PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pako Laine (ranked 102 p4p, 18 weight class) and Archie Griffiths (ranked 129 p4p, 22 weight class). Laine's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Nikke Ankara - Värifilmi. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Laine
vs
Griffiths

174 cm
34
146 lbs
24 - 10 - 0

175 cm
30
147 lbs
14 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Amped Performance ($200/160q)

Arcticus University: London
Aspire Clothing

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 24 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pako Laine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Archie Griffiths!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laine is looking to land body kicks.

Laine moves into range and clinches up with Griffiths.

Griffiths breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Laine throws a front kick aimed at Griffiths's knee but Griffiths avoids it well.
Griffiths fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laine manages to avoid it.
Laine is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Griffiths.
Laine waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Griffiths.
Nice shot lands for Laine.
Griffiths throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Laine's head.
Laine scores with a kick to the body.
Griffiths displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laine throws out the jab.
Laine sets himself, and Griffiths steps forward looking for the clinch! Laine avoids it this time.
Laine with a nice cross.
Griffiths takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Laine shoots in looking for a takedown but Griffiths manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Laine's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Griffiths tries to clinch up.
Nice shot by Griffiths.
A good leg kick by Griffiths.
Griffiths misses with a body shot.

Griffiths rushes Laine and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Laine trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Griffiths's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Griffiths lands a right hand.
Our sources have told us that Laine has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Laine missing with knees to the body.
Griffiths tries to work over Laine's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Laine has Griffiths pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Laine pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Griffiths tumbling to the mat - Laine dives into Griffiths's guard.
Laine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffiths is keeping the position for now.
Laine throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laine throwing strikes from guard but Griffiths blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laine wants to control from the top but Griffiths keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffiths is keeping the position for now.
Laine wants to control from the top but Griffiths keeps moving.
Laine trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Griffiths pushes Laine off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Griffiths plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Griffiths takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Griffiths throws a jab but it's blocked by Laine.
Laine pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laine misses with an uppercut. Griffiths saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths lands a nice shot that snaps Laine's head back.
Laine looks to land a right hand but Griffiths moved out of range.
Griffiths tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laine paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Griffiths misses with a hook.
Nice body punch from Griffiths.
Laine throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Griffiths counters with a straight right hand.
Griffiths throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Laine stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Griffiths.
Griffiths chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Laine connects with the punch.
Griffiths misses the shot to the body.
Laine half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Archie Griffiths is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Laine misses with a low kick.
Nice defenses there by Griffiths.
A jab from Griffiths does it's job there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Griffiths thows a body kick. Laine tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Nice uppercut lands for Laine. That snapped Griffiths's head back.
Griffiths connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Laine's hands.
Jab by Laine.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine misses with a looping right.
Laine moves out of range of the leg kick from Griffiths.
Griffiths throws a head kick but Laine moves out of range.
A slow jab from Laine misses its intended target.
Griffiths throws the left hand but Laine avoids the punch easily.
Griffiths tries a head kick but it misses.
Laine gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Griffiths.
Griffiths is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Griffiths is looking to clinch.
Griffiths misses with a kick to the body.
Laine throws a shot to the body.
Laine bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Laine connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Griffiths's hands.
Laine throws a body punch but Griffiths moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffiths fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Laine is out of range.
Griffiths bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Griffiths keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Laine.
Griffiths tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Archie Griffiths will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Laine throws an overhand right that lands on Griffiths's shoulder, as Griffiths tries to avoid the shot.
Griffiths looks like he wants to counter punch here.
An inside leg kick lands from Laine.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Griffiths.
Pako Laine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laine misses with a takedown attempt - Griffiths sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Laine wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Laine moves away from the strike by Griffiths.
Laine connects with a leg kick. Griffiths looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Laine waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Griffiths.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Griffiths. Laine shrugs it off though.
Laine misses with a low kick.
Griffiths ducks under a wild hook from Laine.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laine checks a low kick from Griffiths.
A telegraphed right hand from Griffiths misses the target.
Griffiths is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Laine.
Griffiths throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Laine sizes up Griffiths with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Griffiths defending well as Laine loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Laine. That snapped Griffiths's head back.
Griffiths lands a right hook to the body.
Laine thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Griffiths if he has to take too many more of those.
Griffiths tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Griffiths throws a sloppy head kick and Laine moves out of range easily.
Griffiths steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Laine.
Griffiths throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Griffiths thuds his right hand into Laine's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Griffiths slips a straight right by Laine.
Archie Griffiths seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice defenses there by Griffiths.
A slapping body kick lands there for Griffiths.
Griffiths ducks under a wild hook from Laine.
Laine does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Griffiths.
