PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Voljin Darkspear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Darkspear
vs
Miller

180 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
25
209 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Voljin Darkspear!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Miller!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darkspear tries to close the distance and clinch up but Miller swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick by Miller misses
and Darkspear counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Darkspear avoids the head kick by Miller.

Darkspear clinches up with Miller and pushes him back against the cage.
Miller jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Darkspear walks away with a smile on his face. Miller gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Darkspear takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A punch combination from Miller misses.
Darkspear shoots in and drives through. Miller sprawls well.
Miller misses with a head kick.
Miller tries a head kick but it misses.
Miller throws a sloppy head kick and Darkspear moves out of range easily.
Miller throws a low kick, looking for Darkspear's leg but Darkspear calmly moves out of range.
Darkspear fails in his attempt to clinch.
Miller throws a head kick but Darkspear moves out of range.
Miller tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Miller.
Miller scores with a head kick. Darkspear tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Miller looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Darkspear has him pressed against the cage.
Miller tries for a takedown. No joy.
Miller looks winded!

Darkspear pulls guard effortlessly.
Darkspear pulls Miller in close to prevent any damage.

Miller got a little sloppy there for a moment and Darkspear has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Miller has managed to get both his arms back between Darkspear's legs - danger averted.
Miller preventing the sweep.

Darkspear 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 tries to free his leg and advance position but Darkspear is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Darkspear is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miller being controlled here momentarily.
Miller must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Darkspear throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Miller has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Darkspear is proving hard to escape from.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to stand but Darkspear is controlling his posture from full guard.
Miller wants to control from the top but Darkspear keeps moving.
Darkspear can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Miller controls the pace.
Darkspear trying to keep a closed guard but Miller is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Miller was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A head kick misses from Miller.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darkspear shoots in for a takedown but Miller shows good takedown defense.
Miller throws a series of strikes that have Darkspear backpedaling.
Miller's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Miller duly obliges.
Miller throws a right and a left that Darkspear avoids nicely.
Darkspear tries for a takedown but Miller sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Voljin Darkspear. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Darkspear misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Miller circles away from the clinch attempt.
Miller throws a sloppy head kick and Darkspear moves out of range easily.
No joy there for Miller, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Darkspear darts in looking for a takedown but Miller gets double underhooks and turns Darkspear into the cage.

Miller pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Miller throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Miller dominated that round.
That's time! Darkspear's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Miller misses with a head kick.
Miller stuffs the takedown attempt from Darkspear. Darkspear gets slowly back to his feet.
Miller tries a head kick but it misses.
Darkspear blocks a head kick by Miller.
Darkspear blocks a head kick by Miller.

Darkspear closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Miller wants to break free but Darkspear has control.
Darkspear putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Miller in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Darkspear lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Miller is trying to break the clinch but Darkspear has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Darkspear.
A bit of stalling here from Darkspear.
Darkspear looking for a takedown.
Miller is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Darkspear has him pressed against the cage.
Miller misses with some punches.

Miller pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Voljin Darkspear is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Miller throws a head kick but Darkspear moves out of range.
James Miller is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Miller misses with a head kick.
Miller tries a head kick but it misses.
Miller tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Darkspear shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Darkspear was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Darkspear content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Darkspear decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darkspear closes this distance looking for a takedown but Miller circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Voljin Darkspear. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Darkspear tries to clinch but Miller moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Darkspear.
A punch combination from Miller misses.

Darkspear darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Darkspear not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darkspear throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Miller manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Darkspear slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Voljin Darkspear.

Darkspear pushes Miller up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Miller wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Darkspear has him pressed against the cage.
Darkspear has Miller pressed against the cage, preventing Miller from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Darkspear is working for takedown but Miller is calmly controlling the position for now.
A nice left hand lands by Miller.
A right hook to the body lands for Darkspear.

Darkspear breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Miller.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miller avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Miller throws a head kick that misses.
Darkspear dodges the punch combination from Miller.
Darkspear shoots in and drives through. Miller sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Voljin Darkspear dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Miller lands with a slapping head kick.
Darkspear shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Miller tries to bum rush Darkspear with a series of wild strikes but Darkspear uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Darkspear takes a kick to the side of the head.
Miller throws a head kick but Darkspear moves out of range.
James Miller seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Miller throws a head kick that misses.
Miller misses with a straight left.
Miller throws a sloppy head kick and Darkspear moves out of range easily.
Miller misses with a head kick.
Darkspear fails with a takedown attempt.
Miller throws a sloppy head kick and Darkspear moves out of range easily.
Miller takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Darkspear closes the distance and clinches.
Darkspear has Miller pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Miller manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Voljin Darkspear. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Darkspear.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darkspear keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Miller's efforts to push away.
Darkspear is struggling to control the position.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Darkspear for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

Darkspear's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick by Miller misses
and Darkspear counters with an outside leg kick.
Miller tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Darkspear moves into the clinch.

Darkspear breaks the clinch.
Darkspear tries to score a power double leg takedown but Miller sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Darkspear somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Miller throws a head kick but Darkspear moves out of range.

Darkspear throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Miller tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Darkspear is in Miller's guard.
Miller avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Darkspear is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Voljin Darkspear.
Miller misses with an attempted mid kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Darkspear.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Darkspear dives in and grabs Miller's left leg, looking for a takedown. Miller pushes down on Darkspear's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller works over Darkspear's head and body with a nice combination.
Darkspear tries to clinch but Miller moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Miller.
Darkspear darts in looking for a takedown but Miller gets double underhooks and turns Darkspear into the cage.
Darkspear is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Miller to keep the fight standing.
Darkspear tries to pull guard but Miller holds him up against the cage and eventually Darkspear drops back down to his feet.

Darkspear pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Miller dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Darkspear. That did some damage!
Miller swinging wildly here.
Miller throws a head kick but Darkspear moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Darkspear fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Miller misses with a head kick.
Miller lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Darkspear turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Darkspear darts in looking for a takedown but Miller gets double underhooks and turns Darkspear into the cage.
Miller tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Miller wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Darkspear keeps control of Miller as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Darkspear manages to break the clinch.
Miller stuffs the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Miller.
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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... James Miller!