PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Johnson
vs
Griffin

180 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

RAGE

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Forrest Griffin!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Johnson looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Johnson fails with the takedown.
Griffin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson can't break the clinch.
Griffin missing with knees to the body.
Griffin trying to land knees to the body.
Griffin fails to pull guard.
Griffin tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Griffin drops back down to his feet.
James Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Forrest Griffin.

Johnson pulls Griffin into guard.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing Griffin from standing up.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Griffin is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Johnson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Griffin's back instead.
Griffin tries to escape but Johnson has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Johnson avoiding Griffin 's attempts to control his hands.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Johnson is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Griffin has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Griffin is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin manages to reverse the position and now he's in Johnson's guard. Nice work there by Griffin.
Griffin postures up and lands a big shot to Johnson's brow.
Griffin advances position into side control!
Griffin is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Johnson gets back to half guard.
Griffin trying to control from half guard but Johnson is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffin wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson moves into full guard.
Griffin postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Griffin's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Griffin pushes Johnson off and scrambles back to his feet.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson looking to stall.
Griffin lands a body shot.
Griffin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johnson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Griffin has him pressed against the cage.
Griffin wants to break free but Johnson has control.

Griffin drags the fight down to the ground.
Griffin is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Johnson prevents Griffin from getting back to his feet.
Johnson could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Griffin looking to control.
Griffin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Griffin trying to keep a closed guard but Johnson is proving a slippery customer.
Griffin trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Griffin tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown. Griffin fights it but they end up in guard.
Johnson prevents Griffin from getting back to his feet.
Griffin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Griffin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Griffin holds on and takes a little breather.
Griffin controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Griffin keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Griffin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johnson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Griffin is looking for a sweep.

Johnson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Griffin is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Johnson has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin gets back to half guard.
Griffin moves into full guard.

Griffin kicks Johnson off and gets to his feet.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Griffin.
Forrest Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griffin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.

Griffin has managed to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Griffin lands an elbow inside that Johnson shrugs off.
Come on Johnson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johnson trying to stall but Griffin improves his position.
Griffin lands a body shot in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Griffin breaks the clinch.
Griffin looks to land a combination. Johnson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Johnson counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Johnson dominated that round.
That's time! Johnson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Griffin shoots in but Johnson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Johnson tries to clinch but Griffin is having none of it.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.

Johnson rushes Griffin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Griffin keeps control of Johnson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Griffin is trying to break free.
Griffin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Griffin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Johnson prevents a takedown attempt there.
James Johnson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Forrest Griffin.

Griffin manages to break the clinch.
Johnson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Johnson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Johnson lands in his opponent's guard.
Johnson passes Griffin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Johnson is thwarting Griffin's attempts to control the position.
Griffin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin working a defensive guard here.

Johnson has gone for a leg lock! Griffin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Johnson's guard.
Griffin passes into half guard.
Griffin wants to control but Johnson is keeping him busy.
Johnson tries to get to full guard but Griffin has control of the leg.
James Johnson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johnson is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson is not content to let Griffin control the position.

Griffin decides to stand and escape the position.
Griffin tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
Griffin tries to buck Johnson off but Johnson is having none of it.
Griffin is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Johnson off and has taken his back!
Griffin lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Johnson.
I really don't envy Johnson right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffin is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Johnson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Johnson for a finish.
Griffin lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Johnson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Griffin's guard. Nice work there by Johnson.
Johnson stands and throws Griffin's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Griffin is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Griffin tries to improve position but can't.
Griffin is trying to buck Johnson off.
Johnson tries to advance to mount but can't.

Johnson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Johnson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Johnson asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Johnson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Griffin sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt
and Griffin counters with a nice body shot.

Griffin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Johnson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Johnson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Griffin off and has taken his back!
Griffin manages to reverse the position and now he's in Johnson's guard. Nice work there by Griffin.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Griffin pushes his legs off easily.
Griffin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Griffin is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Johnson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Griffin's back instead.
Griffin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson goes for an armbar but Griffin turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Griffin.
Griffin landing with the ground and pound.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Griffin's guard.

Johnson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Johnson is fighting to break Griffin's control of his arms but Griffin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
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!

Griffin has his feet on Johnson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Griffin with a poor takedown

and Johnson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Johnson postures up in Griffin's guard and throws a big left but Griffin blocks it.
Griffin controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Johnson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Johnson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Griffin scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Griffin darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that James Johnson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson scores with a takedown into Griffin's guard.
Griffin looking to control.

Griffin kicks Johnson off and gets to his feet.
Griffin tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown. Griffin fights it but they end up in guard.
Griffin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Griffin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Griffin is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Johnson with a nice head shot there.

Griffin working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
Griffin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Griffin keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
Griffin throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Griffin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Griffin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.
Griffin wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Griffin keeps the fight on the outside.
Griffin doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
Johnson checks a low kick from Griffin.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut

and Griffin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Johnson is trying to get back to full guard.
Griffin is keen to just control but Johnson is a slippery customer.
Johnson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Griffin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Griffin's back!
Griffin is trying to get back to his feet but Johnson has full control of the position and if anything, Griffin has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Griffin knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Griffin for a finish.

Griffin showing good submission defense here.
Griffin wants to control his opponent's hands but Johnson gets his hands free.
Griffin is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Johnson looking for the RNC.
Griffin trying to control the action but Johnson just sinks the hooks in.

Johnson has got one arm under Griffin's chin. This could be trouble... Griffin trying to control the other hand but Johnson gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Griffin has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). James Johnson!