PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Kuznetcov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuznetcov comes to the cage accompanied by Eminem - I'm phenomenal. This should be fireworks!

Kuznetcov
vs
Griffin

178 cm
21
193 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
28
200 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilya Kuznetcov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Austin Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Kuznetcov misses.
Kuznetcov motions for Griffin to come forward. Kuznetcov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Griffin wants to counter the offense by Kuznetcov and move into the clinch position.
Kuznetcov has been working on his boxing with his coaches at VenDetta GYM in the buildup to the fight.
Griffin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Griffin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kuznetcov throws out a loose jab but Griffin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kuznetcov sets himself, and Griffin steps forward looking for the clinch! Kuznetcov avoids it this time.
Kuznetcov scores with a sloppy right hand. Griffin should have avoided that one.
Kuznetcov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kuznetcov throws a shot from downtown. Griffin moves away and avoids it.
Ilya Kuznetcov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuznetcov slips a jab from Griffin.
Kuznetcov misses with an uppercut.
Griffin wants to counter with a clinch but Kuznetcov pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznetcov has a takedown stuffed.
Kuznetcov throws a body shot but no joy.
Kuznetcov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Griffin.
Kuznetcov feinted with a counter takedown.
Kuznetcov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Griffin throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetcov has a takedown stuffed.
Griffin tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kuznetcov misses with a low kick.
Kuznetcov throws a leg kick but Griffin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kuznetcov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Griffin's waist but Griffin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kuznetcov off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Kuznetcov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuznetcov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Griffin is out of range.
Griffin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuznetcov.
Griffin looks to land a combination. Kuznetcov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Ilya Kuznetcov has been cut.

Kuznetcov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kuznetcov stops Griffin from getting back to his feet.
Griffin is looking to control Kuznetcov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Griffin avoid being mounted?
Kuznetcov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Griffin trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuznetcov is looking for a kimura here.

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

Kuznetcov is looking for a kimura but Griffin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kuznetcov to get the leverage.
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!

Kuznetcov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kuznetcov is working away from the top position though.

Kuznetcov seems to be working for a kimura but Griffin defends the submission attempt.
Kuznetcov is thwarting Griffin's attempts to control the position.
Kuznetcov not doing much here.

Kuznetcov is working for a kimura but Griffin is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four 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.

Kuznetcov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Griffin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kuznetcov trying to control the action but Griffin is working from the bottom.
Griffin is trying to maintain the position but Kuznetcov is very close to passing his half guard.
Kuznetcov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kuznetcov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Griffin defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Kuznetcov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ilya Kuznetcov's cut.
That's time! Kuznetcov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kuznetcov throws a leg kick

and Griffin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kuznetcov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Griffin walks away with a smile on his face. Kuznetcov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kuznetcov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Griffin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kuznetcov somewhat.
Kuznetcov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Griffin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kuznetcov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Kuznetcov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznetcov takes a swing at Griffin's ribcage but misses.
Kuznetcov misses with a wild body shot.
Griffin stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuznetcov. Kuznetcov gets slowly back to his feet.
Kuznetcov shoots for a takedown but Griffin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kuznetcov sets himself, and Griffin steps forward looking for the clinch! Kuznetcov avoids it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kuznetcov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kuznetcov dives in for a single leg takedown but Griffin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Kuznetcov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Griffin quickly recovers to half guard.

Kuznetcov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Griffin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kuznetcov.
Griffin trying to hold on to Kuznetcov's head to control him but Kuznetcov postures up.

Kuznetcov is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kuznetcov seems to be working for a kimura but Griffin defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuznetcov works his way into side control.

Kuznetcov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Kuznetcov tries for a kimura but Griffin is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuznetcov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Griffin, who protects the arm well.
Kuznetcov working away.
Kuznetcov trying to control the position but Griffin is working away.
Griffin is looking to reverse the position.

Kuznetcov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Griffin has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kuznetcov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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

Kuznetcov is trying to get an arm triangle but Griffin is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Griffin struggling a bit here.
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 Ilya Kuznetcov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ilya Kuznetcov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kuznetcov, as that shot connected.
Kuznetcov throws a body shot but no joy.
Kuznetcov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griffin was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuznetcov.
Griffin wants to counter the offense by Kuznetcov and move into the clinch position.
Kuznetcov throws a right hand that misses

and Griffin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Griffin.
Griffin lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kuznetcov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Griffin digs a right hand underneath Kuznetcov's ribcage. Kuznetcov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Griffin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Griffin creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kuznetcov's defenses.
Griffin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Ilya Kuznetcov's cut is getting worse.
Kuznetcov fails to pull guard.
Griffin lands a left hand.
Griffin displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kuznetcov up against the cage.
Griffin is pushing Kuznetcov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Griffin receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuznetcov is trying to pull guard but Griffin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Kuznetcov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kuznetcov takes an elbow to the temple.
Griffin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Griffin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Griffin scores with a hook to the body.
Griffin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Ilya Kuznetcov's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Griffin lands an elbow inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Griffin scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Griffin leaning against his opponent.
Griffin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The referee is keeping an eye on Griffin - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Griffin lands an elbow just above Kuznetcov 's eye.

Jeez, Ilya Kuznetcov's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Griffin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kuznetcov backwards.
Kuznetcov taking a breather.
Kuznetcov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Griffin up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griffin lands an elbow just above Kuznetcov 's eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin misses with a punch to the body.
Griffin lands an elbow that stopped Kuznetcov in his tracks for a moment.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ilya Kuznetcov's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Austin Griffin!