PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stuey Griffen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dusty Johnston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Griffen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, This Is War. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Griffen
vs
Johnston

184 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
188 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stuey Griffen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dusty Johnston!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnston gets a takedown into half guard.

Griffen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Johnston is trying to control. Griffen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Johnston missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnston is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Griffen trying to control from the bottom.
Griffen is pressing down on Johnston's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Johnston trying to control the position from guard on top but Griffen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Johnston throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Griffen was covering up waiting for the punch and Johnston finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Johnston with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Griffen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Johnston trying to control but Griffen is working from the bottom.
Johnston wants to stand and escape but instead Griffen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Griffen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Johnston looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Johnston looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Johnston!
Johnston cracks Griffen with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Johnston really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Griffen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston trying to control the position but Griffen is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnston connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Griffen some visible discomfort.
Griffen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Griffen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Johnston missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Johnston seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Griffen is trying to control but can't.
Griffen is breathing heavily.
Griffen won't allow Johnston to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnston.
Johnston is staying tight to Griffen's torso, preventing him from escaping.
A control attempt from Griffen but he's now mounted!
Griffen is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Johnston cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Johnston connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Johnston lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Griffen sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Johnston trying to pass the guard but Griffen defending well.

Griffen looking for submissions off his back.
Johnston takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dusty Johnston dominated that round.
That's time! Griffen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Griffen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Griffen has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Johnston 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.

Johnston looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Griffen wants to control but Johnston postures up.
Johnston trying to control the action but Griffen is working from the bottom.
Johnston connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Griffen some visible discomfort.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffen trying to remain calm as Johnston controls from the top position.
Let's hope that Johnston has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Griffen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Griffen is trying to get back to full guard.
Griffen is trying to control but can't.

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

Griffen has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Johnston escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Johnston!

Johnston tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Griffen regains half guard there - taking advantage of Johnston's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Griffen punching from the bottom.
Dusty Johnston has got the better of the ground game so far.
Griffen gets full guard.
Johnston throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Johnston preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnston not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Johnston pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffen is keeping the position for now.

Griffen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Johnston wants to control from the top but Griffen keeps moving.
Johnston stands up over Griffen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnston trying to control but Griffen is working from the bottom.
Griffen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnston sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Griffen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Johnston is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Griffen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Johnston's back instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnston manages to reverse the position and now he's in Griffen's guard. Nice work there by Johnston.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dusty Johnston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Johnston scores with a takedown into Griffen's guard.

Griffen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Griffen has an active guard here but Johnston has managed to pass into half guard.
Johnston looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Griffen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Johnston slows the pace down in half guard.
Griffen is staying active underneath Johnston, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnston prevents Griffen from improving his position.
Johnston working the head and body with strikes.
Johnston with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Griffen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnston is working away from the top position though.
Johnston wants to free his trapped foot but Griffen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Johnston winds up and cracks Griffen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Johnston seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Griffen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Griffen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Johnston.
Johnston trying to pass the guard but Griffen defending well.
Griffen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Griffen.

Johnston got a little sloppy there for a moment and Griffen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnston has managed to get both his arms back between Griffen's legs - danger averted.
Johnston scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johnston throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnston accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Griffen keeping moving, preventing Johnston from controlling successfully.
Johnston stands up over Griffen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Griffen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnston is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Johnston accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Griffen tries to clinch up but Johnston circles away and keeps his distance.
Dusty Johnston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnston scores with a takedown into Griffen's guard.
Johnston must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Johnston wants to control from the top but Griffen keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnston scoring with some ground and pound.
Griffen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Griffen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Johnston.

Griffen throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Johnston escapes and throws Griffen's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Griffen struggling a bit here.
Stuey Griffen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dusty Johnston is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffen is letting Johnston control him for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dusty Johnston comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnston has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dusty Johnston!