PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Rabago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Griffin has chosen Stick Stickly as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rabago
vs
Griffin

184 cm
21
230 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
269 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Monster MMA

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Rabago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Griffin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rabago scores with a takedown into Griffin's guard.
Rabago forces his way into half guard.
Griffin is looking to control Rabago's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Griffin avoid being mounted?
Griffin gets back to full guard.

Rabago drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rabago jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rabago wants to stand and escape but instead Griffin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Griffin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rabago's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rabago looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Griffin passes into side control.
Rabago tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Griffin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rabago is breathing heavily.
Rabago manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Griffin moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Rabago.
Rabago tries to improve position but can't.
Rabago taking a bit of punishment here - Griffin scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffin stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Griffin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Griffin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Griffin looking to pass the guard.

Rabago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Griffin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Griffin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabago is looking for a sweep.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Griffin has eaten all the pies!
Griffin wants to control but Rabago is keeping him busy.
Griffin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rabago gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Griffin controlling from the full mount.
Griffin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Griffin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rabago is looking to escape.
Rabago gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Griffin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rabago closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Griffin tries to kick Rabago off but Rabago keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Griffin wants to get back to full guard.
Griffin won't allow Rabago to pass to mount.

Griffin is defending against the submission attempts here by Rabago.
Rabago is thwarting Griffin's attempts to control the position.

Rabago is working for a kimura but Griffin is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin is pressing down on Rabago's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Griffin is on top in guard.
Griffin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Griffin pushing down on Rabago's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Griffin decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Rabago fails with the takedown

and Griffin counters with a shoot takedown. Rabago fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rabago is looking for a triangle but Griffin pushes his legs off easily.

Rabago looking for a guillotine here but Griffin defends easily.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Rabago keeps moving.

Rabago is looking for a triangle but Griffin pushes his legs off easily.
Griffin trying to control the position from guard on top but Rabago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rabago is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Griffin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mark Griffin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Griffin trying to control but Rabago is working from the bottom.

Rabago working for submissions but it's allowed Griffin to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Rabago is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Griffin pulls his head out easily.

Rabago actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rabago is looking for a sweep. Griffin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Griffin works his foot free and advances to mount.
Griffin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Griffin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rabago shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Griffin's guard.

Rabago drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Griffin dives on top into guard.
Griffin with a nice head shot there.
Griffin tries to free his leg and advance position but Rabago is retaining full guard.
Griffin trying to control the position from guard on top but Rabago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Griffin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rabago pushes Griffin away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Griffin gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rabago tries to bench press Griffin off him but Griffin keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rabago tries to pass to full mount but Griffin defends it.

Rabago is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Griffin is looking to improve his position.

Rabago is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Griffin trying to control but Rabago postures up.

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

Rabago has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Griffin defend it? Rabago steps over the head and cranks it - Griffin is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Rabago!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tom Rabago!