PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Connor Royale (ranked 5777 p4p, 480 weight class) and Frankie Griggs (ranked 5950 p4p, 490 weight class). Frankie Griggs acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Royale
vs
Griggs

175 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor Royale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frankie Griggs!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Griggs!
Royale scores with a hook to the body. Griggs takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The fight stays on the outside here - Royale looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Royale cracks Griggs with a right hand to the side of the head.
Connor Royale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Griggs's jab looks to have found its range, popping Royale under the eye.
Royale throws a head kick that misses.
Griggs looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Royale feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Griggss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Royale tries to close the distance and clinch but Griggs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It seemed like Griggs was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Royale walks into a straight right hand from Griggs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Royale tries to clinch up.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Griggs crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Royale - the referee stops the clock and Griggs gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Royale. Griggs manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A punch combination from Griggs misses.
Royale is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Griggs.
A punch combination from Griggs misses.
Royale seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Griggs lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royale is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Griggs throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Royale cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Griggs misses the shot to the body.
Royale digs a good body shot into Griggs's ribs.
Royale throws a head kick that misses.
Royale tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Royale tries to clinch

and Griggs counters with a single leg into guard. Royale didn't expect that.
Griggs really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Royale. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Royale is working an open guard so Griggs takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Royale throws a poor cross that misses
and Griggs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Royale rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Griggs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Griggs misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Royale tries to clinch but Griggs is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Royale doesn't manage to clinch there - Griggs circles away.
Royale swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Griggs's coach down at Desert Fitness & Training (12 Elites and Growing) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Griggs's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Griggs misses with a few strikes there.
Royale tries to clinch up but Griggs circles away and keeps his distance.
Griggs just misses with a punch to the body.
Griggs throws a left and a right that both miss
and Royale counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Royale tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Griggs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Royale tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Royale wants to clinch up but Griggs keeps it at a distance.
Griggs throws a counter combo.
Royale tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Royale avoids a punch combination nicely.
Royale swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royale is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Royale looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Royale misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Griggs.
Griggs is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Royale with a body shot.
Royale throws a sloppy head kick and Griggs moves out of range easily.
Griggs now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Griggs connects with a jab.
Royale throws a sloppy head kick and Griggs moves out of range easily.
Royale is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No joy there for Griggs, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Royale is looking for a counter combo.
Royale avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royale lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Royale.
Griggs throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Royale half committed to a counter leg kick.
Royale throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Griggs looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Royale drives through and clinches with Griggs against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Griggs is trying to pull guard but Royale has him pressed against the cage.
Royale can't break the clinch.
Royale looking to stall.
Royale prevents the takedown attempt.

Royale's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Frankie Griggs will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Griggs throws an overhand right that lands on Royale's shoulder, as Royale tries to avoid the shot.
Griggs misses with the combination.
Griggs fails to land with a series of punches.
Connor Royale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Royale throws a body shot but no joy.
Royale tries to close the distance and clinch up but Griggs swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Frankie Griggs seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Griggs throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Royale.
Royale looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Griggs throws a right and a left that both miss.

Royale gets a clinch.
Royale tries to stall but Griggs uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Royale breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd cheers as Griggs lands an impressive looking overhand right. Royale doesn't seem phased though.
Royale tries to clinch there but Griggs circles away.
Royale on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royale tries to close the distance and clinch but Griggs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Royale swings widly with a right hand
and Griggs counters with a series of strikes. Royale will be more careful next time no doubt.
Griggs throws a series of punches but Royale avoids them all with ease.

Royale clinches with his opponent.

Griggs manages to break the clinch.
Griggs has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Griggs tries to bum rush Royale with a series of wild strikes but Royale uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Royale throws a series of punches but Griggs moves out of range.
Royale closes the distance but Griggs moves to the side
and Griggs counters with a three punch combo that has Royale backing up. Royale nods at Griggs to acknowledge the strikes.
Griggs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Royale connects with a high kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griggs ducks under a wild hook from Royale.
Royale closes the distance but Griggs moves to the side
letting Griggs counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Royale wants to clinch up but Griggs keeps it at a distance.
Griggs looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Royale clinches up against the cage.
Royale is trying to push Griggs away but Griggs has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Royale misses with a body punch.
Griggs is looking for a takedown.
Griggs throws a knee to the head but misses.
Griggs looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Royale breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Royale moves to clinch but Griggs breaks away
and Griggs connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griggs swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Royale tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Griggs takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Royale displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Griggs throws out the jab.
Royale is looking for a counter combo.
Royale tries to clinch but Griggs is having none of it.
Griggs keeps the fight on the outside.
Royale showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Griggs.
Nice shot lands for Griggs.
Royale takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Royale closes the distance and clinches.

Royale pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Griggs has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royale is looking to clinch but Griggs is avoiding it.
Griggs scores with a one two! Royale had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Royale throws a right and a left that both miss.
Griggs feints the counter takedown.
Griggs closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Royale closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Royale throws a leg kick that misses.
Royale jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Royale throws a series of punches but Griggs avoids them all with ease.
Royale throws a jab but it's blocked by Griggs.
Griggs throws a nice looking combination but Royale bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And Royale counters with a quick kick to the body but Griggs blocks it.
Griggs keeps the fight on the outside.
Royale looks to clinch
and Griggs counters with a nice uppercut.
Griggs throws a combination that misses

and Royale counters with a head kick that drops Griggs to the mat! Griggs scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Griggs is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Griggs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

and Royale counters with a massive uppercut that badly hurts Griggs! He's just covering up as Royale starts to tee off till the referee steps in and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Connor Royale!