PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Linwood Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Laine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laine has chosen AC/DC - Hells Bells as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Miller
vs
Laine

206 cm
21
161 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Linwood Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Laine!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laine shoots in looking for a takedown but Miller manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Laine's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Miller misses with a two punch combination.
Horrible takedown attempt by Miller or perhaps it was just good defense by Laine, which made it look bad.

Laine forces Miller back against the cage and clinches.
Miller misses with some punches.
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 Laine walks away with a smile on his face. Miller gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Miller dives in and grabs Laine's left leg, looking for a takedown. Laine pushes down on Miller's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Linwood Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Miller dives in and scores a takedown into Laine's guard.
Laine looks winded!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Laine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Laine wants to stand but Miller is controlling the position.
Miller slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Laine not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller stays in close to Laine's body and controls the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Linwood Miller wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Laine with a lazy takedown attempt

and Miller counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Laine not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Miller looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Miller has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Linwood Miller just wasn't active enough.
Miller closes the distance and clinches up with Laine, looking for a takedown. Miller pushes Laine against the cage but Laine circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Miller looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Laine!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miller lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
You can see the frustration on Laine's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Laine seems a little lost for a moment, as Miller dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miller stands up.
Laine fails with the takedown
and Miller counters with a series of strikes. Laine will be more careful next time no doubt.
Miller goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Miller drives through with a takedown into Laine's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Miller controlling from the top position.

Laine looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Laine wants to sweep but no luck.
Miller is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Miller really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Linwood Miller dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Miller closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Laine's guard.
Miller controlling from the top position.
Miller loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Miller has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Miller controls from within his opponent's guard.
Miller stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Laine swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Miller controls from within his opponent's guard.
Laine is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Linwood Miller just wasn't active enough.
Laine with a poor takedown

and Miller counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Miller jumps guard but Laine stands there with Miller around his waist. Miller gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Miller tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Laine smiles and moves away.
Miller slaps away a takedown attempt from Laine, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Miller throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Laine tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Miller is in Laine's guard.
Miller showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Miller postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller is in close to Laine's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Miller controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Miller loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Miller not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Miller trying to stand up but can't free himself from Laine's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Linwood Miller has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Laine shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Miller as he avoids it easily.
Linwood Miller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matti Laine.

Miller bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Laine takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Miller tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Miller in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Laine tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine prevents Miller from improving position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laine is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Miller working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Miller staying calm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Linwood Miller dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Miller dives in and scores a takedown into Laine's guard.
Miller stays in close to Laine's body and controls the position.
Laine takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Linwood Miller wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Laine fails with a takedown attempt.
Laine blocks a head kick by Miller.

Miller feints and as Laine raises his hands in defense, Miller changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Miller knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Laine on the ground.
Miller sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Miller trying to stand up but can't free himself from Laine's guard.

Linwood Miller has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Laine with a poor takedown

and Miller counters with a single leg into guard. Laine didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miller has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Laine is proving hard to escape from.
Miller stays in close to Laine's body and controls the position.

Laine looking for subs off his back but Miller has passed one foot through into half guard.
Miller trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller thows a huge punch but Laine dodges it nicely.
Miller wants to stand up but Laine is controlling the position.
Well, if Miller is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Miller lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller stalling.
Miller winds up and cracks Laine with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Laine looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Laine avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Miller.
Miller prevents Laine from standing back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Miller content to control rather than advance.
Nice strikes from Miller there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Linwood Miller showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Miller 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Linwood Miller!
Matti Laine spoke after the fight, saying 'I gave mercy tonight, but I'm not going to give next time.'.