PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Keenan Griffith (ranked 7038 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Johnson (ranked 4820 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Johnson will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Griffith
vs
Johnson

150 cm
19
161 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
24
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keenan Griffith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Alyssa Summers and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

Johnson manages to break the clinch.

Griffith rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Griffith sprawls well.
Griffith takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

It looks like Keenan Griffith has been cut.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Griffith as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Keenan Griffith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Johnson.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Griffith counters with a straight right hand.

Johnson has Griffith up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffith controlling the action here for a moment.
Johnson jumps guard but Griffith turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Griffith decides to pull guard.
Griffith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Griffith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Johnson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Griffith sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Griffith went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Johnson drives through and clinches with Griffith against the cage.
Griffith stalling in the clinch.
Griffith is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Griffith really is a fat lump.
Johnson is trying to break free.

Griffith has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Johnson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Griffith has his opponent's back but Johnson is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Griffith.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.

Griffith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Griffith's takedown attempt.
Griffith just leaning against Johnson, taking a breather.

Johnson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Griffith pinned against the cage. Griffith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson looks winded!
Johnson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown. Griffith tries to sprawl out of it but Johnson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Griffith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Johnson goes for a double leg but Griffith avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Griffith continues to drive forward.
Johnson just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromGriffith.
Josh Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Griffith misses the target.
Griffith stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Griffith wants it to stay on the feet.
Johnson blocks a jab.
Johnson now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Griffith.
Johnson gets underhooks to prevent Griffith's takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josh Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Keenan Griffith's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Griffith darts in and clinches Johnson up against the cage.
Griffith is looking for a takedown.
Griffith stalling the fight.

Griffith pulls guard successfully.

Griffith throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Johnson escapes and throws Griffith's legs to the side, diving into side control!
What's Griffith going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Griffith has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Johnson but great work by Griffith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

Griffith decides to take the fight back to the feet.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
It looked like Griffith was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Johnson.
Johnson cracks Griffith with a good jab.
Josh Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck for Johnson with that takedown attempt.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Griffith takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Griffith stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Keenan Griffith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Johnson.

Griffith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Griffith decides to pull guard.
Griffith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Johnson is controlling him.

Griffith 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.
Griffith trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffith looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Griffith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Griffith keeps moving.
Griffith working a defensive guard here.

Griffith looking for a guillotine here but Johnson defends easily.

That's four 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.
Griffith looking for a sweep. Not yet Griffith, not yet.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Griffith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Griffith working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Griffith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Griffith throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keenan Griffith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Keenan Griffith's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Johnson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Griffith smiles and moves away.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Griffith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Griffith is looking to counter the offense by Johnson and move into the clinch.
Johnson shoots in looking for a takedown but Griffith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Johnson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Keenan Griffith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Johnson.
Johnson shoots in but Griffith avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffith can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Griffith stalling in the clinch.
Griffith just leaning against Johnson, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Griffith.
Johnson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Johnson pulls guard.
Griffith really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Griffith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Johnson is working an open guard so Griffith takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Johnson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Johnson.
Griffith is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Griffith. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.

Griffith has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffith using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Griffith has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Griffith jumps guard but Johnson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson slowing the pace effectively.
Griffith drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Johnson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

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

Johnson has managed to clinch.

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

Johnson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Griffith lands a hook that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Keenan Griffith has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Griffith pulls his leg out and moves away.
Josh Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Johnson closes the distance and clinches.

Griffith lands a takedown into guard.

Griffith gets to his feet - Johnson follows without any prompting.

Johnson darts in and clinches Griffith up against the cage.
Griffith tries a body shot but Johnson blocks it.
Griffith jumps guard but Johnson stands there with Griffith around his waist. Griffith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Griffith successfully pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffith has his hands on Johnson's head, controlling the position.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but instead Griffith has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Griffith wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Griffith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Keenan Griffith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Griffith 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keenan Griffith!