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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Lapis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lapis's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Once Solemn . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 178 cm
26
185 lbs
18 - 10 - 0 |
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170 cm
26
175 lbs
22 - 6 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank |
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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
18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Lapis!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
22 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Griffiths!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Lapis.
Griffiths wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice shot lands for Lapis.
Lapis misses with a double jab
and Griffiths counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Griffiths avoids a punch combination nicely.
Griffiths throws a nice outside leg kick.
Griffiths avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Griffiths cracks Lapis with a right hand to the side of the head.
Lapis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Griffiths steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lapis.
Griffiths fails with the takedown.
Lapis has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Griffiths.
Griffiths throws a wild body kick that Lapis sees coming a mile off.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Lapis scores with a four punch combination!
Lapis rushes Griffiths and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lapis swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Griffiths blocks a body shot from Lapis.
Griffiths tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lapis's elbow.
Griffiths breaks the clinch.
Lapis ducks under a wild hook from Griffiths.
Griffiths shoots for a takedown but Lapis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lapis has been working on his boxing with his coaches at St Petersburg MMA Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Griffiths tries for a takedown but Lapis circles away easily
and Lapis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Andrey Lapis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Griffiths.
Griffiths shoots in looking for a takedown but Lapis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Griffiths's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Griffiths shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lapis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Griffiths.
A punch combination from Lapis misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Griffiths! But no joy.
Griffiths fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Lapis is out of range.
Lapis stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lapis with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Griffiths to score with a decent uppercut.
A leg kick checked by Lapis.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapis walks into a left hand.
A big right from Lapis misses.
Griffiths throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
We've been informed that Griffiths has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Lapis looks to land a right hand but Griffiths moved out of range.
Lapis tries to clinch there but Griffiths circles away.
Lapis swings widly with a right hand
and Griffiths counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Griffiths thuds his right hand into Lapis's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A slow jab from Griffiths misses its intended target.
Griffiths turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lapis cracks Griffiths with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Lapis wants to clinch.
Griffiths missing with a left hand there. Lapis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lapis is looking to clinch but Griffiths is avoiding it.
Lapis misses with a hook.
Lapis throws a body shot but no joy.
Griffiths only half commits to the counter leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lapis's sensitive parts.
Nice uppercut there from Griffiths.
Lapis connects with a crisp jab.
Griffiths scoring well with a low kick there.
Lapis with a hook.
Griffiths throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lapis on the side of the head.
A punch combination from Lapis misses.
Sloppy strikes from Lapis. Those never looked like landing.
Lapis has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lapis there as he acknowledges the shot.
Griffiths takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Griffiths takes one on the button.
Lapis throws a series of punches but Griffiths avoids them all with ease.
Lapis throws a shot to the body.
Lapis avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Lapis went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Lapis is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Lapis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Griffiths misses with a body punch.
Griffiths'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.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths misses with a hook to the ribs.
Griffiths keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lapis's efforts to push away.
Lapis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Griffiths makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Griffiths.
Lapis blocks a body shot from Griffiths.
Lapis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Griffiths backwards.
Lapis prevents the takedown attempt.
Griffiths makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Lapis scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lapis pushes Griffiths back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lapis looking to slow down the pace here.
Griffiths looking to slow down the pace here.
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 Andrey Lapis will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Griffiths lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A leg kick checked by Lapis.
Griffiths throws a half hearted mid kick.
Griffiths bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lapis's head.
Griffiths cracks the inside of Lapis's front leg.
Lapis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Griffiths counters with a stiff right hand.
Griffiths lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Griffiths drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Griffiths connects with a leg kick. Lapis looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Griffiths buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Griffiths avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lapis is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Good exchange - Griffiths coming out on top.
Griffiths fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lapis listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lapis's sensitive parts.
Lapis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Griffiths! But no joy.
Griffiths lands a head kick. Lapis smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Griffiths bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Griffiths shoots in but no luck this time.
A counter left hand to the body from Lapis misses its target.
Griffiths closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Griffiths is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lapis is looking to control Griffiths's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lapis avoid being mounted?
Lapis is controlling Griffiths's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Griffiths trying to control the action but Lapis is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths prevents Lapis from improving his position.
Lapis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lapis is looking for a triangle but Griffiths pushes his legs off easily.
Lapis lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Griffiths has control of Lapis's left arm, preventing Lapis from doing any damage.
Griffiths is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lapis wants to control from the top but Griffiths keeps moving.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths is looking for a triangle but Lapis pushes his legs off easily.
Griffiths is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lapis is aware though and is defending well.
Griffiths not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lapis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Griffiths is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lapis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lapis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Griffiths is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lapis defends well.
Griffiths is looking for a triangle but Lapis pushes his legs off easily.
Lapis is working Griffiths over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lapis trying to control but Griffiths is working from the bottom.
Griffiths looking to control.
Lapis trying to control the position from guard on top but Griffiths is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lapis is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Lapis misses with a few strikes there.
Lapis misses with a body shot.
Lapis missing with a left hand there. Griffiths was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
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.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Lapis connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lapis is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lapis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Griffiths manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Griffiths tries a quick counter leg kick but Lapis is wise to it.
Griffiths throws a head kick that misses.
Griffiths lands a head kick. Lapis smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Lapis throws a series of punches but Griffiths avoids them all with ease.
Stephen Griffiths seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Griffiths dodges the punch combination from Lapis.
Lapis avoids the head kick by Griffiths.
Lapis doesn't manage to clinch there - Griffiths circles away.
Andrey Lapis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Griffiths lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Griffiths shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lapis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lapis keeping moving, preventing Griffiths from controlling successfully.
Griffiths slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lapis takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapis is looking to regain half guard here but Griffiths keeps moving and retains side control.
Lapis is trying to control Griffiths's posture but Griffiths avoids it.
Lapis takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Griffiths tries for a kimura but Lapis is defending well.
Lapis is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lapis trying to control here.
Lapis tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Griffiths has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapis is trying to reverse the position but instead Griffiths has taken his back - oops!
Griffiths has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Lapis controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.
Griffiths struggling to keep hold of the position.
Griffiths doesn't have the hooks in and Lapis manages to turn into his guard.
Lapis lands a couple of digs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lapis is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Griffiths has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Lapis is looking to defend but Griffiths has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Lapis! Griffiths pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Lapis taps out and this one is all over!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Stephen Griffiths! Stephen Griffiths retains his welterweight title!
Our winner, Stephen Griffiths, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
52% |
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