PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Kaplan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Miller
vs
Kaplan

190 cm
29
218 lbs
11 - 14 - 1

185 cm
27
252 lbs
7 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Determined

Springfield HW Nutrition
Springfield HW Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Kaplan!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Miller moves out of range of the strikes.
Kaplan pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kaplan gets a double leg takedown into Miller's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kaplan forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaplan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Miller does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kaplan working Miller over with strikes.
Kaplan is looking to pass Miller's guard but actually Miller recovers to full guard.
Kaplan cracks Miller with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaplan looking to sit in guard and control but Miller gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kaplan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kaplan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kaplan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaplan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kaplan 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.
Miller makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Miller throws a big right hand that misses.
Miller wants to pass the guard but Kaplan is keeping the position.
Kaplan looking for a sweep. Not yet Kaplan, not yet.
Miller trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kaplan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Miller working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kaplan is trying to keep Miller in close.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miller throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kaplan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kaplan trying to control the position.
Miller throws a strike but Kaplan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kaplan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Miller pushes Kaplan off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kaplan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kaplan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Miller pushes Kaplan off looking to stand but Kaplan dives back in and keeps control.
Kaplan drops an elbow to the side of Miller's head.
Kaplan wants to advance to full mount but Miller doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Kaplan looking to sit in guard and control but Miller gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Miller 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kaplan wants to stand but Miller is controlling the position.
Kaplan looking to control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Miller stands up over Kaplan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kaplan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Miller throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Miller throwing strikes but missing.
Miller throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kaplan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Miller shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kaplan but Kaplan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kaplan throws a series of punches but Miller avoids them all with ease.
Miller slips a jab and a cross from Kaplan.
Miller shoots for a takedown but Kaplan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kaplan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Miller fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kaplan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Miller sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kaplan somewhat.
Miller shoots in for a double leg but Kaplan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Miller shoots for a takedown but Kaplan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kaplan stuffs the takedown.
Kaplan misses with a two punch combination.

Kaplan moves into the clinch.
Miller wants to take the fight to the mat but Kaplan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaplan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Miller just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kaplan is trying to maintain a safe position but Miller gets an underhook and turns Kaplan into the cage.

Miller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kaplan rushes Miller and presses him up against the cage.
Kaplan prevents a takedown attempt there.

Miller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Miller shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kaplan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kaplan swings for the body but Miller moves out of range.
A combination from Kaplan does no damage.
Kaplan just misses with a punch to the body.
Kaplan shoots for a double leg takedown but Miller sprawls well. He's pushed Kaplan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kaplan misses with a wild body shot.

Miller closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good body shot from Miller.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Miller has him pressed against the cage.
Kaplan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Miller just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kaplan looking to slow down the pace here.
Miller has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kaplan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Miller breaks from the clinch.
Miller shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kaplan pinned against the cage. Kaplan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kaplan punishes Miller's body with a nice straight punch.

Kaplan scores a takedown into full mount!
Joe Kaplan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Miller is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kaplan sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan landing strikes, looking to finish!
Miller is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kaplan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Miller is looking to escape.
Kaplan sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Poor strikes thrown by Kaplan there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan dominating with strikes here.
Kaplan sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Kaplan wants to control but instead Miller manages to regain half guard.
Kaplan with the ground and pound but Miller uses the opportunity to regain guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kaplan cracks Miller with a solid left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaplan stands and throws Miller's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Kaplan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kaplan closes the distance and clinches.
Miller wants a takedown.

Miller is trying to trip Kaplan. He has hold of a leg but Kaplan is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Miller persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kaplan holds on and takes a little breather.
Kaplan controls Miller momentarily but Miller frees himself.
Miller throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kaplan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kaplan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Miller chips away with some ground and pound.
Miller postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miller preventing the sweep.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kaplan holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaplan is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Joe Kaplan has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kaplan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kaplan wants it to stay on the feet.

Miller gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kaplan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kaplan slips nicely into half guard.
Kaplan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kaplan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kaplan is keen to just control but Miller is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Miller defending well though.
Miller blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kaplan.
Kaplan trying to control from Miller's half guard. Miller has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Kaplan throwing strikes from guard but Miller blocks nicely.
Kaplan landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Miller swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kaplan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kaplan wants to stand but Miller is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kaplan throws an elbow that misses. Miller uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kaplan's guard. Nice move by Miller!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller throws a big right hand that misses.
Kaplan wants to stand and escape but Miller is having none of it.
Kaplan trying to control the position.
Miller chips away with some ground and pound.
Miller missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kaplan is trying to control the position but Miller postures up.
James Miller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kaplan wants to stand up but Miller is controlling him.
Miller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Miller advances to half guard.
Kaplan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Miller. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miller not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Miller prevents Kaplan from improving his position.
Joe Kaplan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kaplan wants to control but Miller is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Kaplan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kaplan 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Kaplan!