PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Blake Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jermaine Saint Claire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jermaine Saint Claire has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Griffin
vs
Saint Claire

189 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

191 cm
24
185 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Blake Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Jermaine Saint Claire!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Saint Claire fails with the takedown

and Griffin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Saint Claire 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.
Griffin is looking to stand up but Saint Claire won't let him.

Saint Claire has his foot on Griffin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Griffin works his way back into a safe position though.
Griffin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Saint Claire on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Griffin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Saint Claire looks winded!

Griffin stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint Claire moves in looking to clinch but Griffin pushes him off.
Griffin tries to counter with a takedown but Saint Claire is quick to defend against it.

Griffin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Saint Claire to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Griffin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Saint Claire seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Saint Claire throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saint Claire thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Griffin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Griffin tries to get out of the position.
Saint Claire won't allow Griffin to get back to his feet.

Saint Claire is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Saint Claire shoots in but Griffin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Griffin drops down looking for a counter takedown but Saint Claire sprawls and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saint Claire misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Griffin appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Blake Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jermaine Saint Claire.

Saint Claire clinches up with Griffin and pushes him back against the cage.
Saint Claire keeps control of Griffin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Saint Claire is trying to pull guard but Griffin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Griffin is trying to break the clinch but Saint Claire is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Saint Claire throws an elbow but it misses.
Saint Claire tries a body shot but Griffin blocks it.
Griffin avoids the elbow strike from Saint Claire, against the cage.
Saint Claire misses with a punch on the inside.
Saint Claire dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Saint Claire looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A frustrated look appears on Griffin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Griffin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jermaine Saint Claire will probably get the nod.
That's time! Griffin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Saint Claire.

Saint Claire clinches.
Saint Claire pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saint Claire has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Griffin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Saint Claire is breathing heavily.
Griffin can't break the clinch.
Saint Claire has Griffin pressed against the cage, preventing Griffin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint Claire misses with an elbow strike.
Saint Claire misses with a punch on the inside.
Griffin is trying to push Saint Claire away but Saint Claire has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Saint Claire tries to pull guard but Griffin holds him up against the cage and eventually Saint Claire drops back down to his feet.
Blake Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jermaine Saint Claire.

Griffin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saint Claire shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Griffin as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Saint Claire wants to clinch up but Griffin keeps it at a distance.
Saint Claire wants to clinch

and Griffin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Saint Claire's guard.
Griffin wants to stand but Saint Claire is controlling his posture from full guard.

Saint Claire manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin avoids the elbow strike from Saint Claire, against the cage.
Saint Claire trying to land knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Griffin's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Griffin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Griffin keeps the fight on the outside.
Griffin appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Saint Claire rushes Griffin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
I was talking to Griffin's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Saint Claire is trying to pull guard but Griffin has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saint Claire drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Griffin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Saint Claire tries to pull guard but Griffin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Griffin is trying to force a seperation but Saint Claire has the dominant position.
Griffin is trying to break free.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saint Claire tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Griffin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Griffin is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jermaine Saint Claire will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Saint Claire or perhaps it was just good defense by Griffin, which made it look bad.
Griffin drops down looking for a counter takedown but Saint Claire sprawls and moves away.
Saint Claire shoots in looking for a takedown. Griffin tries to sprawl out of it but Saint Claire keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Griffin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Griffin feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saint Claire shoots for a takedown but Griffin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Griffin attempts a counter takedown but Saint Claire avoids it well and moves away.
Blake Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jermaine Saint Claire.
Saint Claire takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saint Claire shoots in looking for a takedown. Griffin tries to sprawl out of it but Saint Claire keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Griffin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint Claire shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Griffin pinned against the cage. Griffin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Saint Claire tries to clinch but Griffin is having none of it.

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.
Saint Claire looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Griffin is fending him off so far but Saint Claire persists. Nope, Griffin circles away and we're back to standing.
Saint Claire tries to clinch up.
Griffin appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Saint Claire shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Griffin as he jumps to the side.
Griffin changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Saint Claire shoots for a takedown but Griffin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Saint Claire is looking to clinch but Griffin is avoiding it.
Griffin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saint Claire with a poor takedown

and Griffin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Griffin wants to stand but Saint Claire has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saint Claire working for a triangle but Griffin defends it easily.
Saint Claire has a closed guard, preventing Griffin from standing up.
Blake Griffin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Griffin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Blake Griffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jermaine Saint Claire is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saint Claire tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Griffin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Griffin tries to counter with a takedown but Saint Claire is quick to defend against it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Griffin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saint Claire has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Blake Griffin!
Blake Griffin tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.