PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Lapis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lapis has chosen Once Solemn as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Griffiths
vs
Lapis

170 cm
25
175 lbs
17 - 5 - 1

178 cm
24
185 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu. 15%
Conquer

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 17 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Griffiths!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Lapis!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Lapis.
Griffiths tries to counter with a takedown but Lapis is quick to defend against it.
Griffiths blocks a jab.
Lapis with a jab.
Lapis throws a jab when Griffiths was well out of range.
Lapis takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lapis on the wrong end of a nice jab.
No joy there for Lapis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Griffiths attempts a counter takedown but Lapis avoids it well and moves away.
Griffiths uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lapis.
Griffiths connects with an inside leg kick.
Griffiths lands with a hook. Lapis tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lapis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Griffiths's waist but Griffiths gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lapis off to one side.
Lapis cracks Griffiths with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lapis scores with a nice right hand.
Some wild striking there from Lapis.
Lapis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Griffiths chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Some wild striking there from Lapis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Griffiths.
Griffiths wants to slow Lapis down by chopping away at his legs.
Despite the aggression on Lapis's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Andrey Lapis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the liver by Griffiths. Beautiful body shot.
Lapis scores with a jab to the head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Griffiths.
Lapis has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Griffiths dips to his left and cracks Lapis with an uppercut!
Lapis throws the left hand but Griffiths avoids the punch easily.
Lapis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Griffiths throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Griffiths turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Griffiths displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lapis throws out the jab.
Lapis misses with the combination.
Griffiths fires out a quick counter leg kick but Lapis just manages to avoid it.
Griffiths feints and then cracks Lapis's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lapis down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lapis misses the jab.
Lapis has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Griffiths.
An inside leg kick from Griffiths misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapis looks to land a combination. Griffiths sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Lapis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lapis misses with a looping left.
A slapping leg kick lands for Griffiths.
Griffiths lands with a thumping leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Griffiths.
Lapis's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nice uppercut there from Griffiths.
Lapis throws out a loose jab but Griffiths uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lapis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Griffiths manages to avoid it.
Lapis tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lapis tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lapis throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Griffiths sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Griffiths lands with a slapping head kick.

Lapis gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lapis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Griffiths knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Griffiths tries to buck Lapis off but Lapis is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Griffiths is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lapis defends it well.

Lapis actively working from the bottom here.
Lapis has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at St Petersburg MMA Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Lapis is trying to maintain the position but Griffiths is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffiths seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lapis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lapis looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Griffiths passes into half guard.
Griffiths trying to control from half guard but Lapis is working away.

Griffiths is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lapis has managed to free his arm - good work.

Griffiths is looking for a kimura here.
Griffiths wants to take a breather but Lapis is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Stephen Griffiths will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Griffiths scores with a hook to the body. Lapis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lapis throws a nice looking combination but Griffiths bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lapis throws a big shot that misses.
Griffiths attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lapis throws a counter combo.
Griffiths lands a leg kick that knocks Lapis off balance momentarily.
Lapis misses with a wild combination.
Decent striking displayed by Griffiths there.
Lapis lands a nice hook to Griffiths's body. Griffiths takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lapis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Griffiths moves out of range of the strikes.
Lapis missing with a left hand there. Griffiths was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stephen Griffiths is winning the standup battle so far.
Lapis misses with a combination

and Griffiths counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Griffiths.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lapis looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Griffiths has picked Lapis up and slammed him! Lapis can't keep hold of the triangle and Griffiths manages to pass to side control!

Griffiths tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lapis trying to remain calm as Griffiths controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffiths is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Lapis is trying to escape and Griffiths transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Lapis is forced to tap! Nice work there by Griffiths! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Stephen Griffiths!
Stephen Griffiths is the new welterweight champion!
Stephen Griffiths tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.
Andrey Lapis was interviewed post fight and said 'I'll take this belt next time! It's mine!'.