PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Griffin has chosen Big Punisher- Beware as his entrance music. Forrest Griffin is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Alves
vs
Griffin

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
23
205 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mauricio Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Forrest Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Alves misses.
Alves lands with a kick to the temple. Griffin shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Griffin misses with a head kick.
Griffin fails with a takedown attempt.
Alves tries to clinch but Griffin is having none of it.
Alves pushes Griffin away with a front kick.
Alves throws a quick inside leg kick.
Griffin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Griffin is looking to clinch.
Alves moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Alves lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Griffin gets a clinch.
Griffin is working for takedown but Alves is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mauricio Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Forrest Griffin.
Alves wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Griffin has him pressed against the cage.
Griffin tries for a takedown but Alves manages to get underhooks.
Griffin looks gassed!
Griffin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Griffin swings wildly with an uppercut but Alves uses good head movement to avoid it.
Griffin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Alves fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Alves throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Alves.
Alves looks to land a combination but Griffin avoids it well.
Alves looks to throw the jab but Griffin is out of range.
Griffin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alves misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Griffin slips a jab and a cross from Alves.
Griffin takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Griffin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Griffin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alves.
Alves throws a sloppy head kick and Griffin moves out of range easily.
Alves thows a body kick. Griffin tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Good leg kick by Alves there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Alves tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Griffin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Griffin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alves throws a leg kick which misses Griffin's front leg but catches the back leg as Griffin tries to avoid it.
Alves tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries to clinch up

and Griffin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Alves landing knees to the head.
Griffin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alves tries a body shot but Griffin blocks it.
Alves looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Alves with a knee to the head.
Alves tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Alves has had enough of the clinch but Griffin keeps him there for the moment.
Griffin keeps control of Alves as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alves is trying to break free.
Alves connects with a knee to the head.
Alves misses with a knee to the head.
Alves is trying to force a seperation but Griffin has the dominant position.
Alves can't break the clinch.
Alves wants to break free but Griffin has control.
Alves is trying to break the clinch but Griffin is controlling him.
Alves working hard to break the clinch.
Alves tries to circle away but Griffin has him pinned against the cage.
Alves working aggressively here.
Griffin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Griffin blocks it with crossed arms.
Griffin blocking some punches.
Alves is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Alves breaks the clinch.
Mauricio Alves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

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

Alves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alves feints and then cracks Griffin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Griffin down.
Griffin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Alves tries a head kick but it misses.
Alves tries to clinch but Griffin is having none of it.
Alves looks to land a left hand but Griffin moved out of range nicely.
Alves tries a head kick but it misses.
Griffin swats away the attempt to clinch by Alves.
Alves throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Griffin.
Alves scoring well with a low kick there.
Griffin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Alves. Griffin shrugs it off though.
Alves bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Griffin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Alves connects with a high kick.
Griffin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Forrest Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alves swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alves chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Alves is looking to clinch but Griffin is avoiding it.
Griffin walks forward, straight into a front kick from Alves.
Griffin has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Alves.
Alves throws a head kick but Griffin moves out of range.
Alves misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Alves defends it nicely.
Alves avoids the head kick by Griffin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Alves dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Griffin has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Alves.

Griffin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Alves managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Griffin.
Alves tries to bench press Griffin off him but Griffin keeps the position.
Alves wants to control but Griffin postures up.

Griffin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Alves is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Alves is trying to get back to half guard.
Alves is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Griffin off and has taken his back!

Alves working for a choke but Griffin is defending well.
Alves punishes Griffin with strikes from the back mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin is trying to get back to his feet but Alves has full control of the position and if anything, Griffin has just worked his way into a worse spot.

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

Alves is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Alves trying to control.
Griffin manages to reverse the position and now he's in Alves's guard. Nice work there by Griffin.
Alves looking for a sweep. Not yet Alves, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Alves.
A head kick misses from Griffin.
Griffin takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Alves throws a head kick that misses.
Alves throws a right and a left that both miss.
Good leg kick by Alves there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Alves lands a high kick!
Griffin fails with the takedown.
Griffin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Alves sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Alves is looking to slow Griffin down with leg kicks.
Griffin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Alves tries to clinch up but Griffin circles away and keeps his distance.
Griffin shoots for a takedown but Alves saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mauricio Alves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Forrest Griffin.
Alves dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Griffin. That did some damage!
Griffin avoids the head kick by Alves.
Alves throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alves scores with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves is looking to clinch but Griffin is avoiding it.
Alves throws a right and a left that Griffin avoids nicely.

Alves clinches up against the cage.
Alves misses with a knee strike.

Griffin gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Griffin slips a nice elbow through Alves's hands, connecting with Alves's forehead.
Alves is looking to improve his position.
Griffin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Alves tries to kick Griffin off but Griffin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Griffin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Alves trying to control from the bottom.
Alves blocking the ground and pound attempt from Griffin.
Alves tries to roll over but Griffin keeps him under control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Griffin closes the distance and pushes Alves back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin keeps control of Alves as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alves trying to stall but Griffin improves his position.
Alves is trying to break free.
Griffin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Alves gets underhooks to prevent Griffin's takedown attempt.
Griffin has Alves pressed against the cage, preventing Alves from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Alves has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Alves tries to circle away but Griffin has him pinned against the cage.
Griffin gets through Alves's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Alves's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Horrible takedown by Griffin or perhaps it was just good defense by Alves which made him look bad.
Griffin throws a nice looking combination but Alves bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alves buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Alves lands a high kick!
Alves jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Alves cracks the inside of Griffin's front leg.
Griffin avoids the head kick by Alves.
A head kick misses from Alves.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Forrest Griffin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Alves will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Griffin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alves connects with a high kick.
Griffin takes a kick to the side of the head.
Griffin throws a head kick that Alves semi-blocks.

Griffin feints and as Alves raises his hands in defense, Griffin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Alves 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.
Alves is looking to stand up but Griffin isn't so interested in that idea.

Alves looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Griffin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Griffin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Alves knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Griffin on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin throws a strike but Alves rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Alves stands up from Griffin's guard - Alves perhaps looking for a knockout.
Griffin is looking to clinch but Alves is avoiding it.
Alves buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Griffin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Alves can pounce on him.
Alves scores with a push kick.
Alves misses with a body shot.
Alves tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Griffin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alves but Alves pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alves lands a high kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Alves.
Alves fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Griffin.
Alves tries to close the distance and clinch up but Griffin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alves thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Griffin if he has to take too many more of those.
Alves swats away the attempt to clinch by Griffin.
Griffin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Alves lands a high kick!
Mauricio Alves is winning the standup battle so far.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Alves. Griffin shrugs it off though.
A slow jab from Alves misses its intended target.
Alves turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Alves lands with a kick to the temple. Griffin shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Alves misses with a head kick.
Griffin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alves misses with a head kick.
Alves throws a sloppy head kick and Griffin moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Griffin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Griffin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Alves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Griffin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Alves avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Griffin scoring with punches to the head and body.
Alves is trying to keep Griffin in close.
Griffin stands and throws Alves's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Griffin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Alves to see if he's OK.
Alves tries to buck Griffin off but Griffin is having none of it.
Griffin working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves tries to buck Griffin off but Griffin is having none of it.
Griffin misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Griffin has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Griffin landing punches.
Alves is desperately trying to improve his position but Griffin has a good base and remains in mount.
Griffin is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Griffin postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Alves looks a forlorn figure.
Griffin throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Alves working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Forrest Griffin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Griffin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Forrest Griffin!