PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marlon Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Larionov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Griffin's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, "Don't Waste My Time" by Jim Johnston. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Griffin
vs
Larionov

177 cm
24
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Likes comics

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marlon Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Igor Larionov!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Griffin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Larionov was covering up waiting for the punch and Griffin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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

Larionov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Griffin stacks Larionov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Griffin!
Griffin in side control lands a decent elbow.
Griffin working away.

Griffin has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Griffin pushes Larionov up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Larionov backwards.
Larionov can't find room to land a body shot as Griffin controls the action.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Griffin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Griffin darts in and clinches Larionov up against the cage.
Griffin prevents Larionov from breaking the clinch.

Griffin gets control of Larionov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Griffin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Larionov wants to pass the guard but Griffin is keeping the position.
Griffin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Larionov is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larionov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Griffin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Larionov!
Larionov is just holding on here. Griffin manages to take his back.
Larionov is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larionov is still trying to improve position.
Larionov trying to control the hands but Griffin won't let him.
Griffin keeps control of the position as Larionov tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffin working for the choke.
Griffin gets his hands free as Larionov looks to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffin is hanging on to Larionov's back as he tries to escape.
Larionov trying to control the hands but Griffin won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marlon Griffin dominated that round.
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.

Larionov throws a front kick that sends Griffin stumbling back into the cage.
Larionov keeps the fight on the outside.

Griffin moves into the clinch successfully.

Griffin jumps into guard, dragging Larionov to the mat.
Griffin keeping moving, preventing Larionov from controlling successfully.
Griffin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Larionov looking to sit in guard and control but Griffin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffin stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Larionov scores with a nice body kick.
Griffin lands with a nice combination. Larionov backs away looking to recover.
Larionov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Marlon Griffin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Griffin darts in and clinches Larionov up against the cage.

Griffin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Griffin tries to clinch but Larionov moves out of range.
Larionov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Marlon Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griffin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Larionov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Griffin pinned against the cage. Griffin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larionov takes a swing at Griffin's ribcage but misses.
Griffin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!

Griffin closes the distance and clinches.
Larionov has a couple of punches blocked by Griffin.

Griffin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Larionov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Larionov lands a leg kick that knocks Griffin off balance momentarily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Griffin crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Larionov - the referee stops the clock and Griffin gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Larionov. Griffin manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Larionov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Larionov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Larionov closes the distance and clinches up with Griffin, looking for a takedown. Larionov pushes Griffin against the cage but Griffin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Marlon Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Larionov.
Griffin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Griffin clinches up with Larionov and pushes him back against the cage.

Griffin breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Larionov. Larionov obviously looking to wear him down.
Griffin wants to clinch up but Larionov keeps it at a distance.
Larionov lands a high kick!
A chopping leg kick lands by Larionov.
A good leg kick by Larionov.

Griffin clinches up with Larionov and pushes him back against the cage.
Griffin is trying to force a seperation but Larionov has the dominant position.
Griffin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Larionov has a couple of punches blocked by Griffin.

Griffin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Larionov scoring well with a low kick there.
Griffin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Larionov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Marlon Griffin is winning the standup battle so far.
Griffin shoots in looking for a takedown. Larionov tries to sprawl out of it but Griffin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Larionov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Larionov throws a leg kick which misses Griffin's front leg but catches the back leg as Griffin tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larionov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Larionov throws a quick inside leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Larionov.
Larionov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Griffin moves out of range of the strikes.
Larionov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good leg kick by Larionov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Griffin tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Larionov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Griffin tries to avoid it but Larionov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Griffin to the ground. Griffin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Griffin is looking to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin stuffs the takedown.
Larionov throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Larionov scoring well with a low kick there.
Griffin tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marlon Griffin will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Larionov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Griffin moves into the clinch.

Griffin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Larionov.
An inside leg kick lands from Larionov.
Larionov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Larionov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Larionov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Larionov shoots in for a double leg but Griffin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Griffin closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Griffin breaks the clinch.

Griffin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Larionov wants to control but Griffin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Griffin controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Larionov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Griffin decides to return to a standing position.
A telegraphed right hand from Larionov misses the target.
Larionov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Larionov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Griffin. That did some damage!
A slapping leg kick lands for Larionov.
Igor Larionov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larionov lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Griffin closes the distance and clinches.
Larionov working aggressively here.
Griffin is trying to pull guard but Larionov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Griffin fails to pull guard.
Griffin tries to break the clinch but Larionov is controlling the position.
Larionov throws a head punch that misses.
Larionov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Larionov misses with some punches.
Larionov tries to work over Griffin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Larionov looking to slow down the pace here.
Larionov misses with a body punch.
Larionov is trying to maintain a safe position but Griffin gets an underhook and turns Larionov into the cage.
Larionov misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larionov trying to control the position but instead, Griffin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Larionov into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Larionov fails to land.
Larionov wants to get back to striking at distance but Griffin won't allow it.
Griffin stalling in the clinch but Larionov improves position.
Larionov taking a breather.
Larionov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Griffin working hard to break the clinch.
Griffin can't break the clinch.
Griffin prevents a body shot from Larionov.
Larionov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Griffin as Larionov tries to tie him up.
Larionov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Marlon Griffin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch on the inside from Larionov fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin keeps control of Larionov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Griffin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Larionov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Griffin's sensitive parts.
Griffin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Larionov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Larionov - that will leave a mark!
Griffin tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Marlon Griffin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Griffin tries to clinch but Larionov moves out of range.
Larionov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Larionov keeps Griffin at a distance using the push kick.
Larionov throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A good leg kick by Larionov.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Larionov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Larionov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Larionov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Griffin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!