PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sander Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Miller
vs
Rodriguez

185 cm
19
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

aKua

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sander Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller fails with an attempt to clinch.
A jab from Rodriguez finds it's way through Miller's defenses.
Miller fails with the takedown.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch successfully.
Rodriguez is trying to break free.
Miller wants a takedown.
Rodriguez is stalling here.
Miller tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rodriguez just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sander Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rodriguez taking a breather.
Miller tries for a takedown but Rodriguez manages to get underhooks.
Miller goes for a takedown attempt but Rodriguez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rodriguez throws a one two combo.

Miller rushes Rodriguez and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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 Rodriguez walks away with a smile on his face. Miller gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Miller will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Miller tries to move into range but Rodriguez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Miller slips a jab and a cross from Rodriguez.
Sander Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Miller backs up against the cage.
Miller shoots for a takedown but Rodriguez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Miller tries to clinch but Rodriguez moves away
and Rodriguez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Rodriguez closes the distance and clinches.

Rodriguez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodriguez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Miller shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combo that has Miller backing up. Miller nods at Rodriguez to acknowledge the strikes.
Miller is breathing heavily.
Miller scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rodriguez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rodriguez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Miller dodges the punch combination from Rodriguez.
Matt Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Miller has his takedown stuffed

and Rodriguez counters by moving into the clinch.
Rodriguez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The crowd are getting on Rodriguez's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Miller tries to pull guard but Rodriguez holds him up against the cage and eventually Miller drops back down to his feet.
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 Rodriguez walks away with a smile on his face. Miller gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Miller takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Miller has his takedown stuffed
and Rodriguez counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a combination. Miller tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rodriguez misses with a wild combination.
Miller gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rodriguez counters by moving into the clinch.
Rodriguez just leaning against Miller, taking a breather.

Rodriguez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Miller doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rodriguez counters by moving into the clinch.
Rodriguez lands a left hand.
Miller changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rodriguez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rodriguez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rodriguez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rodriguez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriguez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rodriguez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Miller misses with a takedown attempt
and Rodriguez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rodriguez lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Miller backs up against the cage.

Miller is rocked!

Rodriguez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rodriguez scores with a shoulder strike.
Rodriguez effectively controlling the action here.
Rodriguez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rodriguez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rodriguez scores with a one two! Miller had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Miller with a poor takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a series of strikes. Miller will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rodriguez dips to his left and cracks Miller with an uppercut!
Rodriguez works over Miller's head and body with a nice combination.
Oh Miller is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rodriguez throws a series of punches but Miller avoids them all with ease.
Miller seems to have got his legs back now.
Miller tries for a takedown but Rodriguez circles away easily

and Rodriguez counters with a left and a right that hurts Miller! He wobbles and falls to the floor - he's in big trouble! Rodriguez jumps into full mount!
Rodriguez content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller is trying desperately to improve position.

Rodriguez get's back to his feet.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Miller. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Miller moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sander Miller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Miller fails with the takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sander Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Rodriguez does no damage.
Miller shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rodriguez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Miller looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Miller has had enough of the clinch but Rodriguez keeps him there for the moment.
Rodriguez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Miller up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Matt Rodriguez.
Miller darts in trying to clinch
and Rodriguez counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller dodges the punch combination from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rodriguez counters with a three punch combo that has Miller backing up. Miller nods at Rodriguez to acknowledge the strikes.
Miller with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rodriguez counters with a left and a right that stings Miller.

Rodriguez gets a clinch.
Miller looking for a takedown.

Rodriguez breaks the clinch.
Miller has his takedown stuffed
and Rodriguez counters with a two punch combo.

Rodriguez clinches.
Rodriguez is pressed up against the cage. Miller has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rodriguez down to the mat. Rodriguez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Miller misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez instigates a clinch.
Rodriguez stalls.
Rodriguez receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Miller is working for takedown but Rodriguez is calmly controlling the position for now.

Rodriguez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez throws a combination. Miller tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Rodriguez moves into range and clinches up with Miller.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Miller tries to land a front kick but Rodriguez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Miller gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rodriguez counters by moving into the clinch.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Miller is trying to drag Rodriguez to the mat but Rodriguez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Miller wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sander Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller goes for a takedown attempt but Rodriguez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rodriguez is working the combinations to good effect here.
Miller tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rodriguez counters with a series of strikes. Miller will be more careful next time no doubt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rodriguez drives through and clinches with Miller against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rodriguez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rodriguez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Miller backwards.
Miller tries to pull guard but Rodriguez holds him up against the cage and eventually Miller drops back down to his feet.
Rodriguez managing to block the knees to the body from Miller.
Rodriguez gets through Miller's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Miller tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rodriguez misses with a knee to the head.

Rodriguez drags the fight down to the ground.
Rodriguez wants to stand up but Miller is controlling him.

Rodriguez wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez has closed the distance and engaged Miller in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rodriguez.
Miller lands a nice knee to the body.
Rodriguez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rodriguez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rodriguez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rodriguez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Miller drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rodriguez leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Miller jumps guard.
Rodriguez tries to stand but Miller is controlling from the bottom.
Miller trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Miller wants to sweep here but Rodriguez controlling him for the moment.

Rodriguez gets to his feet - Miller follows without any prompting.
Rodriguez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Miller misses with a takedown

and Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Sander Miller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez breaks from the clinch.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Miller wants to get back to striking at distance but Rodriguez won't allow it.
Miller tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rodriguez smiles and moves away.
Rodriguez checks a leg kick nicely.

Rodriguez moves into the clinch.
Rodriguez just leaning against Miller, taking a breather.
Miller has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rodriguez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Matt Rodriguez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Miller throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rodriguez lands a left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Rodriguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rodriguez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Rodriguez!