PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kimbo Sapp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kimbo Sapp will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Miller
vs
Sapp

189 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

210 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kimbo Sapp!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Colin Fray and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sapp fails with the takedown

and Miller counters by moving into the clinch.
Sapp goes for a takedown in the clinch but Miller prevents it.
Miller throws a head punch that misses.
Sapp has Miller pressed against the cage.
The referee calls for Miller to work.
Sapp is pressed up against the cage. Miller has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sapp down to the mat. Sapp avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sapp stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sapp wants it to stay on the feet.
Miller shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sapp as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sapp lands with a cross.
Miller swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Sapp.
Horrible takedown by Miller or perhaps it was just good defense by Sapp which made him look bad.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Miller is defended easily by Sapp.

Sapp forces Miller back against the cage and clinches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Miller throws an elbow but misses.
Sapp on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sapp lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Sapp's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Miller gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sapp regains guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sapp is trying to keep Miller in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller throwing strikes from guard but Sapp blocks nicely.
Miller is looking to work some ground and pound but Sapp has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miller being controlled here momentarily.
Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Sapp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miller is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sapp is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Sapp moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapp leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sapp is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Sapp jumps guard and drags Miller to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sapp looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sapp keeping moving, preventing Miller from controlling successfully.

Sapp looking for a guillotine here but Miller defends easily.
Miller trying to control but Sapp is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapp preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sapp controlling the position.
Sapp manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miller is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Miller is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Miller is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kimbo Sapp will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sapp throws a head kick that misses.
Sapp shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sapp scores with a jab to the head.
Sapp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Miller pushes Sapp up against the cage in a clinch.
Miller misses with a punch to the body.
Sapp is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Miller is defending well.
Miller tries to stall but Sapp uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Miller is trying to force a seperation but Sapp has the dominant position.
Miller can't get the takedown.

Miller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Miller tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sapp swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller fails to land with a series of punches.
Sapp stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Miller avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick misses from Sapp.
Miller misses with a low kick.
Sapp shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Miller pinned against the cage. Miller gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mike Miller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimbo Sapp.
Miller fails with the takedown.
Sapp keeps the fight on the outside.
A head kick misses from Sapp.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapp lands a lovely overhand right.

Sapp gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Sapp jumps into guard, dragging Miller to the mat.
Sapp is controlling Miller's posture.

Sapp is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Miller is aware though and is defending well.
Miller has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sapp keeping moving, preventing Miller from controlling successfully.
Sapp looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Miller trying to control but Sapp is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Miller is really struggling to control Sapp but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mike Miller wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sapp tries for a takedown but Miller circles away easily

so Miller counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Miller cracks Sapp with a solid left hand.
Sapp manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Sapp wants to finish this one by submission but Miller is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Sapp.
Miller blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Sapp looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Miller is controlling Sapp 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sapp keeping moving, preventing Miller from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mike Miller will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

An inside leg kick from Sapp misses.
Sapp tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Miller manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sapp misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Miller.
Sapp fails to land the takedown.
Miller tries to clinch up but Sapp circles away and keeps his distance.
Miller throws the kick towards the body but Sapp avoids it.

Miller dives in and scores a takedown into Sapp's guard.
Sapp looking for a sweep. Not yet Sapp, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sapp has his foot on Miller's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Miller works his way back into a safe position though.
Miller preventing the sweep.
Sapp takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Miller looking to sit in guard and control but Sapp gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Miller is trying to control the position but Sapp postures up.

Miller working for a triangle but Sapp defends it easily.
Miller keeping moving, preventing Sapp from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to sweep but no luck.
Sapp loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Miller had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sapp defends it easily.
Sapp advances position into side control!
Miller is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapp advances nicely into full mount.
Sapp trying to control but Miller is having none of it.
Sapp looking to finish with strikes here!
Miller is in all sorts of trouble here.

Sapp with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapp wants to control the pace but Miller is squirming around nicely.
Sapp controlling his opponent.
Miller wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sapp.
Sapp can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Miller is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kimbo Sapp comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sapp 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kimbo Sapp!