The “other” Griffin–Tyson Griffin (no relation) is one of those fighters like our man Clay Guida who just brings it every time he steps into the ring or cage. If you didn’t catch it the first time around, track down Griffin’s fight against Guida which–like seemingly every fight that Guida is in–was a fight of the year candidate. Aurelio enters the ring first–he’s a third degree BJJ black belt which doesn’t suck. He’s using DMX for his ring entrance music. Aurelio is one tough dude with a solid chin–you can just look at him and tell he can take a punch as his jaw looks like a cartoon character. Not getting points for creativity is Tyson Griffin who comes to the cage to “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor. An excellent fighter like Griffin needs a better ring entrance music. Maybe Gabriel Gonzaga will lend him a Danzig CD so he can come up with something tougher and more au courant. Griffin is the only guy to beat Urijah Faber (at 155) which even at a weight that obviously isn’t Faber’s best is no small feat. Bruce Buffer, no doubt aware that this performance will be compared to brother Michael’s performance at the forthcoming Affliction: Banned show, appears to be in rare form. We kid about Bruce a lot, but he’s really a decent announcer on his own. Herb Dean calls the fighters to action and we’re underway.

ROUND ONE:

Fighters circle each other looking to establish a striking game. No significant blows yet–:45 seconds in and the bloodthirsty meth addicts are already booing because no one has been injured yet. Strange matchup since in theory Griffin wants to take it to the ground and use his excellent wrestling skills, but that might not be the best gameplan against a BJJ monster. Aurelio appears to have the better punching technique so far, but none have landed. Aurelio half gets taken down, half falls. Aurelio is using his upkicks to keep his opponent off of him but Griffin landing some heavy shots. Griffin trying to pass guard but that’s a dangerous place to be against a BJJ black belt. Griffin being cautious but still landing some shots, probably enough to give him the round if things stay the same. A minute left now and we’re back to standup. Aurelio has a reach advantage but Griffin getting the better of the striking game. Leg kick by Griffin. Aurelio tries for a single leg as the round draws to a close but nothing doing. Nice round for Tyson Griffin, showing a very well rounded game and controling tempo against a dangerous opponent. 10-9 Griffin

ROUND TWO:

Nice combination by Griffin to start the round–he’s walking right through the punches of Aurelio and they don’t seem to hurt him. Wicked leg kick by Griffin. Another nice middle kick by Griffin followed by a leg kick. Griffin is built like a fireplug and he’s using his solid base to get inside on the BJJ specialist. Another leg kick by Griffin. Nice combination by Aurelio, he tries to take Griffin down but as we just noted he’s built like a fireplug and tough to take down. Knee strike by Griffin as Aurelio tries for the takedown. Griffin bulls his opponent to the cage. Griffin’s legs are huge and he obviously gets a ton of power from his lower body. Now Griffin picks Aurelio up and takes him down with relative ease. Aurelio gets up and manages to get Griffin down. Aurelio has Griffin’s back now which is a very dangerous place to be. 1:20 left in round two. Aurelio loses the position and now Griffin back on top. Aurelio tries for a triangle but can’t cinch it in. Griffin trying to pass guard and Aurelio looking for some submission. :20 left and Griffin getting some heavy shots to the body as the round ends. Another nice round by Griffin as Chriss Angel is shown. Points for Rogan as he gives props to Sully from Godsmack and then admonishes Goldberg for ignoring his Boston heavy metal homeboy. 10-9 Griffin, 20-18 he leads in the fight on the SAVSCI scorecard.

ROUND THREE:

Griffin could likely stay away from Aurelio and get the decision but that’s not going to happen, which is why he’s such a great fighter to watch. A couple of nice leg kicks by Griffin starts the round. Aurelio misses a takedown and eats a right hand for his trouble. More leg kicks by Griffin is really starting to hurt Aurelio. Nice combination by Griffin, who’s controlling the standup game despite giving up height and reach. Aurelio looks tired and somewhat clueless as he tries to figure out how to slow down the seemingly tireless Griffin. Aurelio shoots for a takedown but nothing doing. Another nice combination by Griffin, then another and Aurelio looks to be hurt. Add Aurelio to the list of fighters who’d benefit greatly from a few months in a boxing gym–it would teach him how to take advantage of his height and reach in a situation like this. Boo birds out for some reason, but they shut up when Griffin shoots and gets the takedown. 1:30 left and Aurellio looking for submissions. Griffin might have done well to keep it standing. Less than a minute left now and the pace slows considerably–if he doesn’t get submitted he’s got a unanimous decision victory. :30 left now and he’s evaded a couple of arm bar attempts. Horn ends with another nice round for Griffin, who dominated the standup for the first four minutes before sealing the round with a takedown. 10-9 Griffin, he gets the fight on the SAVSCI scorecard 30-27. We’ll have the judges’ decision momentarily…

All three judges score it 30-27 for Tyson Griffin

TYSON GRIFFIN WINS BY UNANIMOUS DECISION

Rogan talking to Griffin about his standup which did look *very* sharp. The only real weakness is that he put himself in some dangerous positions that he didn’t have to be in. Rogan points out that Griffin is only 24 years old, which is sick since he’s already such a well rounded fighter…