PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jhefersson Rodrigues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jhefersson Rodrigues has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rodrigues
vs
Griffin

225 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
260 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jhefersson Rodrigues!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Brian Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Peter Branson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Griffin misses.
Rodrigues tries to counter with a takedown but Griffin is quick to defend against it.
Griffin connects with a single shot there.
Griffin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodrigues moves away.
Rodrigues shoots in and drives through. Griffin sprawls well.
Rodrigues uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Griffin.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Griffin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhefersson Rodrigues. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Griffin throws the left hand but Rodrigues avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin throws a hook to the side of Rodrigues's head but Rodrigues sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Griffin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Rodrigues has closed the distance and engaged Griffin in a clinch.
Griffin misses with the head strike.
Griffin is trying to push Rodrigues away but Rodrigues has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin working aggressively here.
Griffin has a couple of punches blocked by Rodrigues.
A body shot lands from Griffin.
Rodrigues blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Griffin is looking for a takedown.

Rodrigues pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rodrigues misses with a takedown attempt - Griffin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rodrigues really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Griffin misses with a looping right.
Griffin with a nice cross.

Rodrigues moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Griffin fails to land.
Griffin tries to throw a body punch but Rodrigues avoids it by throwing Griffin back against the cage.
Rodrigues blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Griffin should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Rodrigues is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Griffin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin prevents a takedown attempt there.
Griffin misses with a short punch on the inside.

Rodrigues pulls guard.
Rodrigues looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Rodrigues has control of Griffin's left arm, preventing Griffin from doing any damage.
Griffin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rodrigues striking off his back but it's not causing Griffin any problems.
Griffin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rodrigues. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rodrigues looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodrigues, not yet.
Griffin postures up and lands a big shot to Rodrigues's brow.
Griffin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
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!
Rodrigues looking to control.
Griffin chips away with some ground and pound.
Rodrigues is breathing heavily.
Rodrigues controls Griffin momentarily but Griffin frees himself.
Griffin looking to sit in guard and control but Rodrigues gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffin is looking for a triangle but Rodrigues pushes his legs off easily.
Griffin trying to keep a closed guard but Rodrigues is proving a slippery customer.
Griffin wants to sweep but no luck.
Griffin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Griffin pulls Rodrigues in close to prevent any damage.
Rodrigues looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Griffin looking for a sweep. Not yet Griffin, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodrigues throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Griffin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rodrigues passes Griffin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Griffin is trying to get back to full guard.
Rodrigues trying to control from half guard but Griffin is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rodrigues.
Rodrigues trying to pass the guard but Griffin defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Griffin dominated that 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.

Griffin throws a hook to the side of Rodrigues's head but Rodrigues sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rodrigues's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Griffin connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rodrigues scrambles back to his feet.
Rodrigues misses with a leg kick
and Griffin counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Griffin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rodrigues's guard.

Rodrigues uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Rodrigues keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rodrigues scores with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rodrigues throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Griffin moves out of range of the body kick.
Griffin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Griffin cracks Rodrigues with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rodrigues misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rodrigues avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rodrigues shoots in but no luck this time.
Griffin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Griffin fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin looks to land a right hand but Rodrigues moved out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodrigues.
Brian Griffin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rodrigues moves out of range as Griffin strikes.
Rodrigues closes the distance and clinches up with Griffin, looking for a takedown. Rodrigues pushes Griffin against the cage but Griffin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jhefersson Rodrigues. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Griffin misses with a body punch
and Rodrigues counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Rodrigues gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rodrigues working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Griffin.
Griffin cracks Rodrigues with a solid left hand.
Jhefersson Rodrigues overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rodrigues trying to control the position.
Griffin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rodrigues's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodrigues looking to hit a scissor sweep but Griffin is one step ahead there.
Griffin wants to pass the guard but Rodrigues is keeping the position.
Griffin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Griffin distracts Rodrigues with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Griffin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rodrigues's head.
Rodrigues controls Griffin momentarily but Griffin frees himself.
Griffin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Griffin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Griffin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Griffin landing some decent shots from guard.

Rodrigues is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Griffin landing some decent shots from guard.
Oh Rodrigues is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Griffin distracts Rodrigues with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rodrigues not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Griffin gets to his feet and stands over Rodrigues, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Rodrigues felt that one! Griffin unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Rodrigues from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Brian Griffin!