PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Huey Manley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Huey Manley struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Griffiths
vs
Manley

170 cm
32
175 lbs
29 - 15 - 1

186 cm
29
188 lbs
12 - 4 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

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 29 - 15 - 1, fighting out of London, Stephen Griffiths!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Huey Manley!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffiths slaps away a takedown attempt from Manley, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Griffiths throws a body kick that misses.
And Manley tries to counter it with a takedown but Griffiths pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Griffiths throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Manley throws a nice head kick!
That kick from Griffiths tenderised Manley's leg. Manley is trying to keep his angry face on.
Griffiths connects with the punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Griffiths misses the target.
Manley changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Manley swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Manley is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Manley fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Griffiths misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Griffiths misses.
Griffiths scores with a nice head shot.
Griffiths is looking to slow Manley down with leg kicks.
Manley tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manley shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Griffiths controlling the position for now.
The fighters are battling for position here. Griffiths manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Griffiths looking for a sweep. Not yet Griffiths, not yet.
Manley throws a big right hand that misses.
Manley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Griffiths works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Griffiths working a defensive guard here.
Griffiths looking for a sweep. Not yet Griffiths, not yet.
Griffiths preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Manley postures up in Griffiths's guard and throws a big left but Griffiths blocks it.
Griffiths might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Manley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manley slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Manley keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Griffiths's head.
Manley chips away with some ground and pound.
Manley scoring with some ground and pound.
Manley throws a big right hand that misses.
Manley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Manley is looking to pass into half guard but Griffiths pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Griffiths is in guard.

Manley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Manley 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.
Manley has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Manley controls Griffiths momentarily but Griffiths frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Manley is trying to keep Griffiths in close.
Manley wants to sweep but no luck.
Griffiths controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Good shot there by Griffiths.
Griffiths throws out a loose jab but Manley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Griffiths throws a nice inside leg kick.
Griffiths looks for the body kick but Manley saw that one coming.
Manley defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Griffiths.
Manley needs to keep his hands up - Griffiths had a free shot at his head there.
Manley takes a jab right on the kisser.
Griffiths lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jab, jab by Griffiths - just one landing.
Griffiths closes this distance looking for a takedown but Manley circles away.
Manley on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Griffiths. Griffiths obviously looking to wear him down.
Griffiths throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Manley sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Griffiths dominated that round.
That's time! Griffiths's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A combination from Griffiths does no damage.
Manley fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Griffiths.
That kick from Griffiths tenderised Manley's leg. Manley is trying to keep his angry face on.
Stephen Griffiths seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manley throws a nice outside leg kick.
Manley moves away from the strike by Griffiths.
Griffiths is looking to clinch but Manley is avoiding it.
Griffiths chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Manley can pounce on him.
Griffiths lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Good leg kick by Griffiths there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Manley throws a quick inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffiths takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Griffiths lands with an overhand left.
Griffiths closes this distance looking for a takedown but Manley circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Griffiths lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Griffiths cracks Manley with a right hand to the side of the head.
Manley's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths connects with the punch.
Manley looks for the body kick but Griffiths saw that one coming.
Griffiths lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Griffiths takes the fight into the clinch.
Manley holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Manley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Griffithss head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Griffiths.
A head punch on the inside from Manley fails to land.
Manley trying to control the position but instead, Griffiths has worked for underhooks and has pushed Manley into the ropes.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Griffiths.
Griffiths keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Manley's efforts to push away.

Griffiths escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stephen Griffiths is winning the standup battle so far.
Griffiths throws a solid leg kick but Manley takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Griffiths.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths misses with a leg kick.
Manley blocks a head kick by Griffiths.
Manley checks the leg kick.
Griffiths jabs Manley to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Manley on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Griffiths. Griffiths obviously looking to wear him down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manley misses with a head kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Griffiths.
Griffiths displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Griffiths is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Manley can do to turn this around?
Manley throws a push kick but Griffiths slaps the foot to one side.
That kick from Griffiths tenderised Manley's leg. Manley is trying to keep his angry face on.
Manley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Griffiths throws out the jab.
Griffiths tries to score with a low kick but Manley moves his leg out of the way.
Griffiths scores with the left hand. Manley knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Manley finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Manley changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Griffiths tries to avoid it but Manley manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Griffiths to the ground. Griffiths escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Manley looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Griffiths moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Griffiths slaps away a takedown attempt from Manley, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Manley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Griffiths.
Griffiths scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Griffiths misses with a hook. Manley ducked under it nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Griffiths. No joy for Manley on that attempt.
Stephen Griffiths has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Huey Manley.
Manley throws a low kick but Griffiths moves out of range easily.
Manley throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Griffiths dives in for a single leg takedown but Manley sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manley slips a jab and a cross from Griffiths.
Manley throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Manley throws a low kick but it's checked well by Griffiths.
Good leg kick by Griffiths there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manley blocks a leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Griffiths. That snapped Manley's head back.

Griffiths instigates a clinch.

Griffiths jumps guard and drags Manley to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Manley with a flurry of punches that miss.
Manley is looking to work some ground and pound but Griffiths has wrist control.
Manley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Manley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Manley is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Manley throws an elbow that misses. Griffiths uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Manley's guard. Nice move by Griffiths!

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

Stephen Griffiths dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

That kick from Griffiths tenderised Manley's leg. Manley is trying to keep his angry face on.
Manley throws a low kick but Griffiths avoids it.
Griffiths was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Griffiths misses with a few strikes there.
Manley throws a push kick but Griffiths slaps the foot to one side.
Griffiths feints and then cracks Manley's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Manley down.
Griffiths lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Manley throws a nice outside leg kick.
Griffiths has a takedown stuffed.
Manley with the counter takedown but Griffiths avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manley blocks a jab.
Griffiths dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Manley. That did some damage!
Griffiths misses with a body shot.
Manley changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Griffiths scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Manley doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manley doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Griffiths counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Griffiths shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Griffiths was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Griffiths trying to control the action but Manley is working from the bottom.
Manley is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Griffiths is controlling him well.
You can see the frustration on Manley's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Griffiths trying to control the action but Manley is working from the bottom.
Manley is trying to control Griffiths's posture but Griffiths avoids it.
Stephen Griffiths is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A control attempt from Manley but he's now mounted!
Manley tries to hold on but Griffiths postures up.
Manley wants to try and get back to his feet.
Griffiths controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffiths trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Manley tries to hold on but Griffiths postures up.
Manley looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Manley tries to roll but Griffiths sticks to his back.
Manley is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Griffiths is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Manley knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Manley for a finish.
Manley is in bad spot here.
Manley trying to control the position but Griffiths manages to sink in the hooks.
Griffiths controlling well, preventing Manley from escaping the position.

Griffiths is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Manley has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Manley wants to get back to his feet.
Huey Manley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Griffiths keeps control of the position as Manley tries to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Griffiths showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Griffiths has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Griffiths!
A very excited looking Stephen Griffiths 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.