PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pako Laine (ranked 42 p4p, 5 weight class) and Archie Griffiths (ranked 165 p4p, 23 weight class). Laine comes to the cage accompanied by Nikke Ankara - Värifilmi. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Laine
vs
Griffiths

174 cm
33
146 lbs
22 - 8 - 0

175 cm
29
147 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Amped Performance ($200/160q)
Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pako Laine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Archie Griffiths!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laine lands a glancing blow to the side of Griffiths's head.
Griffiths takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A big left from Laine misses.
Griffiths slips under a jab from Laine.
Griffiths misses with an attempted mid kick.
Laine checks a low kick from Griffiths.
Griffiths throws a leg kick but Laine sees it coming and moves out of range.
Jab from Laine.
Griffiths tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Griffiths turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Laine misses with a looping right.
Laine misses with the combination.
Griffiths closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griffiths misses with a body punch
and Laine counters with a good low kick that Griffiths was not able to check.
Griffiths lands a two punch combo.

Laine closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Griffiths did well to prevent Laine getting side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Laine seems to be working for a kimura but Griffiths defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Laine.
Griffiths trying to control from the bottom.

Laine seems to be working for a kimura but Griffiths defends the submission attempt.

Laine is working for a kimura but Griffiths is defending it quite comfortably.
Griffiths is looking for a sweep. Laine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Laine trying to control from half guard but Griffiths is working away.
Laine wants to advance to full mount but Griffiths doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Griffiths has his hands on Laine's head, controlling the position.
Laine pushes down on Griffiths's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Laine sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Griffiths defending well though.
Griffiths keeping control of the position.
Griffiths is refusing to be controlled, as Laine sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Laine looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Laine is trying to work for a kimura but Griffiths is defending well.
Laine seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Griffiths does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Griffiths wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Laine tries to clinch there but Griffiths circles away.
Griffiths throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Laine sees it coming and avoids it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Laine misses the target.

That's four 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.
Laine misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Laine pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Archie Griffiths is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Griffiths connects with a good right hand that stumbles Laine. Laine circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nice defenses there by Griffiths.
Laine misses with an attempted mid kick.
Laine shoots for a double leg takedown but Griffiths sprawls well. He's pushed Laine's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Laine throws a low kick, looking for Griffiths's leg but Griffiths calmly moves out of range.
Laine misses with a low kick.
Pako Laine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griffiths throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Laine misses with a low kick.
Laine cracks Griffiths with a good jab.
Laine throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Griffiths on the side of the head.
Laine tries to clinch
and Griffiths counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Griffiths misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Griffiths moves out of range of the strikes.
Griffiths lands a jab to the head.
Griffiths misses with a double jab
and Laine counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pako Laine will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Good work by Laine as he checks the leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Laine.
Griffiths keeps Laine at a distance using the push kick.
Griffiths checks a leg kick.
Griffiths wants to counter the offense by Laine and move into the clinch position.
Griffiths ducks under a wild hook from Laine.
Griffiths ducks under a wild hook from Laine.
Griffiths looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Laine tests Griffiths's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Laine throws a sloppy head kick

and Griffiths counters by moving into the clinch.
Griffiths lands a right hand.
Laine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Laine doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Laine fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Laine.
Griffiths throws a head punch that misses.
Laine misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Griffiths's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Laine misses with a punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Griffiths escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Griffiths lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Laine has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Laine and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths misses with a body shot.
Griffiths tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laine moves out of range of the body kick.
Laine throws a lazy right hand but Griffiths sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Laine looks to score with a jab to the body but Griffiths is just out of range.
Griffiths takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Laine uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Griffiths.
Laine throws a leg kick that misses.
Griffiths lands a nice looking body kick.
Griffiths just misses with a punch to the body.
Laine throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Griffiths sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Griffiths lands the left hand.
Laine blocks the body kick.
Laine checks the leg kick nicely there.
It looked like Laine wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Griffiths swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laine was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Griffiths throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laine on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Griffiths slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Griffiths lands a leg kick that knocks Laine off balance momentarily.
Griffiths blocks a head kick by Laine.
Griffiths scores with a hook to the body. Laine takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Laine misses with a wild body shot.
Griffiths looks for the body kick but Laine saw that one coming.
Laine throws a nice outside leg kick.
Laine blocks a head kick by Griffiths.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Laine crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Griffiths - the referee stops the clock and Laine gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Griffiths. Laine manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Griffiths staying out of range there.
Griffiths avoids the body shot from Laine.
Laine slips a jab and a cross from Griffiths.
It looked like Laine wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Laine closes the distance and pushes Griffiths back into the cage.
Griffiths lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Griffiths lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Griffiths wants to get back to striking at distance but Laine won't allow it.
Nice body punch from Laine.
Griffiths misses with a punch on the inside.
Laine has Griffiths pressed against the cage, preventing Griffiths from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Griffiths looking to slow down the pace here.
Laine misses with a punch to the body.
Laine's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Laine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Griffiths has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Griffiths working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Griffiths has a couple of punches blocked by Laine.

