PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Koulouraki Souvlaki (ranked 438 p4p, 53 weight class) and Archie Griffiths (ranked 435 p4p, 52 weight class). Souvlaki comes to the cage accompanied by Greek Anthem. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Souvlaki
vs
Griffiths

174 cm
37
146 lbs
21 - 14 - 0

175 cm
30
147 lbs
14 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Voodoo Nutrition

Aspire Clothing
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Koulouraki Souvlaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Archie Griffiths!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffiths misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Souvlaki.
Griffiths will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Souvlaki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Griffiths.

Souvlaki scores with a takedown into Griffiths's guard.
Griffiths is controlling Souvlaki's posture.
Souvlaki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Souvlaki throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souvlaki throws a big elbow that misses.
Griffiths wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souvlaki sitting in guard here, content to control.
Griffiths looking to hit a scissor sweep but Souvlaki is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souvlaki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Souvlaki trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Griffiths manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Souvlaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Griffiths got a little sloppy there for a moment and Souvlaki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Griffiths has managed to get both his arms back between Souvlaki's legs - danger averted.
Griffiths controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two 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.
Souvlaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Souvlaki seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Souvlaki has an active guard here but Griffiths has managed to pass into half guard.
Souvlaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Griffiths perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Griffiths blocks the strikes from Souvlaki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souvlaki is looking to control Griffiths's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Souvlaki avoid being mounted?
Souvlaki is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Souvlaki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Souvlaki looking for subs off his back but Griffiths has passed one foot through into half guard.
Souvlaki is trying to get back to full guard.
Souvlaki trying to control but Griffiths postures up.
Souvlaki throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Souvlaki is trying to get back to full guard.
Souvlaki trying to hold on to Griffiths's head to control him but Griffiths postures up.
Griffiths prevents Souvlaki from improving his position.
Souvlaki has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Griffiths is working away from the top position though.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Souvlaki connects with a body shot.
A slapping body kick lands there for Griffiths.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Griffiths will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Souvlaki darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Griffiths throws the left hand but Souvlaki avoids the punch easily.
Souvlaki throws a big counter combination but Griffiths scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Griffiths tries to close the distance and clinch but Souvlaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Koulouraki Souvlaki will probably get the nod.
That's time! Souvlaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Souvlaki scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Souvlaki fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Souvlaki goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Griffiths rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Souvlaki's guard! Nice work there by Griffiths!
Griffiths controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Souvlaki controls Griffiths momentarily but Griffiths frees himself.
Souvlaki thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffiths controls from within his opponent's guard.
Archie Griffiths has got the better of the ground game so far.
Souvlaki looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souvlaki looking for a sweep. Not yet Souvlaki, not yet.
Souvlaki trying to strike off his back.
Griffiths slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Griffiths stopping the sweep attempt from Souvlaki.
Griffiths is stalling in the full guard.
Souvlaki wants to sweep but no luck.
Souvlaki is striking from the bottom but Griffiths uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Griffiths tries to pass the half guard into mount. Souvlaki knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Souvlaki wants to control but Griffiths is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Souvlaki wants to get back to full guard.
Griffiths is taking a breather. Souvlaki says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Souvlaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Souvlaki missing with punches from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Souvlaki clobbers Griffiths with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nice sprawl there from Griffiths as Souvlaki shoots in.
Souvlaki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Griffiths circles away quickly and effectively.
A nice inside leg kick there by Griffiths. That's going to slow Souvlaki down.
Griffiths tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A little feinted left hand from Souvlaki on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Griffiths lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Griffiths.
Souvlaki takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Griffiths lands a leg kick that knocks Souvlaki off balance momentarily.
Griffiths throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Souvlaki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Archie Griffiths seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Griffiths is looking to slow Souvlaki down with leg kicks.
Griffiths takes a swing at Souvlaki's ribcage but misses.
Souvlaki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Griffiths is fending him off so far but Souvlaki persists. Nope, Griffiths circles away and we're back to standing.
Souvlaki moves out of range as Griffiths strikes.
Griffiths connects with a leg kick. Souvlaki looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Souvlaki shoots in for a takedown but Griffiths shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koulouraki Souvlaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Griffiths. No joy for Souvlaki on that attempt.
Griffiths looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nice sprawl there from Griffiths as Souvlaki shoots in.
Archie Griffiths is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Griffiths moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Griffiths fails to land.
Souvlaki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Griffiths avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths lands a nice uppercut.
Griffiths effectively controlling the action here.
Griffiths scores with a shot to the side of Souvlaki's head.
Griffiths lands with a short shot to the head.
Griffiths stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Griffiths misses with the head strike.
Griffiths scores with a hook to the body.
Griffiths stalling the fight.
Griffiths has Souvlaki pressed against the cage.
A short left from Griffiths.
Griffiths tries to throw a body punch but Souvlaki avoids it by throwing Griffiths back against the cage.

Griffiths pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Griffiths avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Archie Griffiths showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Souvlaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Griffiths tries to clinch but Souvlaki moves out of range.
A low kick from Griffiths is predictable there
and Souvlaki counters with a nice uppercut.
Souvlaki moves out of range of the body kick from Griffiths.
Souvlaki appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Griffiths throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Souvlaki to counter with a crisp jab.
Griffiths lands a leg kick that knocks Souvlaki off balance momentarily.
Griffiths scores with a jab to the jaw.
Griffiths lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Souvlaki shoots in for a takedown but Griffiths shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Griffiths let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Souvlaki throws a shot from downtown. Griffiths moves away and avoids it.
Griffiths scores with a body shot.
Griffiths is looking to land body kicks.
Souvlaki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souvlaki stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Griffiths.
A nice leg kick lands there from Griffiths.

Souvlaki shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Griffiths is trying to defend but Souvlaki finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Griffiths wants to control but Souvlaki is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths is staying active underneath Souvlaki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Griffiths trying to control here.
Souvlaki missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Souvlaki wants to pass to mount but Griffiths is defending the position.
Griffiths trying to control but Souvlaki postures up.
Souvlaki lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Griffiths keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Souvlaki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Griffiths does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Griffiths keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Griffiths has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Souvlaki throws a strike but Griffiths avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Souvlaki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Griffiths works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Souvlaki throws a strike but Griffiths rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Griffiths slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Souvlaki trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Griffiths looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Souvlaki throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souvlaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Griffiths is one step ahead there.
Souvlaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Souvlaki is striking from the bottom but Griffiths uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Griffiths working over Souvlaki with some ground and pound. Souvlaki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Souvlaki holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Griffiths prevents Souvlaki from improving his position.
Griffiths moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths working away.
Souvlaki tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Souvlaki tries to improve position but can't.
Souvlaki trying to remain calm as Griffiths controls from the top position.
Griffiths passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Souvlaki!
Souvlaki wants to control but Griffiths is having none of it.
Griffiths looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Souvlaki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Archie Griffiths comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Griffiths has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

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