PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rico Milka (ranked 2479 p4p, 1638 weight class) and Stefano Del Monte (ranked 251 p4p, 171 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Milka
vs
Del Monte

171 cm
23
158
4 - 5 - 0

180 cm
30
160
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rico Milka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stefano Del Monte!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Milka walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Milka tries to clinch but Del Monte is having none of it.
Milka throws a series of punches but Del Monte avoids them all with ease.
Nice straight punches there by Del Monte. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Del Monte.
Del Monte scores with a punch to the head.
Milka takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Milka lands a nice shot that snaps Del Monte's head back.
Milka throws a sloppy head kick and Del Monte moves out of range easily.
Milka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Del Monte looks to land a right hand but Milka moved out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Milka 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Del Monte takes a swing at Milka's ribcage but misses.
Del Monte throws a body shot but no joy.
Milka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Del Monte throws a hook but Milka avoids it easily.
Milka's corner calls for a 1-2. Milka obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Milka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Del Monte, pushing him back against the cage.
Milka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Del Monte prevents a body shot from Milka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Milka tries a body shot but Del Monte blocks it.
Milka swings wildly with an uppercut but Del Monte uses good head movement to avoid it.
Milka has a couple of punches blocked by Del Monte.
Del Monte throws an elbow but it misses.
Del Monte wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Milka can't find room to land a body shot as Del Monte controls the action.
Milka lands a shot to the body.
Del Monte wants to get back to striking at distance but Milka won't allow it.
A bit of stalling here from Milka.
Del Monte is trying to break the clinch but Milka is controlling him.
Milka just leaning against Del Monte, taking a breather.
Milka cracks Del Monte with a nice body shot.
Milka misses with some punches.
Milka presses Del Monte against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Milka gets through Del Monte's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Milka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Milka digs a right hand underneath Del Monte's ribcage. Del Monte let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Milka stalling the fight.
Milka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Milka digs a right hand into Del Monte's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Del Monte's gas tank.
Milka misses with a punch on the inside.
Del Monte told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Milka misses with the head strike.
Milka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Del Monte backwards.
Milka struggles to land a body shot inside as Del Monte controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Milka fails to land.
Milka scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Milka lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Milka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Milka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Milka misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Milka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Del Monte takes a shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Milka.
Milka dodges an elbow strike from Del Monte.
Milka has Del Monte pressed against the cage, preventing Del Monte from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Milka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Milka misses with a punch to the body.
Del Monte has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Milka presses Del Monte against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Del Monte blocks an uppercut.
Milka pushes Del Monte back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Milka cracks Del Monte with a nice body shot.
Milka lands a body shot.
Del Monte is trying to break the clinch but Milka is controlling him.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Del Monte just misses with a elbow thrown towards Milka's brow.
Del Monte is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Milka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Milka lands an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Milka.
Stalling in the clinch from Milka.
Milka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Del Monte backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Milka can't find room to land a body shot as Del Monte controls the action.

Del Monte escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Milka closes the distance and clinches.
Milka takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Rico Milka has been cut.
Milka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Milka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Milka effectively controlling the action here.
Milka working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Milka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
With the fighters up against the cage, Del Monte throws an elbow but misses.
Del Monte throws an elbow but it misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Milka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rico Milka's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Del Monte just misses with a punch to the body.
Milka throws a nice head kick!
Stefano Del Monte seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Del Monte throws the left hand but Milka avoids the punch easily.
Milka wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
A jab lands there for Del Monte.
Del Monte throws a looping overhand right but Milka ducks down to avoid it.
Del Monte keeps the fight on the outside.
Del Monte lands a jab to the nose.
We've been told by Milka's head coaches at IMMA Gym of Elite ASS that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Milka on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Milka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Del Monte darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Del Monte swings for the body but Milka moves out of range.

