PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Salim Al Mansur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Deacon Griggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Mansur comes into the arena with The Rock - Mustapha Ibrahim blaring out of the sound system. Griggs has chosen Church by T-Pain as his entrance music. Deacon Griggs has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Al Mansur
vs
Griggs

167 cm
25
152 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
157 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

{R.W} Four Aces Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Salim Al Mansur!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Deacon Griggs!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Mansur misses with a low kick as Griggs jumps back.
Al Mansur throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Al Mansur throws a leg kick which misses Griggs's front leg but catches the back leg as Griggs tries to avoid it.
Griggs cracks Al Mansur with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Griggs takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A leg kick checked by Griggs.
Al Mansur dodges the punch combination from Griggs.
A solid body kick from Al Mansur.
A punch combination from Al Mansur misses.
Griggs fails to land the takedown.
Griggs dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Al Mansur walks into a stiff left hand from Griggs.
Al Mansur misses with a looping left.
Al Mansur looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Mansur plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Griggs moves out of range of the body kick from Al Mansur.
Al Mansur throws a push kick but Griggs slaps the foot to one side.
Al Mansur throws a quick inside leg kick.
Griggs looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Al Mansur gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Griggs to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Griggs with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Al Mansur trying to keep a closed guard but Griggs is proving a slippery customer.
Griggs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Al Mansur works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Griggs trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griggs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Al Mansur works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Griggs has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Griggs forces his way into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Griggs wants to pass the guard but Al Mansur is defending well.
Griggs thows a huge punch but Al Mansur dodges it nicely.
Al Mansur blocking the ground and pound attempt from Griggs.
Griggs throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Griggs thows a huge punch but Al Mansur dodges it nicely.
Al Mansur is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Griggs perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Al Mansur is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Griggs's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Griggs's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Mansur throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Al Mansur missing with punches from the back.

Al Mansur has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Griggs manages to reverse the position and now he's in Al Mansur's guard. Nice work there by Griggs.
Griggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Al Mansur is keeping the position for now.
Griggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Mansur is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Griggs postures up in Al Mansur's guard and throws a big left but Al Mansur blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griggs lands a couple of elbows.
Griggs makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Al Mansur being controlled here, momentarily.
Griggs advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Mansur works his way to full guard. Good work.
Griggs postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Mansur manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Griggs really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griggs is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Deacon Griggs 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.

Al Mansur throws a jab when Griggs was well out of range.
Al Mansur tries a head kick but it misses.
Al Mansur thuds his shin into the meat of Griggs's side.
A solid leg kick lands there for Al Mansur.

Griggs scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Griggs wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Mansur keeps working.
Griggs working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Al Mansur holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

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

Griggs thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griggs wants to control but Al Mansur is keeping him busy.
Al Mansur manages to get back to half guard.
Griggs trying to control from Al Mansur's half guard. Al Mansur has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Griggs looking to pass the guard.
Griggs throws a strike but Al Mansur rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Griggs trying to keep a closed guard but Al Mansur is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Mansur tries to free his leg and advance position but Griggs is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griggs controls Al Mansur momentarily but Al Mansur frees himself.

Griggs working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Al Mansur doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Al Mansur manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Griggs looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Al Mansur passes into half guard.
Griggs tries to get to full guard but Al Mansur has control of the leg.

Al Mansur is working for a kimura but Griggs is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Mansur is looking to take a break and control but Griggs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Griggs trying to control from the bottom.
Griggs is pressing down on Al Mansur's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Griggs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Al Mansur pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griggs is keeping the position for now.
Deacon Griggs has got the better of the ground game so far.
Griggs is trying to keep Al Mansur in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Mansur wants to control from the top but Griggs keeps moving.

Griggs has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Al Mansur can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Griggs looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Al Mansur passes into half guard.
Griggs wants to control but Al Mansur is keeping busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Al Mansur wants to pass the guard but Griggs is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Deacon Griggs will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Al Mansur tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Griggs is able to avoid easily.
Al Mansur throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Griggs moves out of range as Al Mansur throws a body kick.
Griggs misses the shot to the body.
Horrible takedown by Griggs or perhaps it was just good defense by Al Mansur which made him look bad.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Al Mansur, right into the meat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Al Mansur.
Al Mansur pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Griggs fails to land the takedown.
Al Mansur misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Griggs cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Al Mansur lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Griggs takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Mansur misses with a head kick.
Al Mansur throws a body kick that misses.
Griggs will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Salim Al Mansur has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Deacon Griggs.
Griggs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Griggs shoots in and bounces Al Mansur off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Griggs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Griggs trying to control but Al Mansur is working from the bottom.
Al Mansur is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Griggs forces his way into half guard.

Griggs is looking for a kimura but Al Mansur is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Griggs to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Mansur is looking to control Griggs's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Al Mansur avoid being mounted?
Griggs trying to control from Al Mansur's half guard. Al Mansur has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Griggs wants to control from the top but Al Mansur keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Griggs's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Al Mansur tries to land a sweep but no joy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Al Mansur is working hard here to advance position.
Al Mansur not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Al Mansur wants to control the position but Griggs says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Mansur is looking for a sweep. Griggs is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Griggs scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Griggs trying to control from half guard but Al Mansur is working away.
Griggs takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Al Mansur is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Griggs scores with a couple of nice shots.
Al Mansur is not content to let Griggs control the position.
Al Mansur moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Salim Al Mansur has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Griggs wants to pass the guard but Al Mansur is keeping the position.
Al Mansur looking for a sweep. Not yet Al Mansur, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griggs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Al Mansur pulls Griggs in close to his closed guard and prevents Griggs from doing any damage or advancing position.
Al Mansur utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Griggs throws a big right hand that misses.
Al Mansur might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Al Mansur looking for a sweep. Not yet Al Mansur, not yet.
Griggs chips away with some ground and pound.
Griggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Al Mansur is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griggs loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Griggs controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Deacon Griggs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Griggs 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Deacon Griggs!
In his post fight interview, Deacon Griggs gave a big smile as he said 'Just want to thank my opponent for taking this fight. He is a tough guy, but someone had to win tonight and I'm glad it was me. I also want to thank all of my training parters at Wolfschanze in New York. '.