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TWGC 16 (145lbs, D4): Las Vegas Qualifier - Round 1 PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight Tycoon World Grappling Championship rules bout between Chuck Griffen and Akira Tao. Akira Tao is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the featherweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 0 losses; Chuck Griffen! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 0 losses; Akira Tao!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Tao shoots for a takedown but Griffen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Griffen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tao has Griffen up against the cage in a clinch.
Tao should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Griffen pulls guard effortlessly.
Griffen has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tao is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Griffen. Score +3 for passing guard: Griffen (0) vs (3) Tao
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffen tries to buck Tao off but Tao is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tao wants to lay and pray for a moment but Griffen keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffen is trying to improve his position.
Griffen wants to control but Tao postures up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
I wouldn't like to be where Griffen is right now.
Tao trying to control the action but Griffen is working from the bottom.
Griffen is looking to reverse the position.
Griffen can't do much from the bottom here.
Griffen tries to bench press Tao off him but Tao keeps the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffen is working hard here to advance position.
Tao is looking to take a break and control but Griffen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Griffen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tao wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tao is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Griffen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Griffen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tao's best efforts.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Tao has eaten all the pies!
Griffen looking for submissions off his back.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Griffen is staying active underneath Tao, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tao looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Griffen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tao is pressing down on Griffen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Griffen is holding on for now.
Griffen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Griffen is pressing down on Tao's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tao looks winded!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Griffen has his foot on Tao's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tao works his way back into a safe position though.
Griffen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Tao wants to control from the top but Griffen keeps moving.
Griffen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Griffen (2) vs (3) Tao
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Griffen trying to control but Tao is working from the bottom.
Griffen wants to pass the guard but Tao is keeping the position.
Griffen stands and throws Tao's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Griffen (5) vs (3) Tao
Griffen has control of an arm but Tao manages to advance to Griffen's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Griffen (5) vs (7) Tao
Griffen trying to control the hands but Tao won't let him.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Tao working for the choke.
Griffen breaks Tao's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Griffen (7) vs (7) Tao
Griffen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tao wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Griffen is now in half guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Tao is looking to improve his position.
Well, if Griffen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Griffen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Griffen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Griffen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tao wants to improve his position but Griffen is controlling well.
Griffen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Griffen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Griffen moves nicely into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Griffen (10) vs (7) Tao
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Griffen moves into full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Griffen (12) vs (7) Tao
Griffen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Griffen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Tao for as long as he can get away with.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Griffen continues to stall.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Griffen.
Tao keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Griffen seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Tao is holding on tight.
Griffen moves to take his opponent's back. Score +3 for taking back: Griffen (15) vs (7) Tao
Griffen looking for the choke from the back.
Griffen biding his time, controlling Tao.
Griffen has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Tao has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Griffen controls the position.
Griffen tightening his grip on Tao, looking for the choke.
Griffen has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Tao's body.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Griffen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Griffen patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Griffen is riding his opponent, not letting Tao buck him off.
Griffen is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Tao knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Tao for a finish.
Tao staying busy and making it hard for Griffen to control.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Tao trying to control the action but Griffen just sinks the hooks in.
Griffen looking for the choke but no joy.
Griffen looking for the choke but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Good control from Griffen.
And that's the end of the fight!
Griffen takes the fight on points by 15 to 7. |
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