PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Griffin (ranked 5396 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greg Tournament (ranked 5330 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Griffin
vs
Tournament

175 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
23
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ethan Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Greg Tournament!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tournament shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Griffin is trying to defend but Tournament finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Tournament prevents Griffin from improving his position.
Tournament is looking to advance position but Griffin won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tournament uses his free foot to push down on Griffin's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Griffin.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tournament is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Griffin to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Griffin shrugs it off.

Tournament is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Griffin has managed to escape the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Griffin wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tournament is looking to work his way around to Griffin's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

Tournament working for a submission but Griffin is keeping him at bay.
Tournament prevents Griffin from getting the reversal.

Tournament goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Griffin turns into him and now he's in Tournament's guard.

Tournament is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Tournament is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tournament avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tournament throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Griffin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tournament has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Griffin has managed to get both his arms back between Tournament's legs - danger averted.
Griffin 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.

Tournament has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Griffin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Griffin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tournament can do anything to dispel that myth.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tournament looking to control.

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

Tournament looking for a guillotine here but Griffin defends easily.
Tournament working a defensive guard here.

Tournament working for a triangle but Griffin defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Griffin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Griffin tries to free his leg and advance position but Tournament is retaining full guard.
Griffin advances position into side control!
Tournament is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Griffin prevents Tournament from improving his position.
Griffin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tournament keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tournament's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Tournament dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Griffin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Griffin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ethan Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Griffin gets caught flat footed, as Tournament shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tournament passes Griffin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Griffin looks like he's trying to stand up.
Griffin is trying to control but can't.
Tournament wants to pass the guard but Griffin is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tournament wants to control but Griffin is keeping him busy.
Tournament is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Griffin trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tournament is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Griffin trying to get back to full guard but Tournament takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Tournament trying to control but Griffin is having none of it.

Tournament working for a guillotine from mount but Griffin is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is trying desperately to improve position.
Tournament takes Griffin's back.

Tournament is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Griffin defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Tournament has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Griffin has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Greg Tournament has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tournament patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Tournament is not going to allow Griffin to sit and survive in this position.

Griffin defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin just trying to survive but Tournament is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Tournament patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Griffin defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Griffin defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Griffin looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Tournament struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Griffin is trying to escape the mount.
Griffin tries to hold on but Tournament postures up.
Griffin squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Tournament looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Tournament has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Griffin is in all sorts of trouble here.

Tournament has hold of Griffin's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Griffin manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Tournament showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Griffin.
Griffin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ethan Griffin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Griffin moves out of range as Tournament strikes.
Griffin tries a head kick but it misses.
Tournament feints the counter takedown.
Griffin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tournament defends well and Griffin ends up having to push Tournament into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Griffin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Griffin shoots in but Tournament avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tournament stuffs the takedown.
Griffin slips a straight right by Tournament.
Tournament fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Griffin manages to avoid it.
Griffin shoots in but Tournament avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin shoots in for a double leg but Tournament sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tournament throws a body shot but no joy.
Griffin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tournament defends well and Griffin ends up having to push Tournament into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tournament throws a lazy right hand but Griffin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tournament looks to score with a jab to the body but Griffin is just out of range.
Tournament avoids the body shot from Griffin.

Tournament shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tournament wants to control from the top but Griffin keeps moving.
Tournament passes Griffin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tournament moves into full mount! Griffin won't be happy about that!
Griffin is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tournament wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Griffin wants to hold on but Tournament pushes him away.
Tournament tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tournament wants to take his opponent's back but Griffin doesn't allow it.
Griffin can't escape the position.

Tournament looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tournament working for a submission but Griffin is keeping him at bay.

Tournament looking for a guillotine from mount but Griffin is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tournament trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Griffin wants to control but Tournament is having none of it.

Tournament has control of Griffin's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Griffin regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Tournament swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Griffin is now in Tournament's guard. A big mistake from Tournament there, giving up the dominant position!
Griffin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Griffin wanted to stand there but Tournament had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Griffin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tournament works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Tournament throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tournament keeping full guard, as Griffin tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffin sitting in guard here, content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Greg Tournament comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tournament has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Greg Tournament!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Greg Tournament!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Greg Tournament!

Greg Tournament wins by unanimous decision!
Greg Tournament thanked the fans post fight for their support.