Griffiths has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Griffiths throws a big shot that misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Griffiths.
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 keeps the fight on the outside.
Griffiths tries to move into range but Laine moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths connects with a good right hand that stumbles Laine. Laine circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Griffiths takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Griffiths tried to score with a low kick but Laine checks it.
Laine throws a head kick but Griffiths moves out of range.
Griffiths looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Laine gets tackled into the cage by Griffiths. Griffiths maintains the clinch.
Laine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Griffiths is stalling here.
Laine lands a knee to the head.
Griffiths is looking to break free of the clinch but Laine has double underhooks.
Laine lands with a short shot to the head.
Griffiths misses with a punch on the inside.
Laine landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Griffiths breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Griffiths lands with a slapping head kick.
Laine misses with an uppercut
and Griffiths counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Laine lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Griffiths moves out of range as Laine strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Griffiths.
Griffiths slips a jab from Laine.
Nice shot by Laine.
Laine throws a shot from downtown. Griffiths moves away and avoids it.
Some bone on bone action there as Laine checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Laine lands the left hand.
Laine throws a big shot that misses.
Laine misses with a low kick as Griffiths jumps back.
Griffiths misses with an uppercut. Laine saw that one coming.
Griffiths takes one on the button.
Griffiths connects with a solid leg kick.
Griffiths misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Griffiths scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Laine doesn't seem bothered though.
Laine turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Griffiths on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laine misses with an uppercut. Griffiths saw that one coming.
The crowd cheers as Laine lands an impressive looking overhand right. Griffiths doesn't seem phased though.
Laine uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Griffiths.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Laine checks a leg kick.
Griffiths jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Laine throws a leg kick but Griffiths moved away.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Griffiths.
Griffiths pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laine is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Griffiths swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Griffiths takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Laine throws a leg kick which misses Griffiths's front leg but catches the back leg as Griffiths tries to avoid it.
Griffiths throws a sloppy head kick and Laine moves out of range easily.
Laine looks to score with a jab to the body but Griffiths is just out of range.
Griffiths is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Griffiths lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Laine at a distance.
Griffiths lands a body shot.
Griffiths bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Laine misses with a hook.
Laine blocks the body kick.
Laine bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Griffiths's head.
Griffiths lands a head kick!
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 Pako Laine will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Laine tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Griffiths paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Laine bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Laine closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Griffiths lands with an uppercut that bounces Laine off the cage and back into range.
Griffiths takes one to the chin there.
Griffiths pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laine throws the left hand but Griffiths avoids the punch easily.
Griffiths takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Griffiths lands a lovely overhand right.
Good shot there by Laine.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Laine is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Griffiths's half guard.
Laine is looking to stall here but Griffiths recovers full guard.
Laine tries to free his leg and advance position but Griffiths is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laine advances to half guard.
Griffiths wants to control but Laine is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Laine missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Griffiths trying to hold on to Laine's head to control him but Laine postures up.
Laine not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Griffiths is not content to let Laine control the position.
Laine is looking to pass Griffiths's guard but actually Griffiths recovers to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laine trying to control the position from guard on top but Griffiths is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Griffiths swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Griffiths is controlling Laine's posture.
Laine trying to control but Griffiths is working from the bottom.
Griffiths has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Griffiths throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine fails with an attempt to clinch.
Griffiths moves out of range as Laine strikes.
Griffiths replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Laine blocks it well.
Laine swings for the body but Griffiths moves out of range.
Laine scores with a jab.
A slow jab from Laine misses its intended target.
Laine punishes Griffiths's body with a nice straight punch.
Griffiths waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Laine.
Griffiths has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Griffiths there as he acknowledges the shot.
Griffiths feints and then cracks Laine's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Laine down.
Laine thows a left - swing and a miss!
Laine bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Griffiths's head.
Griffiths tries to work over Laine's front leg with a kick but Laine checks it.
Griffiths is looking to chop away at Laine's legs.
Griffiths has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Griffiths avoids a kick to the body.
Laine connects with a good right hand that stumbles Griffiths. Griffiths circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Laine throws a lazy head kick
and Griffiths counters with a solid body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A low kick from Laine misses
and Griffiths counters with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine ducks under a wild hook from Griffiths.
Griffiths tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Griffiths connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Laine tries to keep at a distance but Griffiths has taken the fight into the clinch.
Griffiths lands a body shot in the clinch.
Griffiths misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Laine.
Laine lands a left hand.
Griffiths makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Griffiths lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Laine.
Laine tries for a takedown. No joy.
Laine misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Griffiths.

Griffiths's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Griffiths thuds his right hand into Laine's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Laine moves into range and clinches up with Griffiths.
Laine misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Griffiths.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pako Laine showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Laine has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Pako Laine!
Pako Laine spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.