PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donovan Griggs (ranked 1993 p4p, 2354 weight class) and Burt Baklava (ranked 155 p4p, 176 weight class). Griggs comes into the arena with Can't Be Touched- Roy Jones Jr. blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Griggs
vs
Baklava

174 cm
21
148
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
155
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Sakura Style

30th Century Beer Store
Nevermore Clothing Co

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donovan Griggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Burt Baklava!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baklava throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Griggs seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Griggs tries to clinch but Baklava is having none of it.

Griggs clinches with his opponent.
Griggs misses with a hook from the clinch.
Baklava lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Griggs backwards.
Baklava misses with a body punch.
Griggs blocks a body shot from Baklava.
Griggs has a couple of punches blocked by Baklava.
Griggs lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Baklava tries to pull guard but Griggs forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baklava blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Griggs lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Baklava jumps guard but Griggs stands there with Baklava around his waist. Baklava gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Baklava pulls Griggs into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baklava throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Griggs gets to his feet. Baklava looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Baklava swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Griggs defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Baklava.
Griggs throwing a counter right hand but Baklava manages to avoid it.
Donovan Griggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Burt Baklava.
Griggs on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Baklava has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Griggs is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Griggs fails with an attempt to clinch.
Griggs tries to close the distance and clinch up but Baklava swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Baklava lands with a nice body punch.
Griggs is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baklava misses with a body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Griggs on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nice body punch from Baklava.
Good exchange - Baklava coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griggs tries to close the distance and clinch up but Baklava swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Baklava throws the left hand but Griggs avoids the punch easily.
Baklava scores with a hook to the body. Griggs takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Baklava misses with an uppercut. Griggs saw that one coming.
Griggs swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Baklava displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Griggs ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Griggs staying out of range there.
Griggs tries to clinch there but Baklava circles away.
Griggs uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Baklava.
Baklava scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Griggs doesn't seem bothered though.
Donovan Griggs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Griggs is looking to clinch but Baklava is avoiding it.
Griggs tries to close the distance and clinch but Baklava swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Griggs slips a jab from Baklava.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griggs is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baklava misses with a left hand
and Griggs counters with a nice uppercut.
Baklava takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Baklava swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Griggs tries to clinch up.
Griggs tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baklava paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baklava fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Baklava throws a hook but Griggs blocks it.
Baklava keeps the fight on the outside.
Baklava misses with a wild combination.
Baklava misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baklava fails to land with a series of punches.
Baklava ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Baklava fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Griggs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice uppercut lands for Baklava. That snapped Griggs's head back.
Nice jab there from Baklava.
Griggs scores with a hook.
Baklava tries to score a power double leg takedown but Griggs sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Baklava somewhat.
Griggs moves in looking to clinch but Baklava pushes him off.
Baklava misses with a straight right.
Griggs slips a jab and a cross from Baklava.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Baklava dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Some wild striking there from Baklava.
Griggs wants to clinch.
Baklava is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Griggs with a body shot.
Baklava has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Griggs wants to clinch.
Baklava throws out a counter right but Griggs avoids it with no problem.
Griggs bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baklava getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Baklava misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Baklava. Griggs does a little dance to reset his feet.

Griggs moves into range and clinches up with Baklava.
Baklava lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baklava jumps guard and drags Griggs to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Baklava looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Griggs would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Baklava controls Griggs momentarily but Griggs frees himself.
Griggs wants to get up but he can't break Baklava's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Griggs trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Baklava looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Griggs wants to stand but Baklava is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baklava is looking for a triangle but Griggs pushes his legs off easily.

Griggs gets to his feet - Baklava follows without any prompting.
Griggs fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baklava tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griggs was well out of range. Poor timing from Baklava.
Griggs appears to be looking for a big counter.
Baklava falls off balance throwing a combination
and Griggs counters with a straight right hand.
Baklava takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griggs tries to clinch there but Baklava circles away.
Baklava digs a good body shot into Griggs's ribs.
Baklava throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Griggs stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Griggs moves in looking to clinch but Baklava pushes him off.
Burt Baklava seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baklava ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Griggs moves away.
Griggs swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Baklava ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Griggs tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baklava paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baklava swats away the attempt to clinch by Griggs.
Griggs tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Baklava manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Griggs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baklava.
Griggs is looking to counter punch.
Griggs moves in looking to clinch but Baklava pushes him off.
Baklava throws the left hand but Griggs avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baklava swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baklava stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Baklava jabs at Griggs's body.
A right-left combo lands from Baklava.

It looks like Donovan Griggs has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baklava avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Griggs steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Baklava.
Good shot there by Griggs.
Burt Baklava seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baklava looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Baklava misses with a straight right.
Griggs was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Baklava circles away from the clinch attempt.
Baklava lands a body shot.
Baklava keeps the fight on the outside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Baklava showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Donovan Griggs's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Baklava misses with an uppercut. Griggs saw that one coming.
Griggs is looking to counter punch.
Baklava digs a good hook to Griggs's body.
Baklava throws a nice looking combination but Griggs bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Baklava punishes Griggs's body with a nice straight punch.
Baklava swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Griggs doesn't manage to clinch there - Baklava circles away.
Baklava misses the shot to the body.
Baklava misses with a shot to the body
and Griggs counters with a straight right hand.

Baklava is rocked!
Griggs tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baklava paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baklava is still on wobbly legs! Can Griggs finish him?
Griggs walks into a left hand.
Baklava avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baklava keeps the fight on the outside.
Baklava circles away from the clinch attempt.
Griggs tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Griggs looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Baklava lands a nice shot to the body.
Griggs ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Baklava misses with a shot to the body
and Griggs counters with a big right hand! Oh Baklava is in trouble here! Griggs follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Donovan Griggs!
After the fight, Donovan Griggs was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.