PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Melvin Griswold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ed Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Griswold
vs
Stark

190 cm
23
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
209 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Melvin Griswold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ed Stark!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griswold throws an overhand right that lands on Stark's shoulder, as Stark tries to avoid the shot.
Stark throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Griswold's waist but Griswold gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stark off to one side.
Griswold scores with a head kick.

Griswold takes the fight into the clinch.
Griswold stops a takedown attempt from Stark.
Stark wants a takedown but no success here.
Melvin Griswold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ed Stark.
Stark is pushing Griswold up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Griswold has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stark is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Stark has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Griswold regains guard immediately.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Stark stays in close to Griswold's body and controls the position.
Stark really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Griswold. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Griswold looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griswold is keeping the position for now.
Griswold lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stark!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griswold tries to control but Stark wriggling away.
Griswold landing punches.
Griswold lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Griswold is working for a guillotine from mount but Stark frees his head quite easily.
Stark wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Griswold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griswold putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Griswold is landing with some decent strikes but Stark is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Griswold misses with a head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griswold takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Griswold unloads with some shots from mount but Stark bucks and avoids them well.
Griswold controlling the position easily from mount.
Griswold lands a couple of good shots and Stark has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark tries to roll but Griswold sticks to his back.

Griswold is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Griswold trying to control momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stark trying to control the position but Griswold manages to sink in the hooks.
Stark looks winded!
Griswold tries to get the hooks in deep but Stark pushed the leg off.
Griswold has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Griswold is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Stark is defending well though. Griswold let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is trying to stand back up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Griswold looking for the choke but no joy.
Griswold is trying to stick to Stark's back but Stark is turning into Griswold. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Griswold's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Stark.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Griswold dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Griswold shoots for a double leg takedown but Stark sprawls well. He's pushed Griswold's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Griswold comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Griswold moves into the clinch successfully.

Stark gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Griswold regains guard.
Stark controlling from the top position.
Griswold bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stark's guard.
Griswold trying to control the position from guard on top but Stark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Griswold won't allow Stark to get back to his feet.

Stark is looking for a triangle but Griswold pushes his legs off easily.
Stark is breathing heavily.
Griswold trying to control but Stark is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griswold is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Melvin Griswold.
Stark closes this distance looking for a takedown but Griswold circles away.
Stark shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Griswold bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Stark's head backwards.
A looping hook to the body misses from Griswold. Stark does a little dance to reset his feet.
Melvin Griswold is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Griswold shoots in but Stark avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ed Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Griswold closes the distance and pushes Stark back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stark tightens his grip and picks Griswold up, before dumping him to the ground. Griswold manages to land in guard.
Stark postures up in Griswold's guard and throws a big left but Griswold blocks it.
Griswold bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stark's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Griswold wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.
Griswold slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Griswold trying to control the action but Stark is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark looks to move to half guard but instead Griswold has passed into mount! Damn!
Griswold landing shots from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Griswold cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Griswold looking to finish Stark with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stark!

Griswold stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griswold takes a swing at Stark's ribcage but misses.
Griswold shoots for a double leg takedown but Stark sprawls well. He's pushed Griswold's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Melvin Griswold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Griswold pinned against the cage. Griswold gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stark shoots in but Griswold avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stark dives in and grabs Griswold's left leg, looking for a takedown. Griswold pushes down on Stark's head and hops out.
Griswold fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stark uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Griswold.

Griswold clinches up with Stark and pushes him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griswold is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Griswold has had enough of the clinch but Stark keeps him there for the moment.
Griswold is looking to take this one to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Griswold dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Griswold has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stark has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Griswold is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stark is trying to pull guard but Griswold turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Griswold missing with knees to the body.
Griswold gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stark.
Melvin Griswold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ed Stark.
Stark prevents a takedown attempt there.
Griswold tries for a takedown but Stark manages to get underhooks.
Griswold prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stark takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Griswold looking for a takedown.
Griswold wants to get back to striking at distance but Stark won't allow it.

Stark turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Stark is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Griswold knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griswold is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stark off and has taken his back!
Griswold lands a shot to the body.

Griswold has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Stark! Can he survive? No! He's out! Griswold gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Melvin Griswold!