PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kj Barakus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Griggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Chad Griggs enters the cage!

Barakus
vs
Griggs

183 cm
30
200 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

190 cm
29
209 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kj Barakus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chad Griggs!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griggs stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Kj Barakus has been cut.
Griggs connects with a single shot there.
Barakus shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Griggs as he avoids it easily.
Barakus stuffs the takedown attempt from Griggs. Griggs gets slowly back to his feet.
Griggs shoots in for a takedown but Barakus shows good takedown defense.

Griggs fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Barakus sprawls well initially but Griggs persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Barakus is staying active underneath Griggs, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griggs is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Griggs is looking to stall here but Barakus recovers full guard.
Griggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barakus is keeping the position for now.
Griggs lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barakus keeping moving, preventing Griggs from controlling successfully.
Griggs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Griggs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Griggs preventing the sweep.
Griggs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barakus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barakus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Griggs.
Barakus has Griggs pulled in close to control his posture.
Griggs tries to free his leg and advance position but Barakus is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griggs throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Griggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barakus is keeping the position for now.
Griggs is fighting to break Barakus's control of his arms but Barakus is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Griggs throwing strikes but missing.
Griggs working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Griggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Barakus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Griggs throwing strikes but missing.
Griggs is pushing down on Barakus's leg trying to pass to half guard. Barakus is fighting to maintain full guard but Griggs has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barakus desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Griggs thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barakus's head.
Griggs trying to control from half guard but Barakus is working away.
Barakus trying to control here.
Griggs looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barakus holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griggs wants to pass the guard but Barakus is defending well.
Griggs is looking to take a break and control but Barakus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barakus is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at CCF's Flying Circus, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barakus takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Griggs shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Griggs wants to free his trapped foot but Barakus is holding on for dear life with his legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barakus tries to get to full guard but Griggs has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Griggs dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kj Barakus's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Griggs's jab looks to have found its range, popping Barakus under the eye.
Griggs misses the shot to the body.
Griggs misses with the combination.
Griggs has a takedown stuffed.
That kick from Barakus tenderised Griggs's leg. Griggs is trying to keep his angry face on.
Barakus shoots in but no luck this time.
Chad Griggs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griggs shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barakus sprawls well. Barakus wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Griggs gets slowly back to his feet.
Griggs shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barakus but Barakus pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kj Barakus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chad Griggs.
Griggs changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barakus tries to avoid it but Griggs manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barakus to the ground. Barakus escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griggs fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barakus manages to avoid it.
Griggs fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kj Barakus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barakus walks into a straight right hand from Griggs.
Barakus throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Griggs swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Barakus.

Griggs drives through with a takedown into guard.
Griggs is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barakus trying to keep a closed guard but Griggs is proving a slippery customer.
Griggs trying to control but Barakus is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barakus wants to sweep but no luck.
Barakus keeping moving, preventing Griggs from controlling successfully.
Griggs throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Griggs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barakus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barakus has momentary wrist control but Griggs slips an elbow through the middle.
Griggs throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Griggs throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griggs trying to control but Barakus is working from the bottom.
Chad Griggs has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barakus keeping full guard, as Griggs tries to pass.
Barakus is trying to control the position but Griggs postures up.
Griggs tries to free his leg and advance position but Barakus is retaining full guard.
Griggs preventing the sweep.
Griggs wants to control from the top but Barakus keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barakus on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Kj Barakus's cut is getting worse.
Barakus gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Griggs scores with a nice right hand.
Griggs has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griggs shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barakus pinned against the cage. Barakus gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barakus shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Griggs sprawls well. Griggs wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barakus gets slowly back to his feet.
Griggs throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Griggs connects with a nice looking jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barakus takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Chad Griggs seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Griggs.
Barakus takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Griggs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kj Barakus's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Griggs lands a slapping body shot.
Griggs throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barakus's waist but Barakus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Griggs off to one side.
Barakus walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Griggs looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Griggs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barakus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Griggs loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barakus trying to control the position.
Griggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Barakus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barakus keeping full guard, as Griggs tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barakus controlling the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kj Barakus wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Barakus takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Barakus moves into the clinch successfully.
Griggs is looking for a takedown.

Barakus has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Griggs regains guard immediately.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barakus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Griggs works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barakus accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barakus won't allow Griggs to sweep him here.
Griggs not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Griggs tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griggs is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Griggs pulls Barakus in close to prevent any damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Barakus tries to free his leg and advance position but Griggs is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Chad Griggs.
Griggs wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Barakus keeps the fight on the outside.

Barakus scores with a takedown into Griggs's guard.
Griggs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Griggs looking to control.
Barakus preventing the sweep.
Barakus throwing strikes from guard but Griggs blocks nicely.
Barakus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griggs looking for a sweep. Not yet Griggs, not yet.
Griggs has his hands on Barakus's head, controlling the position.
Barakus preventing the sweep.
Griggs keeps trying to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Barakus scores with a takedown into Griggs's guard.
Griggs is pulling down on Barakus's head. It's preventing any offense from Barakus, at least for the moment.
Barakus trying to control but Griggs is working from the bottom.

Barakus 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griggs is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barakus wants to control from the top but Griggs keeps moving.
Barakus throws a big right hand that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Griggs is on top in guard.
Griggs wants to control from the top but Barakus keeps moving.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Griggs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kj Barakus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chad Griggs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barakus trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Griggs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Griggs winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Chad Griggs!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Chad Griggs!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Chad Griggs!

Chad Griggs wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Chad Griggs made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Kj Barakus was interviewed post fight and said 'Hats off to Griggs, he was the better man tonight, Im nearing the end of my career, so ill fight in till Cornell wants me. Thank you to all my fans supporting me. God bless.'.