PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bradford Volkanovski (ranked 4412 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Miranda (ranked 5321 p4p, 0 weight class). Miranda has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. This should be a great matchup!

Volkanovski
vs
Miranda

173 cm
25
157 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

179 cm
25
158 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Good chin

Good takedowns
Dangerous knees
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bradford Volkanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Paulo Miranda!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miranda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Volkanovski.
Volkanovski tries for a takedown but Miranda sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Volkanovski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Miranda as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bradford Volkanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Volkanovski scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A jab from Volkanovski finds it's way through Miranda's defenses.

Miranda closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Volkanovski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miranda creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Volkanovski has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Miranda uses from the top position.
Volkanovski wants to sweep but no luck.
Volkanovski wants to stand and escape but Miranda is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda trying to control the position from guard on top but Volkanovski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Volkanovski wants to control but Miranda passes easily into half guard.
Volkanovski wants to improve his position but Miranda is controlling well.
Volkanovski is working hard here to advance position.
Volkanovski has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Miranda is working away from the top position though.
Miranda is keen to just control but Volkanovski is a slippery customer.
Volkanovski keeping hold of Miranda's head, controlling as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Volkanovski wants to get back to full guard.
Volkanovski is controlling Miranda's position as best he can from this difficult position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Volkanovski moves into the clinch.
Volkanovski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Miranda has him pressed against the cage.
Volkanovski creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Miranda tries to score a body lock takedown but Volkanovski shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Miranda looks winded!
Volkanovski tries to break the clinch but Miranda is controlling the position.

Miranda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski fails with the takedown.
Miranda throws a counter combo.
Miranda fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Volkanovski has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Miranda moves out of range of the body kick.
Volkanovski fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Miranda avoids it really well and circles away.
Miranda throws a nice head kick!
Volkanovski has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Volkanovski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Volkanovski jumps guard but Miranda turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Volkanovski is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Miranda prevents a takedown attempt there.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Volkanovski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Volkanovski stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Volkanovski tries to pull guard but Miranda won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Paulo Miranda will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Paulo Miranda's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Volkanovski throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Miranda tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Volkanovski is in Miranda's guard.
Volkanovski is working Miranda over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Miranda has a closed guard, preventing Volkanovski from standing up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Volkanovski showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Volkanovski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Miranda on the ground.
Volkanovski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miranda keeping moving, preventing Volkanovski from controlling successfully.
Miranda is breathing heavily.
Miranda trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkanovski stays in close to Miranda's body and controls the position.
Miranda keeping moving, preventing Volkanovski from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Volkanovski lands a jab to Miranda's midsection.

Volkanovski moves into the clinch.
Volkanovski fails to pull guard.
Volkanovski is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Miranda pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Volkanovski tries to pull guard but Miranda holds him up against the cage and eventually Volkanovski drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bradford Volkanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miranda tries to pull guard but Volkanovski won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Volkanovski pulls guard effortlessly.
Miranda throws a big right hand that misses.

Volkanovski is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Miranda is aware though and is defending well.
Volkanovski looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miranda won't allow Volkanovski to sweep him here.
Volkanovski can't keep his opponent in guard - Miranda advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Miranda is looking to advance position but Volkanovski won't allow it.

Volkanovski has one foot on Miranda's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Volkanovski shoots in for a takedown but Miranda shows good takedown defense.
A left and a right from Volkanovski both land. Nice combination.
Volkanovski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Miranda can do to turn this around?
Volkanovski scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Volkanovski darts in looking for a takedown but Miranda gets double underhooks and turns Volkanovski into the cage.
Volkanovski looks for a takedown but Miranda sprawls well.

Miranda looking to score a takedown here. Volkanovski is defending well but Miranda drives through and ends up in Volkanovski's guard.
Bradford Volkanovski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski wants to stand but Miranda is controlling the position.
Volkanovski keeping full guard, as Miranda tries to pass.
Volkanovski trying to keep a closed guard but Miranda is proving a slippery customer.
Miranda has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Volkanovski is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volkanovski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bradford Volkanovski dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paulo Miranda's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Volkanovski gets a clinch.
Volkanovski stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The referee is keeping an eye on Volkanovski - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Volkanovski for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Volkanovski tries to pull guard but Miranda forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Volkanovski decides to pull guard.

Volkanovski looking for a guillotine here but Miranda defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda cracks Volkanovski with a solid left hand.
Miranda trying to control the position from guard on top but Volkanovski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Volkanovski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Miranda is one step ahead there.
Miranda trying to control the position from guard on top but Volkanovski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Volkanovski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Volkanovski shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Miranda as he avoids it easily.
Volkanovski lands a jab-cross combination.
Miranda shoots in but Volkanovski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Volkanovski throws a low kick, looking for Miranda's leg but Miranda calmly moves out of range.
Volkanovski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Miranda tries to avoid it but Volkanovski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Miranda to the ground. Miranda escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bradford Volkanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Volkanovski pushes Miranda up against the cage in a clinch.

Miranda pulls Volkanovski into guard.

Volkanovski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Volkanovski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda is trying to keep Volkanovski in close.
Volkanovski stopping the sweep attempt from Miranda.
Volkanovski wanted to stand there but Miranda had control of the position.
Volkanovski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Volkanovski is stalling in the full guard.
Volkanovski has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Miranda is proving hard to escape from.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Volkanovski working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Miranda's head.
Volkanovski connects with a couple of short punches.
Volkanovski pushing down on Miranda's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Volkanovski with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Volkanovski has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Miranda is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bradford Volkanovski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Volkanovski has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bradford Volkanovski!