PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Just Roll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Just Roll has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Roll
vs
Griffiths

182 cm
21
183 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
175 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Fast

Meet the Future

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight 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 Helsinki, Just Roll!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Griffiths!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Griffiths drives through with a takedown into guard.
Griffiths has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Zero Tolerance. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Griffiths tries to free his leg and advance position but Roll is retaining full guard.

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

Roll had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Griffiths defends it easily.
Roll will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Griffiths controls from within his opponent's guard.
Roll keeping moving, preventing Griffiths from controlling successfully.

Griffiths avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Griffiths 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.
Griffiths wants to pass the guard but Roll is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths keeps trying to improve his position.

Roll looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Griffiths trying to control the position from guard on top but Roll is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Griffiths not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Roll working for a triangle but Griffiths defends it easily.
Griffiths trying to control the position from guard on top but Roll is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Roll is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Roll keeping moving, preventing Griffiths from controlling successfully.
Griffiths's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've been hearing good reports from Roll's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Stephen Griffiths wasn't active enough on the ground.

Roll closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip 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!
Griffiths is staying active underneath Roll, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Griffiths gets full guard.

Griffiths has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Roll can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Griffiths keeping full guard, as Roll tries to pass.

Roll drops back looking for a leg! Griffiths is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Griffiths manages to kick Roll off! Roll jumps back into Griffiths's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roll wants to control from the top but Griffiths keeps moving.

Griffiths escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Roll gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Roll wants to pass the guard but Griffiths is keeping the position.
Griffiths controlling the position.

Griffiths looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffiths trying to keep a closed guard but Roll is proving a slippery customer.
Roll pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffiths is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roll stands and throws Griffiths's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Griffiths struggling a bit here.
Griffiths regains half guard.
Griffiths gets full guard.
Griffiths 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.
Griffiths pulls Roll in close to his closed guard and prevents Roll from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roll stopping the sweep attempt from Griffiths.

Roll drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Roll jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stephen Griffiths will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Griffiths closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Roll quickly recovers to half guard.

Roll looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Roll is not content to let Griffiths control the position.

Roll looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Griffiths is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Griffiths is trying to work for a kimura but Roll is defending well.

Griffiths is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths not doing much here.

Roll is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Griffiths pulls his head out easily.
Griffiths wants to free his trapped foot but Roll is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Griffiths is working for a kimura but Roll is defending it quite comfortably.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roll slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Roll working for a triangle but Griffiths defends it easily.
Griffiths stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roll swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Roll keeping moving, preventing Griffiths from controlling successfully.
Griffiths is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Roll is looking for a triangle but Griffiths pushes his legs off easily.
Roll is striking but Griffiths is not phased and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths is controlling the pace.
Roll is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Griffiths jumps into side control!
Roll sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Griffiths is working for a submission of some sort.

Roll looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Griffiths wants to work for an arm triangle but Roll is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Roll doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Griffiths.

Griffiths wants to work for an arm triangle but Roll is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Roll is refusing to be controlled, as Griffiths sits in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Roll actively working from the bottom here.

Griffiths is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Griffiths showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Roll's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Griffiths shoots in and gets a takedown into Roll's guard.

Roll looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Griffiths trying to control the position from guard on top but Roll is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Roll is looking for a triangle but Griffiths pushes his legs off easily.

Roll escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Griffiths gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Roll working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Griffiths doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Griffiths manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Roll can't keep his opponent in guard - Griffiths advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffiths is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Roll looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Griffiths slows the pace down in half guard.
Griffiths is trying to control. Roll wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Griffiths is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Roll is just riding it out for now. Griffiths eventually gives up the hold.

Roll looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths is looking for a kimura here.
Roll moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Griffiths trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

Roll is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Griffiths is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths wants to control from the top but Roll keeps moving.
Roll looking to hit a scissor sweep but Griffiths is one step ahead there.

Roll is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Griffiths showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Griffiths slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roll regains full guard. Nicely done.
Roll being controlled here, momentarily.
Let's hope that Griffiths has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Griffiths got a little sloppy there for a moment and Roll has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Griffiths has managed to get both his arms back between Roll's legs - danger averted.
Griffiths advances position into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Griffiths tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Griffiths has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Griffiths trying to control the position but Roll is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Stephen Griffiths just about did enough to take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Roll with a poor takedown
and Griffiths counters with a slapping leg kick.

Griffiths clinches up against the cage.

Roll jumps into guard, dragging Griffiths to the mat.
Griffiths trying to control the position from guard on top but Roll is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Griffiths looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Griffiths wants to control from the top but Roll keeps moving.

Griffiths has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Roll to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Griffiths is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Roll pulls down on the head and he's put Griffiths to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Just Roll!
Just Roll retains his welterweight title!