PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between fred griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Bateman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bateman comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Take That kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

griffin
vs
Bateman

185 cm
24
170 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

181 cm
24
179 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, fred griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Bateman!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from griffin misses.
griffin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like James Bateman has been cut.
griffin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bateman.
Bateman listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bateman.

Bateman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Bateman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, griffin has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bateman is staying tight to griffin's torso, preventing him from escaping.
griffin is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bateman takes a little break here. griffin wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
griffin dodges the ground and pound from Bateman.
griffin is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Bateman asserts his dominance and retains side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

griffin tries to keep at a distance but Bateman has taken the fight into the clinch.

griffin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
griffin throws a jab when Bateman was well out of range.
griffin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bateman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

griffin tries to keep at a distance but Bateman has taken the fight into the clinch.

Bateman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bateman clinches.
griffin is looking to break free of the clinch but Bateman has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bateman drags the fight down to the ground.
griffin throwing strikes from guard but Bateman blocks nicely.
griffin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Bateman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bateman looks gassed!
Bateman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bateman decides to return to a standing position.
Bateman takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
griffin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Bateman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Bateman keeps control of griffin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
griffin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
griffin stops a takedown attempt from Bateman.

Bateman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No joy there for griffin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
griffin keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bateman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in griffin's guard.
griffin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if griffin tries to get out of the position.
Bateman prevents griffin from getting back to his feet.
griffin is controlling Bateman's posture.
Bateman trying to control the position from guard on top but griffin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bateman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bateman trying to control but griffin is working from the bottom.
griffin keeping full guard, as Bateman tries to pass.

griffin uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
griffin jabs at Bateman's body.
Bateman slips a jab and a cross from griffin.

Bateman clinches with his opponent.
griffin tries to break the clinch but Bateman is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on griffin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on griffin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
griffin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bateman has him pressed against the cage.
Bateman lands a nice shot to the body.
griffin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bateman fights it off and pushes away nicely.

griffin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bateman wants to control from the top but griffin keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Bateman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Bateman's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

griffin gets caught flat footed, as Bateman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

griffin uses the cage to get back to his feet.
griffin thows a left - swing and a miss!
griffin lands a right hook to the body.
griffin falls off balance throwing a combination

and Bateman counters by moving into the clinch.

Bateman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
fred griffin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bateman takes a shot right to the bread basket.

griffin closes the distance and pushes Bateman back into the cage.
griffin can't break the clinch.
Bateman is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bateman is looking to break free of the clinch but griffin has double underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
griffin tries to break the clinch but Bateman is controlling the position.
griffin wants to break free but Bateman has control.
A frustrated look appears on griffin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
griffin tries to break free but Bateman pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
griffin is looking to break free of the clinch but Bateman has double underhooks.
griffin tries to break free but Bateman pushes him back against the cage.
griffin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A right hook to the body lands for Bateman.

Bateman has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed griffin clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Bateman is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften griffin up.
Bateman throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Bateman connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for griffin to escape the position.
Bateman misses with an elbow to the head.
griffin has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Bateman.
Bateman throwing sloppy strikes.
Bateman missing with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
griffin prevents Bateman from getting a body triangle.

griffin fending off the submission attempt from Bateman.
Bateman scores with strikes from the back.
Bateman scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. griffin is looking for a way out.
Bateman throwing sloppy strikes.
Bateman trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure griffin doesn't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

griffin is trying to shake Bateman off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Bateman won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.

Bateman moves into range and clinches up with griffin.
griffin is looking to break free of the clinch but Bateman has double underhooks.
griffin tries to circle away but Bateman has him pinned against the cage.
Bateman tries to score a body lock takedown but griffin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Bateman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
fred griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bateman looks to land a combination but griffin avoids it well.
griffin tries to close the distance and clinch but Bateman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
griffin tests Bateman's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Bateman takes the fight into the clinch.
griffin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
griffin is trying to break the clinch but Bateman has him pressed against the cage.

Bateman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bateman lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Bateman takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
griffin connects with a right hand. Bateman shakes it off.
fred griffin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bateman with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
griffin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Bateman gets a clinch.
griffin is trying to force a seperation but Bateman has the dominant position.

Bateman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
griffin tries to clinch

and Bateman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bateman.
Bateman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
griffin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bateman is controlling him.

Bateman decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
griffin misses with a jab, cross combination.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bateman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Bateman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Bateman's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

griffin pushes Bateman up against the cage in a clinch.
Bateman's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

griffin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bateman gets the takedown into side control.
Bateman staying calm.
Bateman prevents griffin from escaping the position.
griffin is not content to let Bateman control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bateman lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
griffin is looking to regain half guard here but Bateman keeps moving and retains side control.
James Bateman has got the better of the ground game so far.
An elbow from Bateman crashes against the mat.

Bateman decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bateman is defended easily by griffin.
griffin misses with a wild combination.

Bateman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bateman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bateman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bateman throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
griffin is squirming around, avoiding Bateman's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
griffin blocking the ground and pound.
Bateman is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. griffin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
griffin is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Bateman lands with some vicious ground and pound - can griffin hang on?
Bateman looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Bateman looking to control but griffin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
griffin really wants to buck Bateman off and get back to his feet.

Bateman looking for a guillotine from mount but griffin is having none of it.
griffin is trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bateman is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but griffin is surviving well by controlling Bateman's body position as best he can.
Bateman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
griffin is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
fred griffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bateman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Bateman looking to control but griffin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
griffin flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
griffin is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Bateman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bateman pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Bateman with a couple of short strikes.
Bateman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bateman scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish griffin?
James Bateman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
griffin throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Bateman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bateman 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Bateman!