths counters with an outside leg kick.

Griffiths pushes Hayes up against the cage in a clinch.
Hayes tries to work over Griffiths's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Griffiths prevents a body shot from Hayes.
Griffiths gets through Hayes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Griffiths can't find room to land a body shot as Hayes controls the action.
Hayes lands a hook that snaps the head of Griffiths backwards.
Griffiths lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right from Griffiths.
Griffiths misses with a hook from the clinch.
Griffiths throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Griffiths.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Griffiths has a couple of punches blocked by Hayes.
Griffiths softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Griffiths.
Griffiths tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Griffiths.
Hayes struggles to land a body shot inside as Griffiths controls his hands.
A short right from Griffiths on the inside.
Hayes looking to stall.
Hayes has a couple of punches blocked by Griffiths.
Griffiths fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hayes tries to work over Griffiths's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffiths lands a nice uppercut.
Griffiths has Hayes pushed against the cage.
Hayes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Griffiths has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Griffiths dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stephen Griffiths'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.

Griffiths throws a hook to the side of Hayes's head but Hayes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Griffiths throws a sloppy head kick and Hayes moves out of range easily.
Griffiths is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hayes can do to turn this around?
Hayes throws a hook but Griffiths avoids it easily.
Griffiths throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hayes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Griffiths can pounce on him.
Griffiths misses with the combination.
Griffiths misses with a head kick.
Hayes tries to counter with a clinch but Griffiths shakes him off and moves away.
Griffiths throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hayes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Griffiths throws a good cross that connects.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffiths bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hayes's head backwards.
Griffiths tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hayes swivels and escapes.
Hayes connects with a body shot that sends Griffiths's belly button to the back.
Griffiths misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hayes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hayes at a distance.

Griffiths gets a takedown into half guard.
Griffiths looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Griffiths is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hayes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Griffiths trying to control but Hayes is working from the bottom.
Griffiths sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hayes trying to keep a closed guard but Griffiths is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayes throws a looping overhand right but Griffiths ducks down to avoid it.
Griffiths walks into a left hand.
Hayes shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hayes throws a jab but it's blocked by Griffiths.
Griffiths feinted with a counter takedown.
Griffiths fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hayes looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Griffiths bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Griffiths throws a good cross that connects.
Griffiths lands a leg kick that knocks Hayes off balance momentarily.
Michael Hayes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Griffiths misses with a looping right.
Griffiths cracks Hayes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hayes misses with a body punch
and Griffiths connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stephen Griffiths is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good work by Hayes as he checks the leg kick.
Hayes wants to counter with a clinch but Griffiths pushes him away.
Griffiths tries to work over Hayes's front leg with a kick but Hayes checks it.
Griffiths throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hayes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hayes moves away from the strike by Griffiths.
Hayes tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hayes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hayes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Griffiths connects with a jab.
Hayes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A looping hook to the body misses from Griffiths. Hayes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Griffiths connects with a solid leg kick.
Griffiths finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Griffiths will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Griffiths dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Stephen Griffiths's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Griffiths looks for the body kick but Hayes saw that one coming.
Hayes stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Griffiths.
Griffiths avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hayes throws a shot from downtown. Griffiths moves away and avoids it.
Hayes scores with a hook to the body. Griffiths takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hayes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Griffiths misses with a body kick.
Griffiths buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hayes throws a looping overhand right but Griffiths ducks down to avoid it.
A big right from Griffiths misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayes looks to throw the jab but Griffiths is out of range.
Griffiths misses with a wild body shot.
Griffiths looks to land a combination but Hayes avoids it well.
Griffiths connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths connects with an inside leg kick.
Hayes misses with a looping left.
Griffiths uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hayes.
Griffiths scores with the left hand. Hayes knows he should have avoided that one.
Griffiths misses with a wild body shot.
Hayes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hayes takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hayes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Griffiths counters with a nice uppercut.
Hayes displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Griffiths.
Nice shot lands for Griffiths.
Griffiths needs to keep his hands up - Hayes had a free shot at his head there.
Michael Hayes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephen Griffiths is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Hayes kicks off Griffiths and gets to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Griffiths slips a straight right by Hayes.
Hayes stuffs the takedown attempt from Griffiths. Griffiths gets slowly back to his feet.
Hayes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hayes throws a looping overhand right but Griffiths ducks down to avoid it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Griffiths.
Griffiths throws a leg kick but Hayes sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hayes jabs at Griffiths's body.
Hayes on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice body kick there by Griffiths.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths connects with the punch.
A jab from Hayes does it's job there.
Hayes has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hayes misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Griffiths counters with a stiff right hand.
Griffiths misses with a low kick.
Hayes throws out a loose jab but Griffiths uses good head movement to avoid it.
Griffiths motions for Hayes to come forward. Griffiths throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hayes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Griffiths fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hayes misses with a hook
enabling Griffiths to counter with a crisp jab.
Griffiths lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hayes takes a step back to recover.
Griffiths takes one to the chin there.
Griffiths lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Griffiths.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Griffiths lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
An inside leg kick lands from Griffiths.
Hayes takes a swing at Griffiths's ribcage but misses.
Griffiths misses with a hook. Hayes ducked under it nicely.
Hayes throws a big shot that misses.
Griffiths lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hayes connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Griffiths misses with a combination

and Hayes counters by moving into the clinch.
Griffiths blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hayes lands a nice uppercut.
Griffiths throws a head punch that misses.
Hayes has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Griffiths seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Hayes can turn it around.
Hayes working aggressively here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stephen Griffiths.
Well Griffiths has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Griffiths!
Stephen Griffiths seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.