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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Portin Vartija (ranked 25058 p4p, 2640 weight class) and Matthew Griffin (ranked 602 p4p, 308 weight class). Matthew Griffin acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.
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| 195 cm
21
215
5 - 3 - 0 |
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189 cm
27
212
7 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Portin Vartija!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matthew Griffin!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Bruno Lombardi and John Roberts.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vartija misses with a double jab.
Vartija throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A little jabbing left from Griffin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Vartija misses with a two punch combination.
Griffin is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Vartija with a body shot.
Griffin's coach down at Gumburcules Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Griffin's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
No joy there for Vartija, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Portin Vartija seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griffin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
As Griffin looks to move away, Vartija throws a big counter combo but Griffin just gets out of the way.
Griffin looks to score with a jab to the body but Vartija is just out of range.
Griffin is looking to clinch but Vartija is avoiding it.
As Griffin looks to move away, Vartija throws a big counter combo but Griffin just gets out of the way.
Vartija moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Vartija moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Griffin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vartija swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Griffin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vartija manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vartija throws a combination that misses
and Griffin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vartija misses with the combination.
Vartija lands with a nice combination. Griffin backs away looking to recover.
Griffin lands a jab.
Some wild striking there from Vartija.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Vartija blocks the body kick.
Griffin tries to clinch up but Vartija circles away and keeps his distance.
Griffin slips a jab and a cross from Vartija.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin slips a jab and a cross from Vartija.
A little jabbing left from Griffin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Portin Vartija is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big left from Griffin misses.
Vartija lands a jab-cross combination.
Griffin punishes Vartija's body with a nice straight punch.
Vartija misses with a few strikes there.
Griffin wants to clinch up but Vartija keeps it at a distance.
Vartija misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vartija throws a series of strikes that have Griffin backpedaling.
Griffin fails to land with a series of punches.
Griffin is looking to clinch but Vartija is avoiding it.
Griffin is looking to clinch but Vartija is avoiding it.
Griffin tried to score with a low kick but Vartija checks it.
No joy there for Vartija, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vartija throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vartija looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Griffin misses with a wild body shot.
Griffin dodges the punch combination from Vartija.
Griffin wants to slow Vartija down by chopping away at his legs.
Vartija looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin slips a jab and a cross from Vartija.
Griffin throws a series of punches but Vartija moves out of range.
Vartija misses with a series of wild punches.
Vartija falls off balance throwing a combination
and Vartija takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Griffin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Left hook, right uppercut from Vartija.
Griffin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vartija throws a series of punches but Griffin moves out of range.
Griffin was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Vartija fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vartija definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Some wild striking there from Vartija.
Vartija is working the combinations to good effect here.
Vartija throws a right and a left that Griffin avoids nicely.
Griffin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Vartija misses with a double jab.
Griffin appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Vartija scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Vartija misses with a two punch combination.
Griffin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Vartija avoids the body shot from Griffin.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Griffin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vartija manages to avoid it.
Vartija is looking for a counter combo.
Vartija fails to land with a series of punches.
Vartija throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vartija lands a two punch combo.
Griffin misses with a body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Vartija. Those never looked like landing.
Griffin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vartija throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Griffin.
Griffin is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Vartija with a body shot.
Vartija goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Vartija misses with a double jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vartija throws a series of punches but Griffin avoids them all with ease.
Griffin looks for a takedown but Vartija sprawls well.
Griffin dodges the punch combination from Vartija.
Vartija blocks a head kick by Griffin.
Griffin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Vartija rather than just go for the knockout.
Griffin throws a series of punches but Vartija avoids them all with ease.
Vartija throws a nice looking combination but Griffin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin throws a low kick but Vartija moves out of range easily.
Griffin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Vartija lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Griffin circles away quickly and effectively.
Vartija misses with a series of wild punches.
Sloppy strikes from Vartija. Those never looked like landing.
Vartija tries to bum rush Griffin with a series of wild strikes but Griffin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vartija keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A combination from Vartija does no damage.
Vartija fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vartija throws a series of punches but Griffin moves out of range.
Vartija checks a low kick from Griffin.
Vartija throws a right and a left that Griffin avoids nicely.
Vartija swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vartija throws a right hand that Griffin ducks under and follows up with a left that Griffin also avoids with ease.
Vartija is breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Vartija misses.
Some wild striking there from Vartija.
Griffin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Portin Vartija dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Griffin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vartija.
