PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Archie Griffiths (ranked 50 p4p, 9 weight class) and Dom Cruz (ranked 305 p4p, 34 weight class). Archie Griffiths has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Griffiths
vs
Cruz

175 cm
35
147 lbs
23 - 7 - 1

172 cm
31
144 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

UnderGround Supplements
Arcticus University: London

Urban Fighter

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 23 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Archie Griffiths!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dom Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Griffiths.
Cruz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Griffiths counters with a stiff right hand.
Cruz lands a slapping body shot.
Griffiths tries to score with a low kick but Cruz moves his leg out of the way.
Griffiths avoids the body shot from Cruz.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cruz. Griffiths does a little dance to reset his feet.
Griffiths buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Cruz as he connects with a hook.
Griffiths throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Griffiths throws a head kick that misses.
Griffiths misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz wants to counter with a clinch but Griffiths pushes him away.
Griffiths bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cruz works over Griffiths's head and body with a nice combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Griffiths throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cruz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Griffiths.
Archie Griffiths seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Griffiths.
Cruz swings for the body but Griffiths moves out of range.
Cruz misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Cruz.
Cruz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Griffiths missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cruz.
Griffiths walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Cruz scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Griffiths, right into the meat.
Griffiths explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Cruz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Griffiths.
We've been told by Griffiths's head coaches at Arcalimon Top Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Griffiths thuds a left hand into Cruz's body.
Cruz slips under a jab from Griffiths.
Griffiths throws a push kick but Cruz slaps the foot to one side.
Cruz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Griffiths throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cruz misses with a body shot.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Griffiths defends it nicely.
Archie Griffiths has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice sprawl there from Griffiths as Cruz shoots in.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Griffiths, right into the meat.
Cruz wants to clinch.
Griffiths throws out a loose jab but Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Griffiths moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cruz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Griffiths defends it nicely.
As Cruz backs away, Griffiths returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Griffiths throws a series of punches but Cruz avoids them all with ease.
A solid leg kick lands there for Griffiths.
Griffiths takes one to the side of the head.
Cruz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Griffiths swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cruz or perhaps it was just good defense by Griffiths, which made it look bad.
Griffiths tried to counter with a leg kick but Cruz avoided it.

Cruz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Griffiths trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cruz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cruz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Griffiths defending well though.

Cruz seems to be looking for submissions.
Cruz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Griffiths to regain full guard.
Griffiths preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cruz throwing strikes but missing.
Cruz works over Griffiths with some ground and pound from guard.
Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cruz throws a big right hand that misses.
Cruz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Griffiths pulls Cruz in close to his closed guard and prevents Cruz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Griffiths keeping moving, preventing Cruz from controlling successfully.
Cruz throws a big elbow that misses.
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 Archie Griffiths will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cruz misses the shot to the body.
Griffiths throws a chopping leg kick but Cruz manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cruz moves out of range as Griffiths strikes.
Dom Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Griffiths throws a predictable looking body shot
and Cruz counters with a left and a right that stings Griffiths.
Griffiths defending well as Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
Archie Griffiths is winning the standup battle so far.
Good leg kick by Griffiths there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Griffiths.
Cruz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Griffiths throws a leg kick which misses Cruz's front leg but catches the back leg as Cruz tries to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Griffiths.
Griffiths misses with a wild body shot.
Griffiths rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cruz wants to counter the offense by Griffiths and move into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cruz takes the fight into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Griffiths creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Griffiths breaks from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cruz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Griffiths looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cruz working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz in side control, throwing shots but Griffiths defends.
Cruz tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Cruz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Griffiths knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cruz in side control, throwing shots but Griffiths defends.
Griffiths parries the strikes from Cruz easily there. Cruz is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Griffiths to escape.
Griffiths taking a bit of punishment here - Cruz scoring with strikes.
The strikes coming from Cruz are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Griffiths is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Griffiths avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Cruz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz looks up at the clock and then as Griffiths takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Cruz smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Cruz trying to control the position but Griffiths is working away.
Cruz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cruz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Griffiths is trying to get back to half guard.
Cruz throws a strike aimed at the side of Griffiths's head but Griffiths avoids it well.
Cruz working the head and body with strikes.
Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Griffiths keeps working.
Cruz working the ground and pound from side control.
The ground and pound from Cruz seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cruz creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Griffiths sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Cruz.
Cruz working the strikes but Griffiths uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Cruz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cruz trying to control the action but Griffiths is working from the bottom.