Griffiths breaks from the clinch.
Griffiths blocks a low kick nicely.
A shot to the liver by Laine. Beautiful body shot.
Laine misses with a leg kick

and Griffiths counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Griffiths.

Griffiths pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laine connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine looks to score with a jab to the body but Griffiths is just out of range.
No joy there for Griffiths, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Griffiths thuds his shin into the meat of Laine's side.
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!
Laine missing with a left hand there. Griffiths was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Laine misses with a lunging right hand
and Griffiths counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Griffiths on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Laine.
Laine tries to clinch up.
Griffiths avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laine scores with a kick to the body.
Laine pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laine lands a really nice looking cross but Griffiths seems unphased.
Griffiths thows a left - swing and a miss!

Laine moves into the clinch.
Laine lands a knee to the body.
Griffiths looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Archie Griffiths will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Griffiths moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Griffiths takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Laine moves out of range of the body kick.
Laine defending well as Griffiths loads up on a big left hand.
Griffiths stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Laine.
Griffiths lands a jab to the nose.
Griffiths tries a head kick but it misses.
Laine throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Griffiths.
Griffiths checks a low kick from Laine.
Laine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laine swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Griffiths drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A combination from Laine does no damage.
Laine sets himself, and Griffiths steps forward looking for the clinch! Laine avoids it this time.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Laine, as that shot connected.
A clash of legs there as Laine blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laine misses with a wild combination.

Laine darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Laine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Griffiths keeps working.

Laine is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Griffiths doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Laine.
Griffiths slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths is controlling Laine's posture.
Griffiths is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Laine wants to get back to full guard.
Laine wants to control but Griffiths is keeping busy.

Laine looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Griffiths is trying to control the action in half guard but Laine is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Laine is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Griffiths jumps into side control!
Laine tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Griffiths wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Griffiths is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Laine looks to move to half guard but instead Griffiths has passed into mount! Damn!
Griffiths controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four 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.
Laine tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Laine is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Laine slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Griffiths prevents Laine from improving his position.
Laine trying to get back to full guard but Griffiths takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Laine is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Archie Griffiths just about did enough to take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Laine circles away from the clinch attempt.
Laine avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laine lands a really nice looking cross but Griffiths seems unphased.
Pako Laine is winning the standup battle so far.
Griffiths swats away the attempt to clinch by Laine.
Griffiths doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Laine lands with a straight right. Griffiths didn't see that one coming.
Griffiths misses with a wild body shot.
Griffiths looks to score with a jab to the body but Laine is just out of range.
A good leg kick by Griffiths.
Laine tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griffiths was well out of range. Poor timing from Laine.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laine bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Griffiths's head.
Laine lands a leg kick that knocks Griffiths off balance momentarily.
Griffiths doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Griffiths throws a poor cross that misses
and Laine counters with a thumping low kick.
Griffiths jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laine tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Griffiths lands a leg kick that knocks Laine off balance momentarily.
Laine bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Griffiths's head.
Laine lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Laine lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Griffiths connects with a jab.
Laine lands a nice leg kick that just misses Griffiths's sensitive parts.
Laine uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Griffiths has time to react.
Laine lands with a cross.
Laine throws a leg kick but Griffiths sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Griffiths uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Laine has time to react.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laine thows a left - swing and a miss!
Griffiths lands with a nice body punch.
Griffiths scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Griffiths looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laine throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Griffiths counters with a nice uppercut.
Laine shoots in and drives through. Griffiths sprawls well.

