PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Robson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Robson
vs
Griffiths

178 cm
21
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
167 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabriel Robson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Griffiths!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Lou da Vinci and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffiths defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Robson.
Robson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Griffiths.
Griffiths misses with a jab, cross combination.

Griffiths closes the distance and clinches.
Griffiths tries to circle away but Robson has him pinned against the cage.
Robson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Griffiths is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Griffiths's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Robson tries to throw a body punch but Griffiths avoids it by throwing Robson back against the cage.
Griffiths wants to break the clinch but can't.
Griffiths fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Griffiths works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Griffiths effectively controlling the action here.
Griffiths blocks a body shot from Robson.
Griffiths wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Robson lands a body shot.
Griffiths lands a shoulder strike.
Griffiths taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Robson gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robson keeps control of Griffiths as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Griffiths pushes Robson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Griffiths is looking to break free of the clinch but Robson has double underhooks.
Griffiths scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Robson leaning against his opponent.
Robson swings wildly with an uppercut but Griffiths uses good head movement to avoid it.
Robson struggles to land a body shot inside as Griffiths controls his hands.
Griffiths lands a hook that snaps the head of Robson backwards.
Griffiths wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Griffiths is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Robson keeps control of Griffiths as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Griffiths wants to break free but Robson has control.
Griffiths can't break the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Robson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Robson controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A right handed body shot lands from Griffiths.
Griffiths is trying to break the clinch but Robson is controlling him.
A left hand lands to the body for Griffiths.
Robson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Robson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Robson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Griffiths wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Griffiths can do anything to dispel that myth.
Robson trying to control the action but Griffiths is working from the bottom.
Griffiths tries to buck Robson off but Robson is having none of it.
Robson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Griffiths really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Robson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Griffiths is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robson advances to mount.
Robson looking to finish Griffiths with some ground and pound. This is bad for Griffiths!
Robson throwing strikes here but Griffiths is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Griffiths trying desperately to get to his feet.
Griffiths flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Griffiths is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Griffiths is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Griffiths blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Robson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Griffiths can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Griffiths squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Robson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Griffiths is looking to escape.
Robson dominating with strikes here.
Griffiths tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Robson wants to control the pace but Griffiths is squirming around nicely.
Robson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Griffiths is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcus Griffiths will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Griffiths getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Griffiths lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
No joy there for Griffiths, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Griffiths fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Robson stalling the fight.
Griffiths lands with a light punch inside.
Robson stalling against the cage.
Griffiths works on Robson's body with a couple of short punches.
Griffiths looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Griffiths is trying to force a seperation but Robson has the dominant position.
Robson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Griffiths is keeping busy.
A head punch on the inside from Robson fails to land.
Robson has Griffiths pressed against the cage, preventing Griffiths from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Griffiths lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Robson backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths lands a shoulder strike.
Robson stalling in the clinch.

Robson wants the takedown. Griffiths is fighting it off but Robson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Griffiths's guard against the cage.
Robson distracts Griffiths with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Griffiths keeping moving, preventing Robson from controlling successfully.
Robson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Robson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Robson trying to control but Griffiths is working from the bottom.
Robson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Griffiths tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Griffiths preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths wants to stand but Robson is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Griffiths misses with a head kick.
Griffiths tries to close the distance and clinch up but Robson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Robson wants to clinch but Griffiths slips to the side
and Griffiths counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Robson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Griffiths misses with a double jab.