Milka rushes Del Monte and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Milka lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Milka avoiding damage as Del Monte throws knees to the body.
Milka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Del Monte breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Milka misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Milka tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Del Monte counters with a nice uppercut.
Del Monte scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Milka is looking to clinch but Del Monte is avoiding it.
Milka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Del Monte is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Del Monte keeps the fight on the outside.
Del Monte wants to counter the offense by Milka and move into the clinch position.

Milka closes the distance and pushes Del Monte back into the cage.
Rico Milka has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Del Monte scores a nice knee to the body.
Milka misses with some punches.
Milka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Milka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Del Monte can do to turn this around?
Milka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Del Monte.
Good body shot from Milka.
Del Monte blocking some punches.
Del Monte is trying to force a seperation but Milka has the dominant position.
Milka tries to throw a body punch but Del Monte avoids it by throwing Milka back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Milka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Milka lands a right hand.
Milka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Del Monte's elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Milka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Del Monte misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Milka.
Del Monte creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Milka's defenses.
Milka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Del Monte backwards.

Del Monte pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Del Monte fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Milka tries a head kick but it misses.
A jab from Del Monte misses.
Milka takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Del Monte connects with a body shot.

Milka rushes Del Monte and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Milka misses with the head strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Milka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Milka misses with a punch on the inside.
Milka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Milka swings wildly with an uppercut but Del Monte uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short left from Milka.
Milka tries to throw a body punch but Del Monte avoids it by throwing Milka back against the cage.
Good body shot from Milka.
Milka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Del Monte blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Milka misses with the head strike.
Del Monte blocking some punches.
Milka can't find room to land a body shot as Del Monte controls the action.
Milka avoids the elbow strike from Del Monte, against the cage.
Milka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Milka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Milka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Milka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Milka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Knees to the body from Del Monte.
Milka misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Del Monte throws an elbow but misses.
Milka lands a right hand.
Milka throws a punch but it's blocked by Del Monte.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Milka tries to work over Del Monte's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Milka tries to throw a body punch but Del Monte avoids it by throwing Milka back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Del Monte.
Milka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Milka working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Milka lands a body punch.
Milka taking a breather.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Milka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rico Milka's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Milka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nice shot by Del Monte.
Rico Milka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Milka lands with a cross.
Milka looks to clinch
letting Del Monte counter with a right hand.
Milka takes a swing at Del Monte's ribcage but misses.
Del Monte fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Milka manages to avoid it.
Milka tries to clinch but Del Monte is having none of it.
Del Monte lands a jab to Milka's midsection.
Milka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Milka is looking to clinch but Del Monte is avoiding it.
Del Monte throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Milka darts in and clinches Del Monte up against the cage.
Milka misses with a body punch.
Del Monte lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Milka blocks an elbow strike.
A short right from Milka on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Milka misses with a punch on the inside.
Del Monte working hard to break the clinch.
Milka lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Milka fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Milka.
Milka stalling.
Del Monte creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Milka scores with a shoulder strike.

Del Monte breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Milka lands with a right to the head.
Milka working aggressively here.
Del Monte has had enough of the clinch but Milka keeps him there for the moment.
Milka working aggressively here.
Rico Milka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Del Monte's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Del Monte feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Milkas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Milka darts in and clinches Del Monte up against the cage.
Del Monte is trying to push Milka away but Milka has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Del Monte just misses with a elbow thrown towards Milka's brow.
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!
Del Monte lands a good knee to the midsection. Milka won't want to take too many of those.
Del Monte tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Milka avoids it.
Del Monte missing with knees to the body.
Milka can't find room to land a body shot as Del Monte controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Monte pushes off an throws an elbow but Milka leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Del Monte working hard to break the clinch.
Del Monte is trying to break free.
Milka prevents Del Monte from breaking the clinch.
Del Monte landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Milka misses with the head strike.
Del Monte is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Milka scores with a nice hook to the head.
Del Monte blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Milka.
A short uppercut from Milka.
Del Monte pushes off an throws an elbow but Milka leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Del Monte wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Milka has him pressed against the cage.

Del Monte breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rico Milka.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Milka, 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Milka!
During a confident post fight interview, Rico Milka thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.