PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Blasko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Griffin comes to the cage accompanied by You Fight Me by Breaking Benjamin. John Blasko acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Griffin
vs
Blasko

190 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
195 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Caleb Griffin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Blasko!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blasko looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Blasko drops his hands momentarily and Griffin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Griffin shoots in but Blasko avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Blasko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Blasko lands in his opponent's guard.
Blasko sitting in guard here, content to control.
Blasko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Blasko trying to control the position from guard on top but Griffin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blasko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Griffin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Blasko!
Blasko is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffin thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffin looking to control but Blasko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Blasko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Griffin looking to finish with strikes here!
Blasko can't escape the position.
Griffin looking to control but Blasko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Griffin swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Blasko is now in Griffin's guard. A big mistake from Griffin there, giving up the dominant position!
Griffin working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Blasko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Blasko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Blasko trying to control but Griffin is working from the bottom.
Griffin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Blasko is controlling him.
Blasko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Griffin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Griffin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blasko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Blasko looking to pass the guard.
Blasko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Griffin is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Blasko dives into side control.
Griffin is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin keeping his opponent close.
Griffin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Blasko cracks Griffin with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Blasko works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Blasko is chipping away with strikes.
Blasko cracks Griffin with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Blasko tries for a kimura but Griffin is defending well.

Blasko stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blasko moves in looking to clinch but Griffin pushes him off.

Blasko feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Blasko passes Griffin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Griffin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Blasko throws a big right hand that misses.
Griffin working a defensive guard here.
Blasko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Griffin is keeping the position for now.
Blasko trying to control the position from guard on top but Griffin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Blasko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Griffin with a poor takedown

and Blasko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Blasko.
Blasko lands a couple of elbows.
Blasko stops Griffin from standing up.
Blasko trying to control but Griffin is working from the bottom.
Griffin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Griffin wants to stand and escape but Blasko is having none of it.
Blasko works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Well, if Blasko is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Griffin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blasko trying to control the action but Griffin is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Griffin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Griffin is trying to stand back up but Blasko is controlling him
Blasko trying to control from half guard but Griffin is working away.

Blasko is trying to work for a kimura but Griffin is defending well.
Griffin wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Griffin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blasko.
Griffin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Blasko moves into the clinch.

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.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Blasko.
Griffin works on Blasko's body with a couple of short punches.

Griffin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Blasko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Griffin thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Griffin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Griffin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Blasko passes Griffin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Blasko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Blasko is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffin tries to roll over but Blasko keeps him under control.
Blasko working the head and body with strikes.
Blasko is nestled in close to Griffin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Blasko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Well, if Blasko is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Blasko prevents Griffin from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Griffin is trying to maintain the position but Blasko is very close to passing his half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Blasko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Griffin misses with a takedown

and Blasko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Blasko.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caleb Griffin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Griffin is striking from the bottom but Blasko uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Griffin trying to hold on to Blasko's head to control him but Blasko postures up.

Blasko stands up from half guard.
Griffin stalks Blasko and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Blasko's face. Blasko staggers backwards, shaken.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Blasko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Blasko scores with a decent looking hook.
Griffin throws a sloppy head kick and Blasko moves out of range easily.
A slow jab from Griffin misses its intended target.
Griffin misses with a takedown

and Blasko counters with a takedown into side control.
Blasko grinds an elbow into Griffin's temple.
Blasko is looking to take a break and control but Griffin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Griffin tries to buck Blasko off but Blasko is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Griffin is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Blasko has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Griffin!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blasko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The referee warns Griffin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Blasko avoids the attempt from Griffin to control.
Blasko looking to control but Griffin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Blasko prevents Griffin from getting the reversal.
Blasko with a couple of short strikes.
Griffin tries to hold on but Blasko postures up.
Griffin is looking to improve his position but Blasko isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Blasko working the ground and pound effectively.
Griffin is trying to escape the mount.
Blasko is landing with some decent strikes but Griffin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Blasko throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Griffin has his hands clasped together but Blasko breaks the hold and Griffin is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Blasko!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John Blasko!