Vartija misses with a jab, cross combination.
Griffin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vartija manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Griffin.
Vartija misses with a two punch combination.
Griffin fails to land with a series of punches.
Griffin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Griffin lands in his opponent's guard.
Griffin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Griffin postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Griffin is looking to work some ground and pound but Vartija has wrist control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Vartija is trying to keep Griffin in close.
Griffin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Vartija looking for a sweep. Not yet Vartija, not yet.
Vartija can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Griffin controls the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Griffin slips a jab and a cross from Vartija.
Griffin is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Vartija with a body shot.
Vartija is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Griffin can do to turn this around?
Vartija looks to land a combination but Griffin avoids it well.
Griffin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Griffin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vartija's guard.
Vartija can't keep his opponent in guard - Griffin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Griffin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Vartija on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Griffin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin lands strikes from half guard.
Griffin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Vartija wants to get back to full guard.
Griffin prevents Vartija from standing back up.
Griffin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vartija misses with a series of wild punches.
Griffin throws a looping overhand right but Vartija ducks down to avoid it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vartija throws a series of punches but Griffin avoids them all with ease.
Vartija throws a series of punches but Griffin moves out of range.
A combination from Vartija does no damage.
Vartija ducks under a wild hook from Griffin.
Vartija seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Portin Vartija is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Griffin moves into range and clinches up with Vartija.
Griffin is looking for a takedown.
Griffin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vartija pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vartija tries to bum rush Griffin with a series of wild strikes but Griffin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vartija blocks a head kick by Griffin.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vartija has him pressed against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Matthew Griffin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. 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.
Griffin wants to clinch up but Vartija keeps it at a distance.
Griffin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Griffin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Vartija content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Vartija is stalling here.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Vartija for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Griffin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vartija smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vartija misses with the combination.
Vartija throws a right hand that Griffin ducks under and follows up with a left that Griffin also avoids with ease.
Griffin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin lands a nice shot to the body.
Portin Vartija is winning the standup battle so far.
A combination from Vartija does no damage.
Griffin tries to clinch but Vartija is having none of it.
Vartija throws a series of punches but Griffin avoids them all with ease.
Vartija looks to land a combination but Griffin avoids it well.
Griffin misses the shot to the body.
Griffin dodges the punch combination from Vartija.
Sloppy strikes from Vartija. Those never looked like landing.
Griffin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vartija swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A nice combination there by Vartija.
Griffin throws a right and a left that Vartija avoids nicely.
Griffin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vartija.
Griffin is looking for the big counter here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vartija lands with a nice combination. Griffin backs away looking to recover.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griffin throws a jab when Vartija was well out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Vartija. Those never looked like landing.
Griffin is looking to clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin misses with a low kick.
Vartija fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vartija rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Griffin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A punch combination from Vartija misses.
Griffin doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Griffin throws a shot from downtown. Vartija moves away and avoids it.
Griffin looks to score with a jab to the body but Vartija is just out of range.
Vartija misses with the combination.
Vartija throws a right and a left that Griffin avoids nicely.
Griffin just misses with a punch to the body.
Griffin throws a body punch but Vartija moves out of range.
A head kick from Griffin lands but Vartija takes it in his stride.
A punch combination from Vartija misses.
Griffin has a takedown stuffed.
Vartija swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A big left from Griffin misses.
Vartija misses with a double jab.
Griffin now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin moves in looking to clinch but Vartija pushes him off.
Griffin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Vartija slows down the pace here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vartija.
Vartija is trying to maintain a safe position but Griffin gets an underhook and turns Vartija into the cage.
Griffin letting Vartija take a breather here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Vartija takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Portin Vartija.
Vartija misses with a jab, cross combination.
Griffin tries to clinch up.
Griffin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vartija.
Griffin looks to land a left hand but Vartija moved out of range nicely.
Griffin slips a jab and a cross from Vartija.
Vartija throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vartija misses with a jab, cross combination.
As Vartija backs off Griffin throws a huge counter combo but Vartija manages to avoid it all.
Vartija lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Griffin circles away quickly and effectively.
Griffin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vartija circles away quickly and effectively.
Griffin throws a wild body kick that Vartija sees coming a mile off.
Griffin looks to score with a jab to the body but Vartija is just out of range.
Vartija throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that's the end of the fight!
Portin Vartija showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vartija 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Portin Vartija!
An out of breath Portin Vartija thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
63% |
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