PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Archie Griffiths (ranked 1248 p4p, 1521 weight class) and Elijah Judah (ranked 142 p4p, 170 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Griffiths
vs
Judah

175 cm
39
147
30 - 13 - 1

175 cm
36
147
25 - 12 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013
Altitude Clothing

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 30 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Archie Griffiths!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elijah Judah!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffiths throws out a loose jab but Judah uses good head movement to avoid it.
Judah throws a half hearted mid kick.
Griffiths looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Judah takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nice defenses there by Judah.
Judah looks for the body kick but Griffiths saw that one coming.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Judah looks to land a left hand but Griffiths moved out of range nicely.
Judah looks to land a left hand but Griffiths moved out of range nicely.
Griffiths blocks a low kick nicely.
Judah takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Judah throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Griffiths on the side of the head.
Griffiths misses with a body kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Judah misses.
Griffiths throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Judah!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Griffiths connects with an inside leg kick.
Judah tries to close the distance and clinch but Griffiths swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Judah tries to clinch up.
Judah throws a head kick that Griffiths semi-blocks.
Judah misses with a hook
and Griffiths counters with a head kick. That will keep Judah thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Griffiths lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Griffiths throws a leg kick but Judah sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Griffiths, right into the meat of the thigh.
A punch lands to the side of Griffiths 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice straight punches there by Griffiths. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Griffiths.
Judah scores with a leg kick.
Judah tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Griffiths tries a low kick but Judah avoids it.
Griffiths throws a low kick but it's checked well by Judah.
Griffiths tries to land a leg kick but Judah saw it coming and moves away.
Judah uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Griffiths.
Griffiths wants to land a leg kick but Judah is out of range.
Judah uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Griffiths.
Judah thinks about the counter body kick.
Griffiths throws the kick towards the body but Judah avoids it.
Judah misses with a looping left.
Judah misses with a head kick.
Judah avoids a kick to the body.
Judah lands a leg kick that knocks Griffiths off balance momentarily.

Judah gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Griffiths pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Judah stuns Griffiths with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths avoids the head kick by Judah.
Judah looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Griffiths takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Judah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griffiths was well out of range. Poor timing from Judah.
Griffiths tries a head kick but it misses.
Judah connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Griffiths throws a low kick but Judah avoids it.
Griffiths feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Judahs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A chopping leg kick lands by Judah.
Judah avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Judah blocks a head kick by Griffiths.
Judah looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Griffiths misses with a straight right.
Judah misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Griffiths misses with a hook to the body
and Judah counters with a good, hard body kick but Griffiths shrugs it off.
Griffiths avoids the head kick by Judah.
Griffiths fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Judah has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Judah shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Griffiths pinned against the cage. Griffiths gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Judah thuds a left hand into Griffiths's body.
Griffiths swings away with a leg kick that misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Judah! But no joy.
Judah misses with a hook. Griffiths ducked under it nicely.
Griffiths throws a chopping leg kick but Judah manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Judah keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Judah.
Judah is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Donk. Griffiths catches Judah right on the button with a cross.
Judah steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Griffiths. That one must have hurt.
Griffiths slips a straight right by Judah.
Griffiths avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Griffiths misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Griffiths avoids a kick to the body.
Judah lands with a slapping head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Judah connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Judah looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Griffiths connects with a jab.
Judah on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Judah dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Judah throws a head kick that Griffiths semi-blocks.
Griffiths with the inside leg kick.
Judah uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Griffiths.
Griffiths throws a nice inside leg kick.
Griffiths moves into range and connects with a jab.
Judah scores with a body shot.
Griffiths throws a series of strikes that have Judah backpedaling.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Judah takes a swing at Griffiths's ribcage but misses.
Sloppy strikes from Judah. Those never looked like landing.
Judah misses with a jab, cross combination.
Judah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griffiths was well out of range. Poor timing from Judah.
Griffiths ducks under a wild hook from Judah.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Elijah Judah will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Griffiths lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Judah has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Judah and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Griffiths fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Judah is out of range.
Judah shapes to counter with a head kick.
Griffiths clobbers Judah with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Griffiths misses with a low kick as Judah jumps back.
Judah ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Griffiths moves away.
Griffiths steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Judah.
Judah takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Elijah Judah seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Griffiths needs to keep his hands up - Judah had a free shot at his head there.
Judah misses with a low kick.
Judah feints and then cracks Griffiths's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Griffiths down.
Griffiths throws a lazy right hand but Judah sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Griffiths lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Griffiths avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Judah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Griffiths throws a body kick that misses.
Griffiths throws a looping overhand right but Judah ducks down to avoid it.
Judah looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nice straight punches there by Judah. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Judah.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Griffiths turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Judah moves into range and clinches up with Griffiths.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Judah lands a shoulder strike.
Griffiths tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Griffiths has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Griffiths.
Griffiths wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Judah has him pressed against the cage.
Judah misses with a punch to the body.
Griffiths tries to work over Judah's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Griffiths tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Griffiths.
Griffiths leaning against his opponent.
Griffiths softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Griffiths misses with some punches.
Griffiths misses with a body punch.
Judah is working Griffiths over against the cage.
Judah tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Griffiths smiles and moves away.
Judah drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Judah lands a nice leg kick that just misses Griffiths's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Judah.
Judah's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Judah on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Griffiths throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Griffiths ducks right into an uppercut from Judah.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Griffiths lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Judah circles away quickly and effectively.
Judah has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Griffiths finds it's way round the side to connect with Judah's head.
Griffiths misses with an attempted mid kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Griffiths. Judah does a little dance to reset his feet.
Judah lands with an uppercut that bounces Griffiths off the cage and back into range.
Griffiths uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Judah.
Griffiths throws a leg kick but Judah sees it coming and moves out of range.
Judah lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
An inside leg kick from Griffiths misses.
Judah scores with a jab to the body.
Judah throws a head kick that misses.
Griffiths throws a leg kick but Judah checks it.
Griffiths connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Judah gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Griffiths motions for Judah to come forward. Griffiths throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Griffiths ducks under a wild hook from Judah.
Judah is looking to land body kicks.
Griffiths throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Griffiths misses with an attempted mid kick.
Griffiths slips a jab from Judah.
Judah wants to slow Griffiths down by chopping away at his legs.
Griffiths throws a head kick that misses.
Judah swings for the body but Griffiths moves out of range.
As Judah backs away, Griffiths returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Griffiths throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Judah misses with a leg kick.
Judah keeps Griffiths at a distance using the push kick.
Griffiths avoids the body shot from Judah.
Judah lands a right hook to the body.
Judah bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Judah tries to clinch but Griffiths is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Judah jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A nice leg kick lands there from Judah.
Judah throws a lazy right hand but Griffiths sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes from Judah. Those never looked like landing.
Griffiths cracks Judah with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A decent looking cross lands there for Griffiths.
Judah throws a jab but it's blocked by Griffiths.
Judah stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Griffiths.
Griffiths tries a low kick but Judah avoids it.
Judah takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Judah throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Griffiths sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Griffiths gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Judah finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Judah misses with a head kick.
Judah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griffiths was well out of range. Poor timing from Judah.
The fighters circle momentarily. Griffiths darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Griffiths takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Judah closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Elijah Judah will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

