PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ernest Howard (ranked 9174 p4p, 0 weight class) and Landon Miller (ranked 7223 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Miller's choice of entrance music: ASM (A State of Mind) - Masking feat. MF DOOM. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Howard
vs
Miller

220 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ernest Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Landon Miller!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Joseph Jones and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller falls off balance throwing a combination
and Howard counters with a head kick. That will keep Miller thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Miller closes the distance and pushes Howard back into the cage.
Howard working hard to break the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Miller.
Miller stops a takedown attempt from Howard.
Miller is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Howard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Howard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Howard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Miller is working for takedown but Howard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ernest Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Landon Miller.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard leaning against his opponent.

Howard breaks the clinch.
Miller misses with a jab, cross combination.
Miller looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Miller feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Howard pushes Miller off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Miller looks winded!
Miller misses with a few strikes there.
Howard tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Miller manages to circle out of the way.
Miller swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As Miller tries to get set, Howard tries to push him back and clinch up but Miller manages to avoid the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Miller misses with a combination

and Howard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Howard.

Howard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Miller misses with an uppercut. Howard saw that one coming.

Howard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Miller looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Howard looks up at the clock and then as Miller takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Howard smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Howard throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Howard tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Howard goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Miller rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Howard's guard! Nice work there by Miller!
Miller with a flurry of punches that miss.
Howard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Howard keeping moving, preventing Miller from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miller slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Howard is looking to regain half guard here but Miller keeps moving and retains side control.

Miller tries for a kimura but Howard is defending well.
Howard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Howard tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Howard being controlled for a moment.
Howard can't do much from the bottom here.
Miller is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Howard will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Miller working away.
Miller controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Landon Miller will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Miller gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The fighters are working up against the cage. Miller manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Miller can't get the takedown.
Howard tries to circle away but Miller has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller is trying to drag Howard to the mat but Howard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Miller is breathing heavily.

Howard manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller tries to clinch but Howard moves out of range.
Howard seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Miller lands a nice looking body shot.
Miller fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ernest Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Landon Miller.
Miller is looking to clinch but Howard is avoiding it.
Howard tries to counter by clinching up but Miller breaks away and moves out of range.
Howard checks a low kick from Miller.
Howard is looking to counter the offense by Miller and move into the clinch.
Miller throws a right hand that Howard ducks under and follows up with a left that Howard also avoids with ease.
Miller darts in looking for a takedown but Howard gets double underhooks and turns Miller into the cage.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Howard wants the takedown. Miller is fighting it off but Howard persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Miller's guard against the cage.
Howard postures up and lands a big shot to Miller's brow.
Miller preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Howard lands a couple of digs.
Howard throws an elbow that misses. Miller uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howard's guard. Nice move by Miller!

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Miller trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Howard controls Miller momentarily but Miller frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller looking to pass the guard.
Landon Miller has got the better of the ground game so far.
Howard is pulling down on Miller's head. It's preventing any offense from Miller, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard is trying to control the position but Miller postures up.
Howard has control of Miller's left arm, preventing Miller from doing any damage.
Miller is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Miller preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Howard is pulling down on Miller's head to control his posture.
Howard keeping moving, preventing Miller from controlling successfully.
Howard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Miller felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Howard not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Howard with the ground and pound but Miller uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Miller is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Howard presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Miller wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Landon Miller will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Howard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Miller throws a series of punches but Howard moves out of range.
Howard tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Miller manages to circle out of the way.
Howard tries for a takedown but Miller sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Miller throws a left and a right that both miss
and Howard counters with a one-two to the body.
Miller throws a chopping leg kick but Howard manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Howard seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Miller rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Howard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
As Miller tries to get set, Howard tries to push him back and clinch up but Miller manages to avoid the attempt.
Miller swinging wildly here.
Miller takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Howard was well out of range. Poor timing from Miller.
Landon Miller seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Howard blocks a head kick by Miller.

Howard moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Miller misses with a two punch combination.
Howard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Miller pinned against the cage. Miller gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernest Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miller tries to score with a low kick but Howard moves his leg out of the way.
Howard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Miller manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Howard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Howard wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller moves in looking to clinch but Howard pushes him off.
Miller just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHoward.
Miller throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Howard shoots in and drives through. Miller sprawls well.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A nice side step and Miller releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Miller misses with an uppercut
and Howard counters with a big head kick but Miller shrugs it off.
Howard tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Miller defends well and Howard ends up having to push Miller into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Miller is trying hard to land a takedown here. Howard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Miller keeps the fight on the outside.

Howard rushes Miller and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Miller is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Howard pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard leaning against his opponent.

Howard wants the takedown. Miller is fighting it off but Howard persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Miller's guard against the cage.
Howard throws an elbow that misses. Miller uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howard's guard. Nice move by Miller!

Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Howard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miller stopping the sweep attempt from Howard.
Miller trying to control but Howard is working from the bottom.
Howard 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to control from the top but Howard keeps moving.

Howard has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Miller has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Miller is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Howard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Howard tries for a takedown. No joy.
Miller tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard landing knees to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ernest Howard.
I think Miller 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Landon Miller!
Landon Miller seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.