Robson rushes Griffiths and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Robson taking a breather.
Griffiths wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Robson avoiding damage as Griffiths throws knees to the body.
Griffiths is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Griffiths throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Robsons head.
Griffiths digs a right hand into Robson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Robson's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robson stalling in the clinch but Griffiths improves position.
Robson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Griffiths's elbow.
A short right from Griffiths.
Robson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Griffiths is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Griffiths is looking to break free of the clinch but Robson has double underhooks.
Robson tries to throw a body punch but Griffiths avoids it by throwing Robson back against the cage.
Griffiths tries to circle away but Robson has him pinned against the cage.
Robson has Griffiths pressed against the cage.
Robson has Griffiths pressed against the cage, preventing Griffiths from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A shot in the inside from Griffiths.
Griffiths cracks Robson with a nice body shot.
Robson working Griffiths over with knees to the body.
Griffiths tries to break free but Robson pushes him back against the cage.
Robson struggles to land a body shot inside as Griffiths controls his hands.
Griffiths fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Griffiths trying to land knees to the body.
Robson missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A nice left hand lands by Griffiths.
Griffiths wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Griffiths lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Robson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Griffiths pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Robson looking to stall.
Robson wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Robson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Griffiths lands an uppercut.
Robson has Griffiths pressed against the cage, preventing Griffiths from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A right hook to the body lands for Griffiths.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Robson looking for a takedown.

Griffiths manages to break the clinch.
Griffiths circles away from the clinch attempt.
Griffiths throws a series of strikes that have Robson backpedaling.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffiths tries to clinch up but Robson circles away and keeps his distance.
Griffiths lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Griffiths closes the distance looking to clinch

and Robson counters with a single leg into guard. Griffiths didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Griffiths showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Robson avoids the head kick by Griffiths.
Griffiths moves in looking to clinch but Robson pushes him off.
Robson tries to close the distance and clinch but Griffiths swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Griffiths lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Griffiths misses with a double jab.
Griffiths wants to clinch.
Griffiths tries to close the distance and clinch but Robson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Griffiths dips to his left and cracks Robson with an uppercut!
Griffiths scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Griffiths wants to clinch.
Griffiths misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths throws a right hand that Robson ducks under and follows up with a left that Robson also avoids with ease.
Griffiths wants to clinch.

Griffiths clinches up with Robson and pushes him back against the cage.
Griffiths looking to throw knees to the head but Robson is blocking nicely.
Griffiths digs a right hand underneath Robson's ribcage. Robson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Griffiths prevents the takedown attempt.
Griffiths misses with a knee strike.
Griffiths wants to stall.
Griffiths works on Robson's body with a couple of short punches.
Griffiths works on Robson's body with a couple of short punches.
Griffiths throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Robsons head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths digs a right hand into Robson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Robson's gas tank.
Griffiths lands with a left to the head.
Griffiths wants to get back to striking at distance but Robson won't allow it.
Griffiths taking a breather.
Robson is trying to stall.
Griffiths gets through Robson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Griffiths is leaning against Robson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Robson is trying to maintain a safe position but Griffiths gets an underhook and turns Robson into the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Griffiths.
Griffiths lands a right hand.
Griffiths wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Griffiths.
Robson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Griffiths's efforts to push away.
Griffiths wants to get back to striking at distance but Robson won't allow it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Griffiths is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Robson is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths has had enough of the clinch but Robson keeps him there for the moment.
Robson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Griffiths is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A right hand to the body from Griffiths.
Griffiths working hard to break the clinch.
Griffiths softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Griffiths working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Griffiths wants to break the clinch but can't.
Robson pushes Griffiths back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Griffiths is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Griffiths's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Robson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Robson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Griffiths lands a nice uppercut.
Gabriel Robson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robson tries to work over Griffiths's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Robson takes a shot to the head.
Marcus Griffiths seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Griffiths lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Robson prevents Griffiths from breaking the clinch.
Griffiths cracks Robson with a nice body shot.
Griffiths can't break the clinch.
Griffiths scores with a hook to the body.
Griffiths is trying to break free.
Griffiths can't break the clinch.
Griffiths softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Griffiths pushes Robson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Robson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Griffiths is pushing Robson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Griffiths has had enough of the clinch but Robson keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffiths lands a left hand that snaps the head of Robson backwards.
Robson swings wildly with an uppercut but Griffiths uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marcus Griffiths is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Griffiths.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Griffiths comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Griffiths winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 26:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Griffiths!