That kick from Judah tenderised Griffiths's leg. Griffiths is trying to keep his angry face on.
Griffiths throws a head kick that misses.
Judah takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Griffiths throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Judah throws a series of punches but Griffiths avoids them all with ease.
Judah takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Griffiths uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Judah.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Griffiths lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Judah has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Judah and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Judah throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Griffiths throws a head kick but Judah moves out of range.
Griffiths keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Griffiths throws a quick inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffiths turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Griffiths. Judah does a little dance to reset his feet.
Judah connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Griffiths momentarily.
Griffiths blocks a jab.
A punch lands to the side of Judah 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Griffiths throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths tries to score with a low kick but Judah moves his leg out of the way.
A slow jab from Griffiths misses its intended target.
Judah throws a looping overhand right but Griffiths ducks down to avoid it.
Judah shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Judah throws a hook but Griffiths avoids it easily.
Judah dips to his left and cracks Griffiths with an uppercut!
Judah jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Griffiths blocks the body kick.
Griffiths stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Griffiths wants it to stay on the feet.
Nice straight punches there by Griffiths. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Griffiths.
Judah throws a body shot but no joy.
Archie Griffiths is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Griffiths pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Griffiths scores with a nice head shot.
Judah throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A chopping leg kick lands by Griffiths.
A good leg kick by Griffiths.
Nice jab there from Griffiths.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Judah uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Griffiths has time to react.
Judah moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Griffiths thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Judah if he has to take too many more of those.
Griffiths scoring well with a low kick there.
Griffiths uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Judah.
Griffiths walks into a jab.
Judah throws a nice looking combination but Griffiths bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Judah swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Griffiths throws a quick inside leg kick.
Judah moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Judah throws a right and a left that both miss.
Griffiths moves out of range as Judah strikes.
Griffiths slips a straight right by Judah.
Griffiths looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Griffiths lands a jab to Judah's midsection.
Judah walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Judah avoids a kick to the body.
Archie Griffiths has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Griffiths attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Judah takes a swing at Griffiths's ribcage but misses.
Griffiths's corner calls for a 1-2. Griffiths obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Griffiths avoids the body shot from Judah.
Judah lands a really nice looking cross but Griffiths seems unphased.
Judah misses with a low kick.
Griffiths jabs at Judah's body.
Griffiths fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Judah checks it well.
Elijah Judah is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Judah defending well as Griffiths loads up on a big left hand.
Griffiths is looking to score with low kicks.
A punch lands to the side of Griffiths 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Griffiths swats away the attempt to clinch by Judah.
Griffiths throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Judah shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Archie Griffiths has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elijah Judah.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Judah throws a body shot but no joy.
Griffiths blocks the body kick.
Judah blocks a head kick by Griffiths.
Griffiths throws a big shot that misses.

Judah clinches up with Griffiths and pushes him back against the cage.

Griffiths breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Griffiths fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Judah has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Judah has closed the distance and engaged Griffiths in a clinch.
Griffiths misses with the head strike.
Judah blocks an elbow strike from Griffiths.
Griffiths has a couple of punches blocked by Judah.
Griffiths lands a body punch.

Griffiths breaks from the clinch.
Judah shoots in for a takedown but Griffiths shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Griffiths lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Judah has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Judah and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

And that's the end of the fight!
Archie Griffiths showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Judah has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elijah Judah!
A very excited looking Elijah Judah made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.