PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boris Gregorovitsj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gregorovitsj has chosen Pink Panther Theme as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Griffiths
vs
Gregorovitsj

170 cm
35
175 lbs
34 - 16 - 1

175 cm
40
187 lbs
46 - 30 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Nutrition
Aspire Clothing

Vandal & Laundry

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 34 - 16 - 1, fighting out of London, Stephen Griffiths!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 46 - 30 - 3, fighting out of Montreal, Boris Gregorovitsj!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gregorovitsj throws an off balance right hand
and Griffiths counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Griffiths works the jab nicely.

It looks like Boris Gregorovitsj has been cut.
Gregorovitsj keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Griffiths throws a leg kick that is checked
and Gregorovitsj counters with a solid body kick.
Stephen Griffiths seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gregorovitsj misses with a left hand
and Griffiths counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gregorovitsj throws a sloppy body shot
and Griffiths counters with a thumping low kick.
Gregorovitsj throws the kick towards the body but Griffiths avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Griffiths.
Gregorovitsj is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Griffiths shoots in and bounces Gregorovitsj off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
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.
Griffiths looking to sit in guard and control but Gregorovitsj gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

I've been told that Gregorovitsj has been drilling his wrestling of late, which has already helped him take this fight to the mat. Let's see how much of an impact it has on the outcome of the ground game.

Griffiths working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Gregorovitsj has passed into half guard!

Griffiths looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Griffiths is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gregorovitsj pulls his head out easily.
Gregorovitsj is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Griffiths manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gregorovitsj doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gregorovitsj manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Griffiths had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gregorovitsj defends it easily.
Gregorovitsj is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Griffiths wants to hit a switch here but Gregorovitsj passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Griffiths there!
Griffiths tries to reverse the position but Gregorovitsj maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregorovitsj tries to control but Griffiths wriggling away.
Griffiths keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Griffiths is trying to reverse the position but instead Gregorovitsj has taken his back - oops!
Gregorovitsj is hanging on to Griffiths's back as he tries to escape.
Will Gregorovitsj go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Griffiths trying to control the hands but Gregorovitsj won't let him.
Griffiths rolls, trying to escape but Gregorovitsj keeps control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Gregorovitsj controlling the positon.
Griffiths is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Gregorovitsj is trying to stick to Griffiths's back but Griffiths is turning into Gregorovitsj. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gregorovitsj's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Griffiths.
Gregorovitsj pulls Griffiths in close to prevent any damage.
Gregorovitsj is looking to sweep but instead, Griffiths has passed into half guard.
Griffiths moves nicely into side control.

Griffiths swings around for an armbar but Gregorovitsj sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Griffiths's guard.
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 Boris Gregorovitsj's cut.
That's time! Griffiths's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gregorovitsj looks to land a left hand but Griffiths moved out of range nicely.
Gregorovitsj misses with a body kick.
Griffiths misses with an uppercut.
Griffiths throws a one two combo.
A swing and a miss from Gregorovitsj.
Griffiths misses with a combination
and Gregorovitsj counters with a nice low kick that buckles Griffiths's knee momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gregorovitsj throws a poor cross that misses
and Griffiths counters with a left to the body.
Gregorovitsj with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Griffiths looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths misses with a body shot.
Gregorovitsj misses with a head kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Griffiths.
A looping hook to the body misses from Griffiths. Gregorovitsj does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gregorovitsj counters with a body kick.
Griffiths connects with a looping right hand.
Griffiths throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Gregorovitsj to counter with a crisp jab.

Griffiths drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gregorovitsj is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Griffiths pushing down on Gregorovitsj's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths is working for a submission of some sort.

Griffiths is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gregorovitsj is just riding it out for now. Griffiths eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Griffiths is trying to control. Gregorovitsj wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gregorovitsj has his hands clasped together around Griffiths's back. He's all about the action.

Griffiths is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stephen Griffiths overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Griffiths is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Griffiths is working for a kimura but Gregorovitsj is defending it quite comfortably.

Griffiths is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Griffiths wants to advance to full mount but Gregorovitsj doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Griffiths trying to control but Gregorovitsj is working from the bottom.

Griffiths drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gregorovitsj dives on top into guard.

Gregorovitsj pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffiths is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 Boris Gregorovitsj's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A kick lands to the mid section there for Gregorovitsj.
Stephen Griffiths is winning the standup battle so far.
Gregorovitsj throws a poor cross that misses

and Griffiths counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Griffiths wants to control from the top but Gregorovitsj keeps moving.
Griffiths looking to sit in guard and control but Gregorovitsj gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Griffiths has an active guard here but Gregorovitsj has managed to pass into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Griffiths looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Griffiths actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Gregorovitsj jumps into side control!
Griffiths looks to move to half guard but instead Gregorovitsj has passed into mount! Damn!
Gregorovitsj controlling the position easily from mount.
Griffiths regains half guard.

Griffiths is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gregorovitsj pulls his head out easily.
Gregorovitsj missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Boris Gregorovitsj 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 is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gregorovitsj pulls his head out easily.
Gregorovitsj with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Griffiths looking for submissions off his back.
Gregorovitsj has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Griffiths wants to hold on but Gregorovitsj pushes him away.
Griffiths keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Griffiths trying to control the position from guard on top but Gregorovitsj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Griffiths working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Griffiths wants to control from the top but Gregorovitsj keeps moving.
Griffiths trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gregorovitsj manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gregorovitsj passes into side control.
Gregorovitsj tries to move to mount but Griffiths blocks the move with his legs.
Griffiths wants to control but Gregorovitsj postures up.
Griffiths tries to bench press Gregorovitsj off him but Gregorovitsj keeps the position.
Gregorovitsj is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Griffiths's shoulder. That is not cool.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffiths is trying to control Gregorovitsj's posture but Gregorovitsj avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Gregorovitsj comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Griffiths has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Griffiths!
During a confident post fight interview, Stephen Griffiths thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.