PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hysse Berg (ranked 6202 p4p, 632 weight class) and Matt Griffin (ranked 6634 p4p, 654 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Berg
vs
Griffin

185 cm
27
197 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

186 cm
21
194 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hysse Berg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Berg decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Griffin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Berg seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Griffin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Griffin is looking for a sweep. Berg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Griffin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Griffin.

Griffin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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

Griffin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Berg doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Berg manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berg is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've been hearing good reports from Berg's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Griffin throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Berg advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffin actively working from the bottom here.
Berg working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back.
Griffin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Berg scores with a couple of nice shots.
Berg is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Berg sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Berg is trying to control. Griffin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Berg content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Berg scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Griffin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Griffin is on top in guard.

Griffin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Griffin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Berg is controlling Griffin's posture.
Berg is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Griffin throwing strikes from guard but Berg blocks nicely.

Griffin has gone for a leg lock! Berg slips out almost immediately though and dives into Griffin's guard.

Berg looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffin working for a triangle but Berg defends it easily.

Griffin has his foot on Berg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Berg works his way back into a safe position though.
Berg wants to pass the guard but Griffin is keeping the position.

Griffin working for submissions but it's allowed Berg to get to half guard.
Griffin won't allow Berg to pass to mount.
Berg is trying to control the action in half guard but Griffin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Griffin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Berg seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Griffin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Berg lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Berg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Griffin keeps working.
Berg seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Berg scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Griffin missing with punches from the bottom.

Griffin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Berg wants to free his trapped foot but Griffin is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Griffin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hysse Berg dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Berg decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Griffin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Berg there.
Berg is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Berg working the ground and pound effectively.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffin is wriggling around trying to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin gets back to half guard.

Griffin actively working from the bottom here.
Berg looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Griffin is breathing heavily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Berg lands a nice short elbow.
Griffin has hold of Berg's hands but Berg slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Griffin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Berg drops an elbow to the side of Griffin's head.
Well, if Berg 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.

Berg is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Griffin is just riding it out for now. Berg eventually gives up the hold.
Hysse Berg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Griffin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Berg working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Berg.

Berg seems to be looking for submissions.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back.
Berg lands strikes from half guard.
Berg prevents Griffin from improving his position.
Berg is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Griffin can do to turn this around?

Griffin actively working from the bottom here.
Griffin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Berg scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Berg is looking to advance position but Griffin won't allow it.
Berg working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back.

Griffin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Griffin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Berg tries to pass to full mount but Griffin defends it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Berg connects with a nice short shot to Griffin's temple.
Berg working the head and body with strikes.

Berg looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Berg.
Berg wants to free his trapped foot but Griffin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Berg in particular looking to stall.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back.
Griffin has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Hard Knocks Training. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Griffin actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffin wants to improve his position but Berg is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hysse Berg dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Berg darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Berg there.
Berg is nestled in close to Griffin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Berg is nestled in close to Griffin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Griffin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Griffin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berg looking to pass the guard.
Berg working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Berg trying to control but Griffin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin trying to strike off his back.
Griffin tries to strike from the bottom.
Griffin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Berg wants to pass the guard but Griffin is keeping the position.

Griffin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Berg is aware though and is defending well.
Berg advances to half guard.
Berg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Griffin keeps working.

Griffin actively working from the bottom here.
Berg not doing much here.
Berg moves nicely into side control.
Berg slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Griffin.
Hysse Berg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berg dominating with strikes here.
Griffin throwing hammer fists to the chest of Berg. What's that going to do exactly?
Berg tries to control but Griffin wriggling away.
Griffin throwing hammer fists to the chest of Berg. What's that going to do exactly?
Berg scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Griffin?
Berg working Griffin over with strikes here.
Griffin is working to get back to half guard.
Berg is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Griffin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Griffin regains half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Berg working over Griffin with some ground and pound. Griffin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Berg passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin tries to buck Berg off but Berg is having none of it.
Griffin takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Griffin is trying to improve his position.
Berg lands a decent elbow from side control.
Berg tries to move to mount but Griffin blocks the move with his legs.
Griffin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Berg landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Berg there.
Berg is trying to control. Griffin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back.
Berg trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back.

Griffin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Berg slows the pace down in half guard.
Berg drops an elbow to the side of Griffin's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Griffin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Matt Griffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Berg is figuring out what he wants to do next.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hysse Berg showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Berg 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hysse Berg!