PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Miocic (ranked 3264 p4p, 4002 weight class) and Anthony Black (ranked 358 p4p, 423 weight class). Anthony Black will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Miocic
vs
Black

193 cm
26
240
1 - 2 - 0

199 cm
25
270
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jon Miocic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Anthony Black!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Steve Montenegro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miocic tries to clinch but Black is having none of it.
Miocic shoots in for a takedown but Black shows good takedown defense.
Black throws the kick towards the body but Miocic avoids it.
Miocic shoots in for a double leg but Black sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Black throws a big counter head kick but Miocic avoids it with no problem.
Black throws a shot from downtown. Miocic moves away and avoids it.

Black shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Black was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
A lull in the action here.

Black decides to take the fight back to the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miocic walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Some bone on bone action there as Miocic checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Miocic missing with a left hand there. Black was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Black has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miocic jumps guard but Black turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Miocic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miocic jumps guard but Black turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Black gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Black not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Miocic is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Miocic works his way to full guard. Good work.
Black with a flurry of punches that miss.
Black wants to control from the top but Miocic keeps moving.
Black landing with the ground and pound.
Black must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miocic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Black gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Black throws a big elbow that misses.

Miocic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Black can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Miocic pulls Black in close to his closed guard and prevents Black from doing any damage or advancing position.
Black trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black wants to control from the top but Miocic keeps moving.

Black got a little sloppy there for a moment and Miocic has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Black has managed to get both his arms back between Miocic's legs - danger averted.
Miocic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Miocic looking for a guillotine here but Black defends easily.
Black wants to control from the top but Miocic keeps moving.
Black really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Miocic. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miocic looking for a guillotine here but Black defends easily.
Miocic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Miocic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Miocic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Black gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Black dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Black shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Black was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Miocic sneaks back into half guard.
Miocic trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black wants to control but Miocic is keeping him busy.
Miocic holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miocic works his way to full guard. Good work.

Miocic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Miocic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Anthony Black has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black looking to sit in guard and control but Miocic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Miocic working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Miocic is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Black looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Black keeping moving, preventing Miocic from controlling successfully.
Miocic slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miocic just content to control the position.
Black wants to get back to his feet but Miocic drags him back down.
Black gets back to half guard.
Miocic trying to control the action but Black is working from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Miocic seems content to control.
Black tries to roll over but Miocic keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miocic is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Black is just riding it out for now. Miocic eventually gives up the hold.
Black looks like he's trying to stand up.
Miocic prevents Black from improving his position.
Miocic passes to side control.

That's four 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.
Miocic controls the position.
Miocic throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Miocic staying calm.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Miocic has been working on his balance at California Top Team, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Black.

Black closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Miocic quickly recovers to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Black is just content to waste time from the top position. Miocic takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Black throwing strikes from guard but Miocic blocks nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jon Miocic will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Black tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Miocic misses the jab.
Black lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Miocic circles away quickly and effectively.
Miocic scores with a punch to the head.

It looks like Anthony Black has been cut.
Nice uppercut lands for Miocic. That snapped Black's head back.
Black fails to land with a series of punches.
The fighters circle momentarily. Black darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Black throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Miocic.
Miocic fails with the takedown.
Miocic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Black manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab lands there for Miocic.
Black throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Miocic.
Black throws a nice looking combination but Miocic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Black darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Black has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Black takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Miocic is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Black is tapping! Great win for Miocic!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Jon Miocic!
Anthony Black spoke after the fight, saying 'I promise to learn from this. I'm going to come back badder than ever. '.