Cruz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cruz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cruz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cruz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz drops an elbow to the side of Griffiths's head.
Griffiths is looking for a sweep. Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Griffiths keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Griffiths is looking to control Cruz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Griffiths avoid being mounted?

Griffiths is defending against the submission attempts here by Cruz.
Cruz with the ground and pound but Griffiths uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Griffiths pulls Cruz in close to his closed guard and prevents Cruz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cruz passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Griffiths throws a lazy head kick
and Cruz counters with a straight right hand.
Cruz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Griffiths. Griffiths obviously looking to wear him down.
Griffiths swinging wildly here.
Cruz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Griffiths.
Griffiths pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Griffiths fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cruz manages to avoid it.
Cruz throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Griffiths to counter with a crisp jab.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Griffiths as he avoids it easily.
Cruz fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Griffiths looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
Griffiths misses with an uppercut.
Cruz's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Griffiths avoids it well.
Cruz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Cruz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Griffiths scores with a jab. Cruz acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Griffiths is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths jabs at Cruz's body.
Griffiths tried to score with a low kick but Cruz checks it.
Cruz appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Griffiths with a jab.
Griffiths tries a head kick but it misses.
Archie Griffiths is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Griffiths tries a head kick but it misses.
Griffiths jabs Cruz to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Griffiths circles away from the clinch attempt.
Griffiths throws a jab but it's blocked by Cruz.
Cruz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Griffiths lands with a right hand.
Griffiths throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cruz! But no joy.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Griffiths slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Archie Griffiths has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Cruz.
Griffiths missing with a left hand there. Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cruz checks a leg kick.
Griffiths keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cruz.
Donk. Cruz catches Griffiths right on the button with a cross.
Cruz loads up on a big right hand but Griffiths slips the punch.
It looked like Griffiths was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Cruz.
Cruz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Griffiths back to the cage. Cruz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
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!
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Griffiths is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Griffiths circles away and we're back to standing.
Griffiths misses with a kick to the body.
Griffiths moves out of range as Cruz throws a body kick.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Griffiths lands with a nice body kick.
Cruz misses with a low kick.
Griffiths tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Griffiths.
Cruz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Griffiths feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cruz's calf.
Griffiths tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz lunges at Griffiths with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Griffiths's hand.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Griffiths.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz scores with a hook to the body. Griffiths takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cruz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice uppercut lands for Cruz. That snapped Griffiths's head back.
Cruz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Griffiths connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cruz scrambles back to his feet.
Cruz dives in for a single leg takedown but Griffiths sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Griffiths throws a head kick that misses.
Griffiths takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cruz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Griffiths.
Cruz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Griffiths has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Griffiths walks into a straight right hand from Cruz.
Griffiths throws the kick towards the body but Cruz avoids it.
Cruz lands a nice shot to the body.
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!
Griffiths misses with a low kick as Cruz jumps back.
A little jabbing left from Cruz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
No joy there for Cruz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cruz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As Cruz backs away, Griffiths returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Griffiths. Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Griffiths.
Griffiths misses with a hook. Cruz ducked under it nicely.
Griffiths throws a body shot but no joy.
Cruz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Cruz crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Griffiths - the referee stops the clock and Cruz gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Griffiths. Cruz manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Cruz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Griffiths.
Cruz misses with a takedown
and Griffiths cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Griffiths turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cruz shoots and misses
enabling Griffiths to counter with a crisp jab.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Griffiths scores with a jab.
Cruz has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Griffiths.
Griffiths is looking to counter with a body kick.
Griffiths throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

And that's the end of the fight!
Archie Griffiths showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Griffiths 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Archie Griffiths!
Archie Griffiths decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.