PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jah Griffith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stevie Birch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Griffith
vs
Birch

170 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jah Griffith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stevie Birch!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birch tries a head kick but it misses.

Birch moves into the clinch.
Griffith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Birch just stands there and leans against the cage.
Birch lands a knee to the head.
Birch misses with a knee to the head.
Birch misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Birch putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Griffith in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Birch landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but Griffith blocks with his arms.
Griffith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Griffith takes a knee right on the jaw!
Birch with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Griffith doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Griffith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A knee to the head by Birch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Griffith is trying to push Birch away but Birch has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Griffith is looking to take this one to the mat.
Griffith is breathing heavily.
Birch with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birch lands a nice shot to the body.
Birch tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Birch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Birch using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Birch.
Birch lands a nice shot to the body.
Birch unloads a knee to the mid-section. Griffith lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Birch lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Birch working Griffith over with knees to the body.
Birch with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Birch lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Griffith has Birch pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Birch manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jah Griffith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Birch with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Griffith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Birch fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Birch moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birch landing knees to the head.
Birch tries a knee to the head but Griffith blocks it.
Birch prevents a takedown attempt there.
Birch is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Birch connects with a knee to the head.
Birch misses with a knee strike.
Griffith tries for a takedown but Birch manages to get underhooks.
Birch lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Birch connects with a nasty looking knee right to Griffith's face.
Griffith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Birch walks away with a smile on his face. Griffith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Birch forces Griffith back against the cage and clinches.
Birch scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birch throws a knee to the head but misses.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but Griffith blocks with his arms.
Griffith pushes off an throws an elbow but Birch leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Birch misses with a knee to the head.
Griffith fails to pull guard.
Birch lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Birch.
Griffith avoiding damage as Birch throws knees to the body.
Birch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Griffith blocks it with crossed arms.
Birch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Griffith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Griffith's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Birch misses with a knee strike.
Griffith goes for a takedown attempt but Birch pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffith shoots in looking for a takedown. Birch tries to sprawl out of it but Griffith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Birch manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Birch connects with a solid leg kick.

Griffith moves into range and clinches up with Birch.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but Griffith blocks with his arms.
Birch lands an elbow just above Griffith 's eye.
Birch tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Birch looking to throw knees to the head but Griffith is blocking nicely.
Griffith is looking to break free of the clinch but Birch has double underhooks.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but Griffith blocks with his arms.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but Griffith blocks with his arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Birch dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Griffith tries a head kick but it misses.

Birch has closed the distance and engaged Griffith in a clinch.
Birch tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Griffith's elbow.
Nice elbow from Birch.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but Griffith blocks with his arms.
Birch stops a takedown attempt from Griffith.
Birch lands a shot to the body.
Birch tries a knee to the head but Griffith blocks it.
Griffith tries to break free but Birch pushes him back against the cage.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Birch misses with a knee to the head.
Birch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Griffith creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Birch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Griffith blocks it with crossed arms.
Birch tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Birch avoids the elbow strike from Griffith, against the cage.
Birch is breathing heavily.
Griffith lands a hook that snaps the head of Birch backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Griffith takes an elbow to the temple.
Griffith tries to break free but Birch pushes him back against the cage.
Griffith blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Griffith is trying to push Birch away but Birch has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Griffith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Birch is defending well for now.
Griffith wants to break free but Birch has control.
Griffith tries to pull guard but Birch forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Griffith takes a knee right on the jaw!
Birch looking to throw knees to the head but Griffith is blocking nicely.

Griffith jumps guard and drags Birch to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Griffith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Birch trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Griffith keeping full guard, as Birch tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Birch's guard.

Griffith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Griffith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Griffith tries to free his leg and advance position but Birch is retaining full guard.
Griffith trying to control the position from guard on top but Birch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Birch looking to control.

Griffith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Jah Griffith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birch fails in his attempt to clinch.
Griffith went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Birch has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Birch forces Griffith back against the cage and clinches.
Birch misses with a knee strike.
Birch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Birch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Griffith tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Birch avoids it.
Birch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Griffith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Birch throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Birch trying to land knees to the body.
Griffith is trying to break the clinch but Birch has him pressed against the cage.
Birch gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Griffith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jah Griffith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but Griffith blocks with his arms.
Griffith tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Birch smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birch tries to clinch up but Griffith circles away and keeps his distance.

Griffith moves into the clinch.
Griffith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Birch.
Griffith is trying to pull guard but Birch turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Birch presses Griffith against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Birch misses with a punch on the inside.
Birch struggles to land a body shot inside as Griffith controls his hands.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but Griffith blocks with his arms.
Griffith wants to get back to striking at distance but Birch won't allow it.
Griffith avoids a wild elbow strike from Birch.
Griffith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Birch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Griffith blocks it with crossed arms.
Griffith is trying to pull guard but Birch turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stevie Birch seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Birch throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Birch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Griffith moves into the clinch.
Birch lands with a right to the head.
Birch lands a damaging elbow.
Birch looking to throw knees to the head but Griffith is blocking nicely.
Birch misses with a knee strike.
Birch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Griffith blocks it with crossed arms.
Griffith takes an elbow to the temple.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but Griffith blocks with his arms.
Birch goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Birch throws an elbow but it misses.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but Griffith blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birch tries a knee to the head but Griffith blocks it.
Birch prevents Griffith from breaking the clinch.
Griffith can't get the takedown.
Griffith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Griffith tries to pull guard but Birch won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jah Griffith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Griffith blocks it with crossed arms.
Birch gets underhooks to prevent Griffith's takedown attempt.
Griffith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Birch connects with a knee to the head.
Birch landing knees to the body.
Birch prevents Griffith from breaking the clinch.
Griffith is trying to push Birch away but Birch has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Birch lands an elbow inside that Griffith shrugs off.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Birch tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Griffith stalling the fight.
Griffith managing to block the knees to the body from Birch.
Birch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Griffith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birch misses with a knee strike.
Birch throws a knee to the head but misses.
Griffith taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Birch missing with knees to the body.
Griffith trying to stall but Birch improves his position.
Birch throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Birch tries to land knees in the clinch but Griffith avoids the damage to the body.
Griffith is looking to control Birch's arms but Birch gets an underhook and turns him. Now Griffith has his back to the cage.
Griffith jumps guard but Birch stands there with Griffith around his waist. Griffith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Birch misses with a knee strike.
Birch keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Griffith's efforts to push away.
Griffith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Griffith takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Griffith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Griffith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Birch.
Griffith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Birch walks away with a smile on his face. Griffith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Birch clinches with his opponent.
Birch tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Griffith is trying to break the clinch but Birch has him pressed against the cage.
Griffith is looking to take this one to the mat.
Birch landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Birch with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Birch cracks Griffith with a nice body shot.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Griffith jumps guard but Birch turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birch lands a body punch.
Birch tries a knee to the head but Griffith blocks it.
Griffith avoiding damage as Birch throws knees to the body.
Birch lands a knee to the head.
Griffith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A knee to the head by Birch.
Birch looking to throw knees to the head but Griffith is blocking nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Birch is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Birch lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Birch scores a nice knee to the body.
Birch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Birch looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Griffith lands a nice uppercut.
Jah Griffith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevie Birch is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Griffith is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Birch is keeping busy.
Birch lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stevie Birch comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Birch winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stevie Birch!