PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bubba James Jr (ranked 24625 p4p, 575 weight class) and Guts Griffin (ranked 3709 p4p, 384 weight class). James Jr kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Biscuits & Gravy. Guts Griffin told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

James Jr
vs
Griffin

188 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

193 cm
19
181 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bubba James Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Guts Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin keeps the fight on the outside.
Griffin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Despite the aggression on Griffin's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Griffin shoots in for a double leg but James Jr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
James Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up but Griffin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James Jr misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Griffin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James Jr, pushing him back against the cage.

Griffin breaks the clinch.
Griffin moves away from the strike by James Jr.

Griffin closes the distance and pushes James Jr back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin slowing the pace effectively.
Griffin stalling against the cage.

Griffin breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin has a takedown stuffed.
Griffin swats away the attempt to clinch by James Jr.
Griffin shoots in looking for a takedown but James Jr manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Griffin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bubba James Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guts Griffin.

Griffin clinches up with James Jr and pushes him back against the cage.

Griffin has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed James Jr clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
James Jr wants to control his opponent's hands but Griffin gets his hands free.
James Jr looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
James Jr covering up well and avoiding damage.

Griffin is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. James Jr knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften James Jr for a finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Griffin lands strikes 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!
Griffin trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure James Jr doesn't escape.
James Jr is in bad spot here.

Griffin has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Griffin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
I would not like to be James Jr right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James Jr avoids the strikes from Griffin.

Griffin patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Griffin controls the action.
Griffin thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Good control from Griffin.

James Jr is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Griffin gets his way!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin struggling to land strikes to the head as James Jr covers up.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

James Jr preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Griffin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guts Griffin dominated 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.

Griffin closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on James Jr's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Griffin - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Griffin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
James Jr wants to stand but Griffin is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James Jr wants to stand and escape but instead Griffin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Griffin passes James Jr's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Griffin controlling the action here.
Griffin works his foot free and advances to mount.
Griffin controlling from the full mount.

That's two 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.
James Jr holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Griffin tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Griffin jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but James Jr manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Griffin advances to full mount.
James Jr is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Griffin lands a nice shot to the head.
Griffin thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin controlling the position easily from mount.
Griffin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Griffin throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for James Jr because Griffin loaded up on that one.
Griffin pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Griffin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Poor strikes thrown by Griffin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Griffin controlling the pace for now.
Griffin is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffin is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. James Jr can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Griffin is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, James Jr has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Griffin is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, James Jr has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Griffin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guts Griffin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

James Jr misses with a double jab.

Griffin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

James Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Griffin has James Jr up against the cage in a clinch.
Griffin tries to pull guard but James Jr won't allow it.
Griffin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. James Jr avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Griffin successfully pulls guard.

Griffin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. James Jr doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. James Jr manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Griffin pushes James Jr off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - James Jr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James Jr looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with James Jr but James Jr pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bubba James Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guts Griffin.
James Jr closes this distance looking for a takedown but Griffin circles away.

Griffin forces James Jr back against the cage and clinches.

Griffin breaks from the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from James Jr as Griffin shoots in.
Griffin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Griffin tries to score a power double leg takedown but James Jr sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Griffin somewhat.
Bubba James Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Griffin or perhaps it was just good defense by James Jr, which made it look bad.
Griffin shoots in looking for a takedown. James Jr tries to sprawl out of it but Griffin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James Jr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James Jr tries for a takedown but Griffin circles away easily
and Griffin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
James Jr throws a leg kick which misses Griffin's front leg but catches the back leg as Griffin tries to avoid it.
Griffin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
James Jr misses with a double jab

and Griffin counters by moving into the clinch.
Griffin manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

James Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James Jr falls off balance throwing a combination
and Griffin counters with a one-two to the body.
A head kick misses from James Jr.
Bubba James Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Griffin has taken the fight to the clinch.
James Jr stops a takedown attempt from Griffin.
James Jr looking for a takedown.
Griffin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
James Jr is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
James Jr changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Griffin fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffin forces James Jr back against the cage and clinches.
Griffin is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but James Jr is defending well.
James Jr avoiding damage as Griffin throws knees to the body.
Griffin pushes James Jr back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A left hand lands to the body for Griffin.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Griffin is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Griffin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A leg kick checked by Griffin.
Bubba James Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James Jr tries to clinch
and Griffin counters with a one-two to the body.
Guts Griffin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt - James Jr sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Guts Griffin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Griffin 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guts Griffin!