PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adrian Blanchard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Blanchard might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to "Bull's on Parade" by Rage Against the Machine. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blanchard
vs
Griffin

200 cm
22
275 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

204 cm
22
285 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Adrian Blanchard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Forrest Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blanchard moves away.
Griffin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Griffin thuds his right hand into Blanchard's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Blanchard fails with the takedown.
Blanchard avoids the body shot from Griffin.
Griffin misses with a two punch combination.
Griffin throws a nice looking combination but Blanchard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Griffin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Blanchard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Blanchard has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adrian Blanchard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blanchard shoots in for a takedown but Griffin shows good takedown defense.
Nice jab there from Griffin.

It looks like Adrian Blanchard has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oh, that's a big right hand from Griffin and Blanchard goes tumbling to the canvas! Griffin follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
Blanchard tries to get to full guard but Griffin has control of the leg.
Griffin is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Blanchard moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blanchard is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Blanchard's guard.
Blanchard lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Griffin!
Griffin is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Blanchard jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Griffin manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Blanchard decides to stand back up. Blanchard steps back and let's Griffin get back to his feet.
Blanchard is looking to clinch but Griffin is avoiding it.
Griffin works over Blanchard's head and body with a nice combination.
Griffin throws a nice looking combination but Blanchard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Blanchard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Griffin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Forrest Griffin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Griffin looks to land a combination but Blanchard avoids it well.
Griffin tries to bum rush Blanchard with a series of wild strikes but Blanchard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Griffin tries to clinch

and Blanchard counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Griffin!
Blanchard trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Griffin tries to lock up and control but Blanchard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Blanchard is landing with some decent strikes but Griffin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Blanchard has hold of Griffin's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Griffin manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Blanchard sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Blanchard 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.

Blanchard wants to finish this one by submission but Griffin is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Blanchard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Griffin really wants to buck Blanchard off and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blanchard looking to finish Griffin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Griffin!
Griffin trying desperately to get to his feet.

Blanchard working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Griffin throwing hammer fists to the chest of Blanchard. What's that going to do exactly?

Blanchard looking to secure an arm triangle but Griffin defends it well.
Griffin is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Griffin really wants to buck Blanchard off and get back to his feet.

Blanchard is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Griffin is surviving well by controlling Blanchard's body position as best he can.
Griffin 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.
Griffin is looking to improve his position.
Griffin is trying to stand up here but Blanchard is controlling him well.
Blanchard winds up and cracks Griffin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Griffin is trying to stand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Griffin is trying to maintain the position but Blanchard is very close to passing his half guard.
Griffin is trying to stand up here but Blanchard is controlling him well.
Griffin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Forrest Griffin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Adrian Blanchard's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Griffin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Blanchard counters with a shoot takedown. Griffin fights it but they end up in guard.
Blanchard sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Griffin's guard.

Blanchard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Griffin defends it well.

Blanchard is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Griffin is just riding it out for now. Blanchard eventually gives up the hold.
Griffin is looking to escape.
Griffin trying to hold on to Blanchard's head to control him but Blanchard postures up.
Blanchard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Griffin keeps working.
Griffin looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanchard passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Griffin!
Blanchard scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Griffin?

Blanchard is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Griffin is surviving well by controlling Blanchard's body position as best he can.
Blanchard looking to ground and pound but Griffin is blocking nicely.
Griffin is trying to stand.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Griffin swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Blanchard landing strikes, looking to finish!
Griffin is squirming around, avoiding Blanchard's attempts to control the action.
Blanchard lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Blanchard connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Griffin has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

Griffin is trying to get to his feet but he's left his neck exposed and Blanchard manages to sink in a rear naked choke! Great counter grappling by Blanchard!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:11 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Adrian Blanchard!