PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mayham Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Franklin
vs
Miller

178 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

184 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Russia GOLD (only real 159 in st petes)

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aaron Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mayham Miller!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

It looks like Aaron Franklin has been cut.

Franklin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Miller to the mat! Miller manages to get full guard.

Miller has his foot on Franklin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Franklin works his way back into a safe position though.

Miller throws his legs up looking for a submission but Franklin uses it to pass to side control.
Franklin in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Franklin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Franklin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Miller struggling a bit here.
Franklin controlling from side mount.
Miller is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Franklin is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin controlling from the full mount.
Franklin looking to finish with strikes here!
Miller avoids a series of strikes thrown by Franklin.
Franklin throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Franklin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Miller is looking to escape.
Miller is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Franklin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Franklin lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Miller is desperately trying to improve his position but Franklin has a good base and remains in mount.
Franklin landing strikes from the mount and Miller is in trouble!
Miller is desperately trying to improve his position but Franklin has a good base and remains in mount.
Franklin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Franklin throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Franklin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Miller hang on?
Miller can't escape the position.
Miller tries to lock up and control but Franklin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Franklin looking to finish Miller with some ground and pound. This is bad for Miller!
Franklin is breathing heavily.
Franklin landing strikes from the mount.
Miller sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Miller trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Franklin manages to pass to mount!
Franklin raining down shots from the mount!
Miller working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franklin is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Miller has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Miller wants to control but Franklin is having none of it.

Franklin with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Miller is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Miller is looking to get to half guard.
Miller is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Franklin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Franklin's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Franklin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Miller throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Miller throws a combination. Franklin tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Miller tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Franklin swivels and escapes.
Franklin has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Miller.
A solid body kick from Miller.
Miller lands with a thumping leg kick.
Miller lands a jab to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franklin takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Mayham Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franklin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Miller lands with a kick to the temple. Franklin shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Miller lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Miller.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Miller throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Miller fails to land the takedown.
Miller scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Miller connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Franklin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Miller counters with an outside leg kick.
Good leg kick by Miller there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Franklin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Miller looking to control.
Franklin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Franklin wants to pass the guard but Miller is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to improve his position but instead Franklin has moved into half guard.

Franklin stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Miller to get to his feet.
Miller lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Miller throws a leg kick which misses Franklin's front leg but catches the back leg as Franklin tries to avoid it.
Miller lands a head kick. Franklin smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Franklin throws a leg kick that is checked
and Miller counters with a series of strikes. Franklin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Franklin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Franklin shoots in and bounces Miller off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Miller has his foot on Franklin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Franklin works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is trying to hold Franklin in close to prevent damage but Franklin has managed to pass into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franklin controlling the action here.

Franklin decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Miller thuds his right hand into Franklin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Franklin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Miller throws a head kick that Franklin semi-blocks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Miller looks to land a combination. Franklin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Miller throws a head kick that misses.
Franklin misses with a looping left.
Miller throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Franklin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Franklin throws the left hand but Miller avoids the punch easily.
Miller lands a jab-cross combination.
Miller throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Franklin's head.
Miller looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Franklin walks into a stiff left hand from Miller.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miller tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Franklin misses with a hook. Miller ducked under it nicely.
Franklin needs to keep his hands up - Miller had a free shot at his head there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mayham Miller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aaron Franklin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Miller scores with a punch to the head.
Miller is looking to slow Franklin down with leg kicks.
Miller throws a nice inside leg kick.
Franklin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Franklin is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Franklin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Franklin is looking to advance position but Miller won't allow it.
Franklin is tying to control. Miller wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Miller wants to get back to full guard.
Miller avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Franklin.
Miller is looking for a sweep. Franklin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Franklin 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.
Franklin is looking to advance position but Miller won't allow it.
Miller wants to control but Franklin is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Franklin kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Miller, right into the meat.
Miller throws a combination. Franklin tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Miller gets caught flat footed, as Franklin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Franklin postures up in Miller's guard and throws a big left but Miller blocks it.
Miller controls Franklin momentarily but Franklin frees himself.
Miller looking to control but Franklin passes into half guard.
Miller gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miller working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Franklin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Franklin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Miller looking for a guillotine here but Franklin defends easily.
Franklin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Franklin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Miller utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miller throws his legs up looking for a submission but Franklin uses it to pass to side control.

Franklin decides to stand back up. Franklin steps back and let's Miller get back to his feet.

Franklin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Miller to the mat! Miller manages to get full guard.
Franklin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Miller works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franklin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Miller swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Franklin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Miller works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franklin trying to control but Miller is working from the bottom.
Franklin wanted to stand there but Miller had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Miller lands a nice looking kick to the body. Franklin takes a step back to recover.
Miller throws a nice head kick!
Miller throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Franklin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Miller fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Franklin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Franklin 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Franklin!