PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Sullivan (ranked 3496 p4p, 385 weight class) and Matt Griffin (ranked 5387 p4p, 552 weight class). Matt Griffin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sullivan
vs
Griffin

192 cm
25
190 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
194 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Sullivan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sullivan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Griffin.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sullivan as he avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Griffin.
Sullivan cracks Griffin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Griffin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sullivan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sullivan is looking for a counter combo.
Sullivan takes a swing at Griffin's ribcage but misses.
Sullivan misses with a wild combination.
Griffin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Griffin misses the shot to the body.
Sullivan scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Matt Griffin has been cut.
Griffin's coach down at White's ELITE Fitness Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Griffin's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown but Sullivan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Michael Sullivan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Griffin.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt - Sullivan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Griffin clinches up with Sullivan and pushes him back against the cage.
Sullivan has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sullivan breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Griffin misses the target.
Sullivan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Griffin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sullivan tests Griffin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sullivan lands with a hook. Griffin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A cross from Sullivan lands.
A combination from Sullivan does no damage.
Griffin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Sullivan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Sullivan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sullivan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Michael Sullivan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Griffin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sullivan is looking to counter punch.
Sullivan throws a right hand that Griffin ducks under and follows up with a left that Griffin also avoids with ease.
Griffin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sullivan avoids it really well and circles away.
Sullivan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sullivan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Griffin at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sullivan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sullivan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Griffin circles away quickly and effectively.

Griffin gets a clinch.
Sullivan is trying to break the clinch but Griffin has him pressed against the cage.

Sullivan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sullivan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sullivan misses with a two punch combination.
Sullivan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Griffin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Griffin with the counter takedown but Sullivan avoids it easily.
Griffin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sullivan is fending him off so far but Griffin persists. Nope, Sullivan circles away and we're back to standing.
Sullivan dodges the punch combination from Griffin.
Sullivan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Griffin doesn't seem bothered though.
Sullivan scores with a nice strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan sizes up Griffin with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Griffin darts in looking for a takedown but Sullivan gets double underhooks and turns Griffin into the cage.
Sullivan was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Sullivan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Griffin dodges the punch combination from Sullivan.

Griffin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sullivan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Griffin being controlled against the cage.
Griffin has Sullivan pressed against the cage, preventing Sullivan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Griffin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sullivan is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sullivan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sullivan looks to throw the jab but Griffin is out of range.
Sullivan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Griffin pushes Sullivan up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan lands a body shot.
Sullivan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griffin tries for a takedown but Sullivan manages to get underhooks.

Sullivan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Griffin blocks a jab.
Griffin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Griffin misses with a knee strike.

Griffin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sullivan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Griffin manages to avoid it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sullivan.
Griffin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sullivan is looking for a counter combo.
Griffin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sullivan avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Sullivan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Griffin'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.

Griffin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sullivan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Griffin can do to turn this around?
The fight stays on the outside here - Griffin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sullivan fails to land with a series of punches.
Griffin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sullivan throws out the jab.
Griffin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sullivan defends it well.
Sullivan just misses with a punch to the body.
Sullivan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Michael Sullivan is winning the standup battle so far.
Sullivan looks to land a combination but Griffin avoids it well.
Matt Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griffin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sullivan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Griffin manages to avoid it.
Sullivan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sullivan wants it to stay on the feet.
Sullivan connects with a single shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sullivan moves into the clinch successfully.
Sullivan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sullivan effectively controlling the action here.
Griffin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sullivan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin has had enough of the clinch but Sullivan keeps him there for the moment.

Sullivan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Griffin throws a body shot but no joy.
Sullivan misses with a series of wild punches.
Griffin shoots in but no luck this time.
Michael Sullivan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Griffin.
Griffin moves forwards but Sullivan connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Michael Sullivan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sullivan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A swing and a miss from Sullivan.
Griffin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sullivan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Griffin.
Griffin motions for Sullivan to come forward. Griffin throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sullivan throws a body punch but Griffin moves out of range.
Griffin throws a right hand that Sullivan ducks under and follows up with a left that Sullivan also avoids with ease.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sullivan sprawls well. Sullivan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Griffin gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Griffin dodges the punch combination from Sullivan.
Sullivan stuffs the takedown.

Sullivan clinches up with Griffin and pushes him back against the cage.
Griffin is working for takedown but Sullivan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Griffin stalls.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sullivan breaks from the clinch.
Sullivan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sullivan.
Griffin goes for a double leg but Sullivan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sullivan continues to drive forward.
Griffin is breathing heavily.
Griffin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sullivan.
Griffin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Griffin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Griffin walks into a stiff left hand from Sullivan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Some wild striking there from Sullivan.
Sullivan throws a body punch but Griffin moves out of range.
Griffin with the counter takedown but Sullivan avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Griffin.
Sullivan blocks a jab.
Sullivan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Griffin tries to clinch up.
Sullivan misses with an uppercut.
Sullivan with a nice cross.
Sullivan digs a good body shot into Griffin's ribs.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Griffin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Griffin wants to clinch.
Griffin takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sullivan pinned against the cage. Sullivan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sullivan throws a right hand that Griffin ducks under and follows up with a left that Griffin also avoids with ease.
Sullivan throws a right and a left that Griffin avoids nicely.
Griffin moves away from the strike by Sullivan.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sullivan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Griffin.
Sullivan lands with an overhand left.
Sullivan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sullivan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Griffin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Griffin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sullivan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sullivan but Sullivan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Sullivan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt Griffin's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sullivan lands with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Griffin. Sullivan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sullivan moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Jab by Sullivan.
Griffin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sullivan is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Griffin.
Griffin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sullivan.
Griffin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sullivan.
Good work by Sullivan as he checks the leg kick.
Sullivan throws a hook but Griffin blocks it.
Griffin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sullivan tries to avoid it but Griffin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sullivan to the ground. Sullivan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sullivan went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sullivan moves away.
Griffin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Griffin takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A left and a right from Sullivan both land. Nice combination.
Griffin is trying desperately to land a takedown but Sullivan is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Griffin.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sullivan throws a nice looking combination but Griffin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sullivan misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin staying out of range there.
Sullivan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Griffin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Griffin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Sullivan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sullivan throws a series of punches but Griffin avoids them all with ease.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Griffin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sullivan up against the cage.
Sullivan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sullivan keeps control of Griffin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan ducks under a wild hook from Griffin.
Sullivan throws a right hand that Griffin ducks under and follows up with a left that Griffin also avoids with ease.
Griffin looks for a takedown but Sullivan sprawls well.
Griffin defending well as Sullivan loads up on a big left hand.
Sullivan throws a nice looking combination but Griffin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Griffin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Griffin closes the distance and clinches up with Sullivan, looking for a takedown. Griffin pushes Sullivan against the cage but Sullivan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Michael Sullivan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Griffin.

Griffin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sullivan to the mat! Sullivan manages to get full guard.
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 thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sullivan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sullivan tries to get out of the position.
Sullivan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Griffin.

Griffin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sullivan wants to get back to his feet but Griffin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Griffin throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffin throwing strikes but missing.
Sullivan wants to stand but Griffin is controlling the position.
Griffin throwing strikes but missing.
Griffin lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Griffin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Griffin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Griffin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Griffin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Griffin 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.
Sullivan wants to stand but Griffin is controlling the position.
Griffin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Griffin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Griffin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matt Griffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Sullivan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Griffin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Griffin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Sullivan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sullivan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Sullivan!
After winning the bout, Michael Sullivan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.