PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Thornhill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Griffey Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Thornhill has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Thornhill
vs
Griffey Jr

182 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Thornhill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ken Griffey Jr!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffey Jr avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ken Griffey Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thornhill shoots in looking for a takedown. Griffey Jr tries to sprawl out of it but Thornhill keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Griffey Jr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Griffey Jr throws a series of strikes that have Thornhill backpedaling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thornhill looking to score a takedown here. Griffey Jr is defending well but Thornhill drives through and ends up in Griffey Jr's guard.
Thornhill throwing strikes but missing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Griffey Jr can do anything to dispel that myth.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thornhill accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornhill postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thornhill missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thornhill throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Griffey Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thornhill postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Griffey Jr wants to sweep here but Thornhill controlling him for the moment.
Thornhill throwing strikes from guard but Griffey Jr blocks nicely.
Thornhill trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thornhill throws a big elbow that misses.
Thornhill throws a big right hand that misses.
Thornhill throws a big elbow that misses.
Griffey Jr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thornhill throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Griffey Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thornhill throwing strikes but missing.
Thornhill throwing strikes but missing.
Thornhill is looking to work some ground and pound but Griffey Jr has wrist control.
Thornhill missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thornhill postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thornhill throwing strikes from guard but Griffey Jr blocks nicely.
Thornhill trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thornhill has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Thornhill throws a big right hand that misses.
Thornhill working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornhill throwing strikes from guard but Griffey Jr blocks nicely.
Thornhill throws an elbow that misses. Griffey Jr uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thornhill's guard. Nice move by Griffey Jr!

Thornhill trying to control the position here.
Griffey Jr preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thornhill manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Griffey Jr manages to get himself to full guard.

Griffey Jr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thornhill working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thornhill with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thornhill with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thornhill loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Griffey Jr preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Griffey Jr looking to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thornhill in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thornhill throws an elbow that misses. Griffey Jr uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thornhill's guard. Nice move by Griffey Jr!

Griffey Jr stops Thornhill from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Thornhill 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.

Thornhill swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Griffey Jr throws a shot from downtown. Thornhill moves away and avoids it.
An attempted straight right counter from Thornhill misses the target.
Thornhill slips a jab from Griffey Jr.
Thornhill appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Thornhill tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Griffey Jr swivels and escapes.
Josh Thornhill is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thornhill misses with a hook to the body
and Griffey Jr cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thornhill shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffey Jr moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Thornhill takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Thornhill with a lazy takedown attempt
and Griffey Jr counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffey Jr goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nice defenses there by Griffey Jr.
It seemed like Griffey Jr was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Griffey Jr misses with a body shot.
Thornhill was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Griffey Jr scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Thornhill doesn't seem bothered though.
Griffey Jr takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
We've been informed that Griffey Jr has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Griffey Jr lands an overhand right.
Thornhill tries for a takedown but Griffey Jr circles away easily
and Griffey Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Thornhill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thornhill misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Griffey Jr counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thornhill misses with an uppercut
and Griffey Jr counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thornhill thinking.
Griffey Jr scores with a punch to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Griffey Jr connects with a right hand. Thornhill shakes it off.
Griffey Jr throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Griffey Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Griffey Jr lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Thornhill on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Griffey Jr misses with a hook
and Thornhill connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Griffey Jr. Thornhill does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thornhill shoots in for a double leg but Griffey Jr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Griffey Jr scores with a sloppy right hand. Thornhill should have avoided that one.
Thornhill gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Griffey Jr.

Griffey Jr pushes Thornhill up against the cage in a clinch.
Griffey Jr displaying some good clinch control by pressing Thornhill up against the cage.
Thornhill blocking some punches.
Griffey Jr is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Griffey Jr lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Thornhill backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffey Jr working aggressively here.
Griffey Jr scores with a shoulder strike.
Griffey Jr throws a head punch that misses.
Griffey Jr is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Griffey Jr blocking some punches.
Griffey Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Thornhill uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thornhill blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Griffey Jr has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Griffey Jr.
Griffey Jr lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Griffey Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Griffey Jr bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Thornhill's head backwards.
Thornhill will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thornhill is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Griffey Jr's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Thornhill takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Griffey Jr is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Thornhill shoots in but Griffey Jr avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Griffey Jr lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffey Jr fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thornhill on the side of the head.
Thornhill walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Thornhill scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Griffey Jr lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Thornhill shoots and misses
letting Griffey Jr counter with a right hand.
Griffey Jr fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Griffey Jr moves into range and connects with a jab.
Griffey Jr scores with a hook to the body. Thornhill takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Griffey Jr rushes Thornhill and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffey Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Thornhill controls his hands.
Thornhill blocks an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Griffey Jr scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Griffey Jr misses with a punch on the inside.
Thornhill swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Griffey Jr has a couple of punches blocked by Thornhill.
Thornhill misses with some punches.
Thornhill blocks an uppercut.
Griffey Jr working aggressively here.
Griffey Jr blocking some punches.
Griffey Jr throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thornhills head.
Griffey Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Griffey Jr misses with a punch on the inside.
Thornhill looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornhill lands a right hand.
Griffey Jr softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Griffey Jr misses with some punches.
Griffey Jr has Thornhill pressed against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Griffey Jr.
Griffey Jr lands with a short shot to the head.
Griffey Jr throws a head punch that misses.
Griffey Jr tries to work over Thornhill's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Griffey Jr throws a punch but it's blocked by Thornhill.
Thornhill blocks an uppercut.
Griffey Jr leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffey Jr throws a punch but it's blocked by Thornhill.
Thornhill drops down looking for an ankle pick but Griffey Jr pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Thornhill. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Griffey Jr has closed the distance and engaged Thornhill in a clinch.
Griffey Jr just leaning against Thornhill, taking a breather.
Griffey Jr tries to work over Thornhill's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Griffey Jr lands a nice uppercut.
Griffey Jr misses with some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ken Griffey Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Griffey Jr 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ken Griffey Jr!
Ken Griffey Jr seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.