PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Griffin (ranked 5691 p4p, 625 weight class) and Joe Fletcher Johnson (ranked 6867 p4p, 688 weight class). Joe Fletcher Johnson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Griffin
vs
Fletcher Johnson

197 cm
20
275 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

191 cm
28
245 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Fletcher Johnson!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Griffin has closed the distance and engaged Johnson in a clinch.
Johnson looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Johnson is trying to stall.
Johnson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Griffin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Griffin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Johnson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No joy there for Griffin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Griffin shoots in and gets a takedown into Johnson's guard.
Griffin throws an elbow that misses. Johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Griffin's guard. Nice move by Johnson!

Griffin striking off his back but it's not causing Johnson any problems.
Griffin doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Griffin will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin lands some strikes from the bottom.
Griffin tries to strike from the bottom.

Griffin is looking for a triangle but Johnson pushes his legs off easily.

Griffin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Griffin lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Griffin tries to strike from the bottom.
Griffin throwing short punches from the bottom.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Griffin is on top in guard.

Griffin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Griffin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Griffin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Johnson to see if he's OK.
Griffin is putting a hurting on Johnson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Griffin cracks Johnson with a big right hand but Johnson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Johnson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Griffin connects with a decent elbow.

Griffin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Griffin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Griffin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Griffin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Griffin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Johnson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Johnson, who protects the arm well.
Johnson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Griffin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Johnson to see if he's OK.
Griffin lands some shots froms side control.
Griffin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Johnson is looking to regain half guard here but Griffin keeps moving and retains side control.
Griffin working the head with strikes.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control but Griffin postures up.
Johnson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Griffin connects with a decent elbow.
Griffin working the ground and pound from side control.
Johnson tries to bench press Griffin off him but Griffin keeps the position.
Griffin working the body and head with strikes.

Johnson is rocked!
Griffin lands a strong strike to the head of Johnson. That's dazed him! Griffin looking to finish here. Johnson is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Griffin lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ryan Griffin!
Our winner, Ryan Griffin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.