PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Stronger. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Griffin
vs
Smith

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdullah Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Smith!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Griffin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Griffin throws a right and a left that Smith avoids nicely.
Smith fails to land the takedown.

Griffin drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Griffin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Smith gets control of Griffin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Smith will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Griffin stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.
Griffin trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Griffin keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Griffin wants to sweep but no luck.
Griffin working a defensive guard here.

Griffin manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith rushes Griffin and presses him up against the cage.
Smith tries to pull guard but Griffin holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Abdullah Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Smith.
Griffin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Griffin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Griffin.

Smith looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Griffin!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Griffin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Griffin tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin regains half guard.
Griffin is looking to escape.
Griffin is breathing heavily.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smith wants to advance to full mount but Griffin doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Smith controlling from the top position.
Griffin keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Griffin is keeping the position.
Smith passes Griffin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Griffin's head.
Smith passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Griffin!
Smith punching from mount but Griffin doing a good job of avoiding damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Smith dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice sprawl there from Griffin as Smith shoots in.
Smith tries for a takedown but Griffin circles away easily

and Griffin counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith pulls Griffin in close to his closed guard and prevents Griffin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Griffin is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Abdullah Griffin wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Griffin throws a sloppy head kick
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Griffin backing up. Griffin nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
Smith moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith dives in and grabs Griffin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Griffin pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Abdullah Griffin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Smith.
Smith fails to land the takedown.

Griffin clinches.

Smith breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Griffin to counter with a crisp jab.

Griffin looking to score a takedown here. Smith is defending well but Griffin drives through and ends up in Smith's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Griffin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Smith looking to control.
Smith has Griffin pulled in close to control his posture.
Griffin preventing the sweep.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Griffin tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jim Smith hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Smith connects with a jab.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Griffin tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Griffin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Griffin throws an off balance right hand
and Smith counters with a nice low kick that buckles Griffin's knee momentarily.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Griffin but Griffin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Griffin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Griffin as Smith shoots in.
Griffin tries a head kick but it misses.
Griffin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Griffin throws a combination. Smith tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Smith scores with a spinning back kick!
Griffin lands a jab to the nose.
Griffin wants to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Griffin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Griffin.
Griffin shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Griffin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith throws a body punch but Griffin moves out of range.
Griffin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Griffin somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdullah Griffin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Griffin.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Smith is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Griffin off and has taken his back!
Griffin has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Smith.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Smith's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Smith misses with a punch to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

Smith has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Smith is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Smith has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Smith throwing wild punches that miss their target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Smith just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
I really don't envy Griffin right now.
Griffin is keeping busy.

Smith working for a choke but Griffin is defending well.
Smith gets his hands free as Griffin looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Griffin tries to escape the position.
Smith just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
A lull in the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

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