PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Griffin comes to the cage accompanied by Stomp. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Danny Li enters the cage!

Griffin
vs
Li

195 cm
23
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Carlos Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danny Li!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Columbo Gatti and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Griffin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Li decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Griffin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Li wants to pass the guard but Griffin is defending well.
Griffin is looking for a sweep. Li is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Li is controlling the pace.
Li is pressing down on Griffin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Griffin is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li trying to control the action but Griffin is working from the bottom.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Griffin is refusing to be controlled, as Li sits in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Li decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Li content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Li is looking to take a break and control but Griffin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin tries to get to full guard but Li has control of the leg.

Griffin is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Li pulls his head out easily.
Griffin tries to roll over but Li keeps him under control.
Griffin is breathing heavily.
Griffin is looking to get back to full guard here but Li has managed to pass to side control instead.
Griffin is looking to get to half guard.
Griffin has given up his back.
Griffin is in bad spot here.
Li slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Griffin is defending well though. Li let's go of the attempt for now.
Li is hanging on to Griffin's back as he tries to escape.
Li just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Griffin is really stuck here.
Li is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
I looks like Li might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Li is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Griffin right now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffin is working hard here to advance position.
Li just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Griffin tries to escape the position.
Li biding his time, looking for the opening.
Li is hanging on to Griffin's back as he tries to escape.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Li dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Li fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Griffin sprawls well initially but Li persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Griffin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Li works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Griffin is looking for a sweep. Li is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Griffin wants to get back to full guard but Li has mounted him!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Griffin working to try and regain half guard.
Li controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li works his way to his opponent's back.
Griffin staying busy and making it hard for Li to control.
Griffin tries to break free.
Griffin manages to reverse the position and now he's in Li's guard. Nice work there by Griffin.
Li manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Griffin manages to get himself to full guard.
Li stays in close to Griffin's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Li avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Griffin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Li passes into side control.
Griffin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Li wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Li is staying tight to Griffin's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Li is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Li working for a submission but Griffin is keeping him at bay.
Li controlling his opponent.

Despite being in the dominant position, Danny Li just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Griffin tries for a takedown but Li circles away easily

and Li counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li gets to mount! Griffin was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Li lands a nice shot to the head.
Griffin tries to improve his position but instead Li has taken his back!
Danny Li has got the better of the ground game so far.
Griffin is really stuck here.

Li looking for the choke from the back.
Griffin rolls, trying to escape but Li keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Li showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Griffin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Li counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Li.
Li forces his way into half guard.
Griffin is looking to get back to full guard here but Li has managed to pass to side control instead.
Griffin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Griffin is desperately trying to improve his position but Li has a good base and remains in mount.

Li looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Li controlling from mount.
Griffin has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin can't escape the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Li controlling the position well here. Griffin rolled but Li kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Li doesn't have the hooks in and Griffin manages to turn into his guard.
Li manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Li controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Li.
Li looking to control but Griffin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Griffin is desperately trying to improve his position but Li has a good base and remains in mount.
Li controlling the pace for now.
Griffin can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is trying to escape the mount but Li keeps good control and instead manages to take Griffin's back.
You can see the frustration on Griffin's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Li is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Griffin defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Griffin is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Li slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Li has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Griffin's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li keeps control of the position easily here as Griffin tries to buck him off.
Li tries to get the hooks in deep but Griffin pushed the leg off.
Griffin turns into Li and is now in his guard.
Griffin wants to pass the guard but Li is keeping the position.

Griffin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Li is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Griffin, into his guard.
Li looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Li comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Li has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Li!