PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrick Mclaughlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Griffin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mclaughlin
vs
Griffin

171 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 St Petersburg, Rodrick Mclaughlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin jabs Mclaughlin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Griffin.
Mclaughlin looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Griffin misses with a combination
and Mclaughlin counters with a good low kick that Griffin was not able to check.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Mclaughlin crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Griffin - the referee stops the clock and Mclaughlin gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Griffin. Mclaughlin manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Griffin blocks a leg kick.
Griffin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Griffin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matt Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griffin throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Griffin closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mclaughlin's guard.
Mclaughlin has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Griffin works over Mclaughlin with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Griffin being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin is looking to work some ground and pound but Mclaughlin has wrist control.
Mclaughlin wants to sweep here but Griffin controlling him for the moment.
Mclaughlin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mclaughlin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Griffin trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Mclaughlin lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Griffin wants to control but Mclaughlin is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mclaughlin is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Griffin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mclaughlin.
Mclaughlin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Griffin.
Griffin looks winded!
Griffin lets loose with a powerful body kick. Mclaughlin will feel that in the morning.
Griffin tries to clinch there but Mclaughlin circles away.
Griffin thuds a left hand into Mclaughlin's body.
Griffin wants to clinch.
Mclaughlin throws a quick counter head kick but Griffin was just out of range.
Mclaughlin tries to clinch there but Griffin circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Griffin tries to avoid it but Mclaughlin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Griffin to the ground. Griffin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Griffin shoots in and bounces Mclaughlin off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mclaughlin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mclaughlin really is a fat lump.
Griffin wants to control but Mclaughlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Still in half guard, Mclaughlin seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mclaughlin decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Griffin scores with a takedown into Mclaughlin's guard.

Mclaughlin 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Griffin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Griffin scores with a jab.
Matt Griffin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Griffin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mclaughlin is trying to defend but Griffin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mclaughlin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mclaughlin is doing well to control the position and prevent Griffin from advancing to side control.
Mclaughlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mclaughlin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mclaughlin.
Mclaughlin has control of Griffin's left arm, preventing Griffin from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Griffin stands up and waves to Mclaughlin to follow him.
Griffin swings for the body but Mclaughlin moves out of range.
Mclaughlin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Griffin circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Griffin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Griffin wants to stand but Mclaughlin has his arm trapped.
Mclaughlin sneaks back into half guard.
Mclaughlin is trying is best to control the position here.
Mclaughlin is trying to control but can't.
Griffin is keen to just control but Mclaughlin is a slippery customer.
Mclaughlin gets back to full guard.
Mclaughlin is controlling Griffin's posture.
Mclaughlin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mclaughlin looking for a guillotine here but Griffin defends easily.
Griffin is working Mclaughlin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mclaughlin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Mclaughlin 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 drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Griffin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Mclaughlin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Griffin defends well.
Griffin trying to control the position from guard on top but Mclaughlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Griffin manages to get himself to full guard.

Griffin is trying to control the position but Mclaughlin postures up.
Griffin wants to stand but Mclaughlin is controlling the position.
Mclaughlin controls from within his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Griffin is on top in guard.

Mclaughlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Mclaughlin, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin is pulling down on Griffin's head. It's preventing any offense from Griffin, at least for the moment.
Mclaughlin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Griffin's guard.

Griffin working a defensive guard here.
Mclaughlin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Griffin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Griffin shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mclaughlin eats them both and turns towards Griffin to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Griffin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Griffin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mclaughlin seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Griffin looks to land a combination but Mclaughlin avoids it well.
Griffin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mclaughlin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Griffin moves into the clinch.
Mclaughlin tries for a takedown but Griffin manages to get underhooks.

Mclaughlin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mclaughlin trying to control the pace.

Mclaughlin stands up out of the half guard.
Griffin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin scores with a spinning back kick!
Mclaughlin shoots in for a takedown but Griffin shows good takedown defense.
Griffin throws a counter combo.
Griffin's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Griffin duly obliges.

It looks like Rodrick Mclaughlin has been cut.
Mclaughlin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodrick Mclaughlin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Griffin misses.
Griffin tries to clinch
and Mclaughlin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Griffin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mclaughlin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mclaughlin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mclaughlin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Griffin throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin throws a big right hand that misses.
Mclaughlin wants to sweep here but Griffin controlling him for the moment.

Mclaughlin 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.
Mclaughlin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Griffin manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mclaughlin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Griffin's guard.
Griffin controls Mclaughlin momentarily but Mclaughlin frees himself.
Mclaughlin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Griffin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mclaughlin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Griffin looking for a sweep. Not yet Griffin, not yet.

Mclaughlin stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Mclaughlin dodges the punch combination from Griffin.

Mclaughlin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mclaughlin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Griffin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Griffin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Griffin!