PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Griffin (ranked 8419 p4p, 733 weight class) and Angel Soriano (ranked 7688 p4p, 709 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Griffin
vs
Soriano

195 cm
19
245 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
230 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Freebok (85% Laundry)

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 Hilo, Ryan Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Angel Soriano!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Soriano. No joy for Griffin on that attempt.
Both fighters circling a little - Griffin finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Griffin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Soriano tries to avoid it but Griffin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Soriano to the ground. Soriano escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ryan Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Griffin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Soriano's guard.
Griffin with a flurry of punches that miss.

Griffin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've been hearing that Griffin has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Griffin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soriano is keeping the position for now.
Soriano lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Soriano must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Griffin has his foot on Soriano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Soriano works his way back into a safe position though.
Soriano is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Griffin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Griffin working for a triangle but Soriano defends it easily.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Soriano sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Soriano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Soriano is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Soriano stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Griffin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Griffin looking for a guillotine here but Soriano defends easily.
Soriano is pushing down on Griffin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Griffin is fighting to maintain full guard but Soriano has managed to sneak the leg through.
Soriano looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Soriano controlling the action here.
Soriano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Griffin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Let's hope that Soriano has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Soriano trying to mount his opponent but Griffin defends it.
Soriano prevents Griffin from improving his position.
Soriano looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Griffin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Soriano pulls his head out easily.

Griffin actively working from the bottom here.
Well, if Soriano is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Griffin wants to get back to full guard.

Griffin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin tries to roll over but Soriano keeps him under control.
Soriano content to control rather than advance.

Griffin actively working from the bottom here.
Griffin tries to roll over but Soriano keeps him under control.
Soriano is pressing down on Griffin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Griffin is holding on for now.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back.
Soriano controlling the action here.
Soriano trying to pass the guard but Griffin defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Soriano prevents Griffin from improving his position.
Griffin is pressing down on Soriano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Soriano is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Soriano's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Griffin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Soriano is aware though and is defending well.
Soriano's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Soriano wants to pass the guard but Griffin is keeping the position.

Griffin looking for a guillotine here but Soriano defends easily.
Soriano showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Griffin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Angel Soriano will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Griffin throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Soriano counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Griffin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Soriano passes into half guard.
Soriano sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Soriano moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Griffin.
Angel Soriano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Griffin is letting Soriano control him for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin misses with a strike from the bottom.
Soriano in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin is looking to regain half guard here but Soriano keeps moving and retains side control.
Soriano tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Griffin tries to bench press Soriano off him but Soriano keeps the position.
Soriano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Griffin regains half guard.
Soriano throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Well, if Soriano is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.

Griffin actively working from the bottom here.
Soriano content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Griffin looking for a kimura from the bottom but Soriano passes into side control!
Griffin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Soriano works to advance to full mount. Griffin defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Soriano sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Griffin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Soriano sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soriano is continuing to stall.
The adventures of Soriano the control monster continue. Boring.
Griffin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Soriano controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Soriano controlling the position easily from mount.
Griffin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Griffin is working hard here to advance position.
Soriano controlling from the full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Soriano wants to control the pace but Griffin is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Angel Soriano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Griffin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Griffin is looking to take this one to the mat.
Griffin tries to break the clinch but Soriano is controlling the position.
Soriano is pressed up against the cage. Griffin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Soriano down to the mat. Soriano avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Griffin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And Soriano tries to counter it with a takedown but Griffin pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Soriano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Griffin misses with a body shot

and Soriano counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Soriano sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Soriano got a little sloppy there for a moment and Griffin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Soriano has managed to get both his arms back between Griffin's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin being controlled here, momentarily.
Griffin wants to sweep but no luck.
Soriano showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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

Griffin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soriano is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Soriano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffin is keeping the position for now.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Soriano is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Soriano lands a couple of elbows.
Soriano won't allow Griffin to sweep him here.

Griffin has his foot on Soriano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Soriano works his way back into a safe position though.
Soriano is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Griffin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Soriano slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffin looking for a guillotine here but Soriano defends easily.
Soriano controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Griffin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Soriano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Soriano is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Griffin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Soriano defends well.
Soriano controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Griffin working for a triangle but Soriano defends it easily.
Griffin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Griffin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Soriano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Soriano 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Griffin keeping full guard, as Soriano tries to pass.
Ryan Griffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Angel Soriano is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Griffin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Soriano defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Angel Soriano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Soriano 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Angel Soriano!