Griffiths pushes Laine up against the cage in a clinch.
Laine tries to throw a body punch but Griffiths avoids it by throwing Laine back against the cage.
Laine tries to throw a body punch but Griffiths avoids it by throwing Laine back against the cage.
Laine misses with a knee to the head.
Griffiths throws an elbow but it misses.
Griffiths throws a head punch that misses.
Griffiths lands a left hand.
Griffiths can't find room to land a body shot as Laine controls the action.
Laine misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Griffiths misses with a hook from the clinch.
Laine has a couple of punches blocked by Griffiths.
A nice right hand lands inside from Laine.
Griffiths throws a punch but it's blocked by Laine.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Griffiths.
Laine has Griffiths pressed against the cage, preventing Griffiths from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths struggles to land a body shot inside as Laine controls his hands.
Griffiths misses with a punch on the inside.
Griffiths presses Laine against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Griffiths tries a body shot but Laine blocks it.
Griffiths blocks a body shot from Laine.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Griffiths manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Griffiths tries a body shot but Laine blocks it.
Laine misses with a punch on the inside.
Griffiths's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Griffiths creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Griffiths.
Griffiths stalling.
Griffiths swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Laine pushes Griffiths back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Griffiths creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Griffiths misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Laine gets through Griffiths's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Laine softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Archie Griffiths seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Laine gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Griffiths working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Laine.
Laine slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Laine wants to control but Griffiths is keeping him busy.
Laine slows the pace down.
Griffiths can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pako Laine had his way with Archie Griffiths in that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Griffiths takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Griffiths.
Laine is trying to pull guard but Griffiths has him pressed against the cage.
Griffiths lands a nice shot to the body.
Laine throws a punch but it's blocked by Griffiths.
Laine lands with a left to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Laine.
Griffiths throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Laines head.
Griffiths blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Griffiths on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Griffiths on the inside.
Laine misses with a knee to the head.
Griffiths lands a right hand that snaps the head of Laine backwards.
Griffiths has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Laine seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Griffiths can turn it around.
Laine scores with a shoulder strike.
Laine missing with knees to the body.

Griffiths escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laine throws a leg kick
and Griffiths counters with a straight right hand.
Griffiths throws a nice inside leg kick.
Laine lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Laine lands a nice leg kick that just misses Griffiths's sensitive parts.
Griffiths works the jab nicely.
Laine moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Laine scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Griffiths walks into a stiff left hand from Laine.
Laine throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Griffiths sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Griffiths has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Laine misses with a leg kick
and Griffiths counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Laine looks to land a body kick but Griffiths moved away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Decent striking displayed by Griffiths there.
Laine misses with an uppercut
and Griffiths counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Griffiths takes a swing at Laine's ribcage but misses.
Griffiths uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laine.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laine checks a low kick from Griffiths.
Laine fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Griffiths on the side of the head.
Laine swings widly with a right hand
and Griffiths cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab from Griffiths misses.
Griffiths throws a shot from downtown. Laine moves away and avoids it.
Laine takes a kick to the side of the head.
Laine misses with a wild combination.
Griffiths displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laine throws out the jab.
Griffiths misses with a wild body shot.
Laine throws a combination that misses
and Griffiths counters with a nice uppercut.
Laine fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laine throws a quick inside leg kick.

Griffiths gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine is stalling in the full guard.
Griffiths wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Laine postures up.
Griffiths keeping full guard, as Laine tries to pass.
Laine pushing down on Griffiths's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Griffiths tries to roll over but Laine keeps him under control.

That's four 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.
Griffiths is trying is best to control the position here.
Pako Laine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Laine controlling the action here.
Laine tries to pass to full mount but Griffiths defends it.
Laine wants to take a breather but Griffiths is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Archie Griffiths.
I think Griffiths has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 50:45
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 47:48
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Pako Laine!
Pako Laine tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.