PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takla Griss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Alb (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Griss comes into the arena with Furious Angels (Reversed) blaring out of the sound system. Alb has chosen Sandstorm as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Griss
vs
Alb

176 cm
21
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Takla Griss!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Alb!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alb looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Griss is fending him off so far but Alb persists. Nope, Griss circles away and we're back to standing.

Alb feints and as Griss raises his hands in defense, Alb changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Griss keeping full guard, as Alb tries to pass.
Griss knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alb on the ground.
Griss can't keep his opponent in guard - Alb advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Alb is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Alb wants to work for an arm triangle but Griss is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Griss is looking for a sweep. Alb is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alb is thwarting Griss's attempts to control the position.
Griss is trying to get back to full guard.
Griss keeping hold of Alb's head, controlling as best he can.
Alb is taking a breather. Griss says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griss punching from the bottom.
Alb trying to mount his opponent but Griss defends it.

Alb looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Griss tries to get to full guard but Alb has control of the leg.
Griss makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Griss.
Griss tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.

Griss looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Alb passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Alb connects with a nice short shot to Griss's temple.

Alb is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Griss sees it coming and defends easily.
Alb prevents Griss from improving his position.
Griss trying to control from the bottom.

Alb is working for a submission of some sort.
Alb wants to lay and pray for a moment but Griss keeps working.
Griss trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alb is trying to control the action in half guard but Griss is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Griss wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Alb shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Griss but Griss pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Griss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Griss misses with a few strikes there.
Alb drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Griss shoots in but no luck this time.
Alb fails with the takedown
and Griss counters with a leg kick.
Takla Griss has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Alb.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griss throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Griss tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alb swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Griss throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alb misses with a leg kick
and Griss counters with a body kick that stops Alb in his tracks momentarily.
Griss misses with a head kick.
Alb misses with a takedown attempt

and Griss counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Alb!
Alb tries to hold on but Griss postures up.
Alb wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Griss.
Alb tries to hold on but Griss postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takla Griss dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Alb fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Griss is out of range.
Alb keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alb throws a leg kick
and Griss counters with a leg kick.
Alb misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Griss.
Alb thows a body shot but no joy.
Alb misses with a takedown
and Griss counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griss is looking to clinch but Alb is avoiding it.
Takla Griss is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alb avoids a punch combination nicely.
Griss moves in looking to clinch but Alb pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griss misses with an attempted mid kick.
A combination from Griss does no damage.
Griss shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Alb counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alb.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Griss is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alb defends well.

Alb thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Alb with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Griss throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Griss looking for a guillotine here but Alb defends easily.
Alb slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griss tries to roll over but Alb keeps him under control.
Alb wants to free his trapped foot but Griss is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Griss is looking for a sweep. Alb is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alb passes to side control.

Alb goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Griss has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Alb but great work by Griss.
Alb can't do much from the bottom here.

Griss tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Griss has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griss working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Griss decides to stand back up.

That's four 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.
Griss goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Alb tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Griss swivels and escapes.
Griss swinging wilding here.
Alb shoots and misses
and Griss counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Takla Griss has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Alb.
Alb avoids the head kick by Griss.
Alb circles away from the clinch attempt.
Griss fails to land with a series of punches.
Griss throws a low kick but Alb avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryan Alb will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Some bone on bone action there as Griss checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Alb drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Griss looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alb trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Griss wants to sweep here but Alb controlling him for the moment.

Griss throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alb trying to control but Griss is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Alb is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alb drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Alb seems to have locked his on tight now - Griss screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Alb, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Ryan Alb! Ryan Alb retains his lightweight title!