PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Miles (ranked 5169 p4p, 501 weight class) and Ferele Athram (ranked 4711 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.

Miles
vs
Athram

191 cm
20
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricardo Miles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ferele Athram!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Athram uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Miles has time to react.

Miles shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Athram is trying to defend but Miles finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Athram has hold of Miles's hands but Miles slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Athram wants to control but Miles is keeping busy.
Miles performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Athram wants to improve his position but Miles is controlling well.
Athram trying to hold on to Miles's head to control him but Miles postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miles perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Athram looking for submissions off his back.
Athram wants to control but Miles is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miles prevents Athram from improving his position.
Athram trying to control but Miles postures up.
Miles sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Miles is thwarting Athram's attempts to control the position.
Miles seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Athram tries to roll over but Miles keeps him under control.
Miles takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Miles's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miles seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Athram for as long as he can get away with.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Miles rushes Athram and presses him up against the cage.
Athram throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Miless head.
Miles blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Athram swings wildly with an uppercut but Miles uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miles will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Athram up against the cage.
Athram tries to work over Miles's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Athram fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Miles gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Miles seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Miles looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Athram with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Miles in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Athram wants to control but Miles is keeping busy.
Miles performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Further stalling from Miles.
Miles wants to free his trapped foot but Athram is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Athram is looking to control Miles's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Athram avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Miles shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Athram tries to roll over but Miles keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Athram manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Miles lands a couple of digs.
Miles controlling from the top position.
Athram is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miles 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.
Ricardo Miles overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miles works over Athram with some ground and pound from guard.
Athram trying to keep a closed guard but Miles is proving a slippery customer.
Athram wants to sweep but no luck.

Athram has his foot on Miles's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Miles works his way back into a safe position though.
Miles engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Miles distracts Athram with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Athram being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Miles 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.
Miles stopping the sweep attempt from Athram.

Athram is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Athram being controlled here, momentarily.

Miles avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miles lands a couple of digs.
Miles's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Athram wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Miles is now in half guard.
Miles is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Athram can do to turn this around?
Miles seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Miles takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Miles content to control rather than advance.

That's four 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.
Athram wants to get back to full guard.
Miles is thwarting Athram's attempts to control the position.
Athram wants to improve his position but Miles is controlling well.
Miles content to control rather than advance.
Miles has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Athram tries to get to full guard but Miles has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Athram trying to control from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Miles dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Athram.

Miles shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Athram's guard.
Miles not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Athram wants to sweep here but Miles controlling him for the moment.
Miles slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Miles postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miles looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Athram wants to sweep but no luck.
Athram is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Miles is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Athram's half guard.
Miles stalling.
Ferele Athram has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Athram wants to get back to full guard.
Miles performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Athram works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ricardo Miles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Miles controls from within his opponent's guard.
Miles continues to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Miles is stinking the place up with his stalling.
Athram looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Miles fails with a takedown attempt.
Athram misses with a left hand

and Miles counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Athram trying to hold on to Miles's head to control him but Miles postures up.
Miles not doing much here.
Athram trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Athram gets full guard.
Athram being controlled here, momentarily.
Athram will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Miles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Miles, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Miles!
An out of breath Ricardo Miles thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.