PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Miller's choice of entrance music: Power. Brandon Miller has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matthews
vs
Miller

175 cm
28
140 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

175 cm
25
140 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brandon Miller!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice takedown defense from Matthews. No joy for Miller on that attempt.
Miller shoots for a takedown but Matthews saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Miller shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense.
Michael Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Miller.
Miller lands a nice looking body shot.
Miller misses with a left hand
and Matthews counters with a three punch combo that has Miller backing up. Miller nods at Matthews to acknowledge the strikes.
A punch combination from Matthews misses.
Matthews lands with a shot to the body.
Matthews fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Matthews moves out of range as Miller strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller fails with the takedown.
Matthews stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Matthews wants it to stay on the feet.
Miller connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Matthews throws a hook but Miller blocks it.
Miller tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Miller.
Matthews rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Miller counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Miller.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Miller from controlling successfully.
Miller passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller passes to full mount!
Miller tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miller is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Matthews can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Miller is working for a guillotine from mount but Matthews frees his head quite easily.
Miller 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.
Miller tries to control but Matthews wriggling away.

Miller goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Matthews turns into him and now he's in Miller's guard.

Miller looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Miller working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Matthews has passed into half guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miller looking for a kimura from the bottom but Matthews passes into side control!
Miller looking for a sweep but Matthews has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Miller is trying desperately to improve position.
Miller tries to hold on but Matthews pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miller really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Miller dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Matthews lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Matthews.
Miller shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matthews as he jumps to the side.
Matthews thows a body shot but no joy.
Miller walks into a stiff left hand from Matthews.
Miller throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Miller fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Miller connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Matthews's hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller fails with the takedown.
Michael Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Miller.
Matthews misses with a combination
and Matthews takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matthews misses with a lunging right hand
and Matthews takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Miller shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matthews pinned against the cage. Matthews gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Miller throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Miller ducks under a wild hook from Matthews.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller fails with a takedown attempt.
Matthews misses with a few strikes there.
Nice takedown defense from Matthews. No joy for Miller on that attempt.
Matthews lands a glancing blow to the side of Miller's head.
Miller shoots for a double leg takedown but Matthews sprawls well. He's pushed Miller's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Miller misses with a hook
and Matthews counters with a stiff right hand.
Brandon Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Miller shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Matthews sprawls well. Matthews wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Miller gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller defending well as Matthews loads up on a big left hand.
A nice combination there by Matthews.
Miller fails with a takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Miller. Matthews does a little dance to reset his feet.
Miller shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throws a hook but Miller avoids it easily.
Matthews looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Michael Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Miller slips a jab and a cross from Matthews.
Michael Matthews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Miller shoots for a takedown but Matthews saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Miller fails with a takedown attempt.
Matthews throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Miller counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Matthews!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Miller can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matthews is looking to escape.
Miller punching from mount but Matthews doing a good job of avoiding damage.
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 Michael Matthews will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Miller sizes up Matthews with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Matthews looks to land a combination but Miller avoids it well.
Miller fails with a takedown attempt.
Miller looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Michael Matthews is winning the standup battle so far.
Miller shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Miller tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matthews swivels and escapes.
Michael Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Miller.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews misses with a hook. Miller ducked under it nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Miller. Matthews does a little dance to reset his feet.
Miller shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matthews but Matthews pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Matthews slips under a jab.
Miller doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Matthews counters with a one-two to the body.
Matthews drops his hands momentarily and Miller takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller dodges the punch combination from Matthews.
Matthews moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Matthews 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Matthews misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matthews connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Miller shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miller misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Matthews defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Miller.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Miller.
Matthews's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Miller connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Matthews scrambles back to his feet.
Matthews swings for the body but Miller moves out of range.
Matthews pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Miller takes a swing at Matthews's ribcage but misses.
Matthews leaves Miller with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Matthews misses with a two punch combination.
Matthews is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews lands with a right hand.
Miller fails to land the takedown.
Miller shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Matthews counters with a nice body shot.
Miller takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Miller changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matthews tries to avoid it but Miller manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matthews to the ground. Matthews escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Miller.
Miller takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Matthews showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matthews has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Matthews!
Michael Matthews decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.