PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Griffin McElroy (ranked 21189 p4p, 585 weight class) and Phil Richards (ranked 6643 p4p, 492 weight class). Richards has chosen Lose Yourself as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McElroy
vs
Richards

175 cm
30
151 lbs
8 - 12 - 0

176 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Griffin McElroy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phil Richards!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McElroy clinches.
McElroy scores with a knee to the head.
Richards takes an elbow to the temple.
A short uppercut from McElroy.
McElroy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Richards tries to stall but McElroy uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
McElroy stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
We've been hearing reports that McElroy has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
McElroy lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Richards.
Richards stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Richards's coach down at was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Richards's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
McElroy is working Richards over against the ropes.
Richards has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McElroy avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Richards takes a knee right on the jaw!
A nice right hand lands inside from McElroy.
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!
A short left from McElroy.
Still in the clinch, McElroy scores with a nice short uppercut.
McElroy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McElroy lands a hook to the side of the head.
McElroy is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards pushes off an throws an elbow but McElroy leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Richards is looking to control McElroy's arms but McElroy gets an underhook and turns him. Now Richards has his back to the ropes.
McElroy pushes Richards back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
McElroy lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Richards backwards.
Richards tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McElroy lands an elbow that stopped Richards in his tracks for a moment.
Richards is looking for a takedown.
Griffin McElroy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Richards.
McElroy connects with a nasty looking knee right to Richards's face.
Richards missing with knees to the body.
McElroy creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Richards's defenses.
Richards wants a takedown but no success here.
Richards tries to score a body lock takedown but McElroy shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Richards looks winded!
A hook to the body from McElroy.
Richards's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McElroy lands an elbow that stopped Richards in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Phil Richards has been cut.
A short right from McElroy.
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!
A hook to the body from McElroy.
McElroy lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McElroy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Richardss head.
Good body shot from McElroy.
A short body shot lands from McElroy as the two fighters clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McElroy.
A right handed body shot lands from McElroy.
McElroy landing knees to the head.
McElroy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
McElroy lands an elbow inside that Richards shrugs off.
McElroy lands a nice shot to the body.
McElroy creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Richards's defenses.
McElroy unloads a knee to the mid-section. Richards lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A right handed body shot lands from McElroy.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McElroy lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
McElroy with a knee to the head.
Richards wants to take the fight to the mat but McElroy manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
McElroy lands an elbow just above Richards 's eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Griffin McElroy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Phil Richards's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McElroy has Richards up against the ropes in a clinch.
McElroy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Richards can do to turn this around?
A knee to the head by McElroy.
McElroy connects with a knee to the head.
McElroy using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Griffin McElroy has scored more points in the clinch so far.
McElroy works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
McElroy unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Richards misses with a hook to the ribs.
Richards prevents a body shot from McElroy.
Richards takes a knee to the side of the body.
Richards has McElroy pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. McElroy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McElroy lands a nice uppercut.
Richards is breathing heavily.
A hook to the body from McElroy.
Richards lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from McElroy.
McElroy blocks a body shot from Richards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McElroy lands a knee to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, McElroy creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
McElroy scores a nice knee to the body.
McElroy connects with a knee to the head.
McElroy pushes Richards back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
McElroy lands a nice knee to the body.
McElroy avoids the elbow strike from Richards, against the ropes.
McElroy unloads a knee to the mid-section.
McElroy throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A nice left hand lands by McElroy.
McElroy prevents the takedown attempt.
McElroy digs a right hand underneath Richards's ribcage. Richards let out a lung full of air as it connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McElroy landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
McElroy scores with a shot to the side of Richards's head.
McElroy working Richards over with knees to the body.
McElroy lands with a light punch inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McElroy lands an elbow inside.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McElroy lands a hook to the side of the head.
Richards takes a knee to the side of the body.
McElroy managing to block the knees to the body from Richards.
McElroy lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
McElroy digs a right hand underneath Richards's ribcage. Richards let out a lung full of air as it connected.
McElroy gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McElroy.
McElroy landing knees to the body.
Richards takes a knee right on the jaw!
McElroy crunches a lovely knee into Richards's ribcage.
A right hook to the body lands for McElroy.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A short right from McElroy.
McElroy cracks Richards with a nice body shot.
McElroy landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
McElroy lands a body shot in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Griffin McElroy dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Phil Richards's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McElroy clinches with his opponent.
McElroy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Richards tries to throw a body punch but McElroy avoids it by throwing Richards back against the ropes.
McElroy gets through Richards's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from McElroy.
McElroy lands an elbow inside.
Richards tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McElroy lands a body punch in the clinch.
McElroy stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
McElroy lands a nice shot to the body.
McElroy works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McElroy blocks an elbow strike from Richards.
Richards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Richards is trying to stall.
McElroy pushes Richards back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
McElroy lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McElroy creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Richards's defenses.
McElroy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McElroy lands a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, McElroy scores with a nice short uppercut.
Richards misses with a body punch.
McElroy lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Knees to the body from McElroy.
McElroy stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McElroy.
McElroy lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
McElroy working Richards over with knees to the body.
McElroy landing knees to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice glancing elbow lands by McElroy.
McElroy lands a nice shot to the body.
McElroy lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from McElroy as the two fighters clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McElroy presses Richards against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
McElroy landing knees to the body.
McElroy putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Richards in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by McElroy.
Phil Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A left hand lands to the body for McElroy.
McElroy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Richards throws a punch but it's blocked by McElroy.
A right hand to the body from McElroy.
McElroy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McElroy lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Richards takes a shot to the head.
McElroy blocks an uppercut.
McElroy lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
McElroy digs a right hand underneath Richards's ribcage. Richards let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McElroy lands a knee to the head.
McElroy lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Richards missing with knees to the body.
Griffin McElroy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Richards tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Griffin McElroy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McElroy has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Griffin McElroy!
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Griffin McElroy!
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Griffin McElroy!

Griffin McElroy wins by unanimous decision!
Griffin McElroy made sure to mention his sponsor, Versus in his post fight interview.
Phil Richards spoke after the fight, saying 'It happens, but I will rebound. I will achieve greatness.'.