PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Akira Azuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Azuma
vs
Griffiths

172 cm
33
172 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

170 cm
29
175 lbs
27 - 11 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Machiavelli Boutique

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 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Akira Azuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Griffiths!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffiths connects with a looping right hand.

It looks like Akira Azuma has been cut.

Azuma throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Griffiths was covering up waiting for the punch and Azuma finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Griffiths is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Griffiths trying to control the position.
Griffiths working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Azuma.
Azuma with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Azuma accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azuma landing with the ground and pound.
Azuma trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Griffiths avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Griffiths working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Azuma.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffiths looking for a guillotine here but Azuma defends easily.
Our spies down at at Zero Tolerance inform us that Griffiths has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Azuma loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Griffiths has his foot on Azuma's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Azuma works his way back into a safe position though.
Griffiths is pulling down on Azuma's head. It's preventing any offense from Azuma, at least for the moment.
Azuma trying to control but Griffiths is working from the bottom.
Azuma keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Griffiths's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Azuma got a little sloppy there for a moment and Griffiths has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Azuma has managed to get both his arms back between Griffiths's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Griffiths wants to sweep but no luck.
Azuma not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Azuma wants to control from the top but Griffiths keeps moving.
Azuma working some strikes from top position.

Griffiths throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Griffiths is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Azuma wants to pass the guard but Griffiths is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Azuma can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Griffiths is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Azuma wants to control from the top but Griffiths keeps moving.

Griffiths throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Azuma is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Azuma in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Griffiths trying to keep a closed guard but Azuma is proving a slippery customer.

Griffiths working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Azuma has passed into half guard!
Azuma winds up and cracks Griffiths with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Griffiths is trying to control but can't.

Griffiths looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Griffiths trying to control but Azuma postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Griffiths looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Azuma dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Akira Azuma's cut.
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.

Griffiths moves out of range of the body kick from Azuma.
Azuma slips under a jab.
Azuma attempts a counter takedown but Griffiths avoids it well and moves away.
Azuma thuds his shin into the meat of Griffiths's side.
Azuma tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Griffiths is able to avoid easily.
Griffiths misses with a series of wild punches.
Azuma attempts a counter takedown but Griffiths avoids it well and moves away.
Azuma just misses with a punch to the body.
Griffiths throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Azuma's waist but Azuma gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Griffiths off to one side.
Griffiths is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Azuma.
Azuma appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Azuma moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffiths is leaning against Azuma and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Griffiths blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Azuma stops a takedown attempt from Griffiths.

Griffiths breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Azuma feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Griffiths's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths slips under a jab from Azuma.
Azuma misses with a straight right.
No luck for Griffiths with that takedown attempt.
Akira Azuma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Griffiths.
Azuma scores with a punch to the head.
Azuma lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Azuma throws a leg kick but Griffiths sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Griffiths pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Griffiths displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Griffiths displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Azuma throws out the jab.
Griffiths throws out a counter right but Azuma avoids it with no problem.
Azuma's corner calls for a 1-2. Azuma obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Griffiths shoots in and drives through. Azuma sprawls well.
Azuma throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Griffiths drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Azuma gets a clinch.
Griffiths blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Griffiths scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A body shot lands from Azuma.
A nice left hand lands by Azuma.
Azuma doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Griffiths lands a shoulder strike.
Azuma lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Azuma misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Griffiths's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Azuma tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Azuma tries to throw a body punch but Griffiths avoids it by throwing Azuma back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Azuma lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azuma lands a body punch in the clinch.
Azuma is pressed up against the cage. Griffiths has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Azuma down to the mat. Azuma avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Azuma digs a good body shot into Griffiths's ribs.
Azuma lands a nice leg kick that just misses Griffiths's sensitive parts.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Azuma, as that shot connected.
Griffiths walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Azuma swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Azuma.
Azuma tries to close the distance and clinch up but Griffiths swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Azuma takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Azuma throws a leg kick but Griffiths moved away.

Griffiths shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Azuma is trying to defend but Griffiths finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azuma trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths working over Azuma with some ground and pound. Azuma looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Azuma gets back to full guard.
Azuma is trying to keep Griffiths in close.
Griffiths wants to control from the top but Azuma keeps moving.
Griffiths looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Azuma dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Akira Azuma's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Griffiths, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice uppercut lands for Griffiths. That snapped Azuma's head back.
Azuma misses with a body kick.
Griffiths throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A big left from Azuma misses.
A low kick from Azuma misses
letting Griffiths counter with a right hand.
Azuma thows a body kick. Griffiths tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Some bone on bone action there as Griffiths checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A little jabbing left from Griffiths on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Azuma lands with an uppercut that bounces Griffiths off the cage and back into range.
Azuma lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azuma ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Griffiths moves away.
Griffiths circles away from the clinch attempt.
Azuma tries to close the distance and clinch but Griffiths swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No joy there for Griffiths, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Azuma throws a body kick that misses.
Azuma moves into range and connects with a jab.
Griffiths feints and then cracks Azuma's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Azuma down.
Griffiths swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Griffiths uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Azuma.
Good shot there by Azuma.
Azuma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Azuma lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Azuma lands a leg kick that knocks Griffiths off balance momentarily.
Griffiths slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azuma is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Griffiths.
A big left from Azuma misses.
Griffiths tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Stephen Griffiths has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azuma throws a hook but Griffiths blocks it.
Azuma misses the shot to the body.
Griffiths scores with the left hand. Azuma knows he should have avoided that one.
Griffiths misses with a hook.
Azuma with a jab.
Azuma misses with a straight left.
Azuma throws a nice looking combination but Griffiths bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Griffiths misses with a head kick.
Azuma shoots in and drives through. Griffiths sprawls well.
Azuma lands a leg kick that knocks Griffiths off balance momentarily.
Azuma looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Griffiths lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Azuma takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azuma tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griffiths was well out of range. Poor timing from Azuma.

Azuma drives through and clinches with Griffiths against the cage.
Azuma misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Griffiths pulls guard successfully.
Azuma stands up over Griffiths, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Azuma postures up in Griffiths's guard and throws a big left but Griffiths blocks it.
Azuma chips away with some ground and pound.
Azuma lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Azuma is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Griffiths looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Azuma scoring with punches to the head and body.
Akira Azuma overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Azuma is in close to Griffiths's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths is rocked!
Azuma trying to control but Griffiths is working from the bottom.

Griffiths is looking for a triangle but Azuma pushes his legs off easily.
Griffiths takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Azuma scoring with punches to the head and body.
Akira Azuma is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Griffiths is still in real trouble! Can Azuma finish him?
Azuma makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Azuma makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azuma seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Griffiths is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Azuma defends well.
Azuma scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Azuma showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Azuma has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Azuma!
During a confident post fight interview, Akira Azuma thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.