PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Heath Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhorka Popkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Miller's entrance music is HYPNOTIZE. A fine choice. Zhorka Popkin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Miller
vs
Popkin

189 cm
23
213 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

195 cm
23
215 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Heath Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zhorka Popkin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Popkin misses.
Popkin throws a lazy right hand but Miller sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Popkin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Miller lands a nice leg kick that just misses Popkin's sensitive parts.
Nice shot by Popkin.

It looks like Heath Miller has been cut.
Popkin digs a good body shot into Miller's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Popkin waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract Miller. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Miller to the canvas! Can he finish him!?
Popkin wants to stand but Miller is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Miller is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Popkin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Miller. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Popkin is looking to stand up but Miller won't let him.

Popkin gets to his feet - Miller follows without any prompting.
Popkin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Miller.

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.
Popkin misses with a straight left.
Popkin misses with an uppercut. Miller saw that one coming.
Miller throws a right and a left that Popkin avoids nicely.
Miller lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Popkin circles away quickly and effectively.
Popkin throws out a loose jab but Miller uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popkin throws a one two combo.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Popkin.
Popkin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Miller on the side of the head.

Heath Miller's cut is getting worse.
Popkin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Popkin looks gassed!
Popkin with a hook.

Miller is rocked!
Popkin throws a jab when Miller was well out of range.
Oh Miller is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Popkin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Miller seems to have got his legs back now.
Miller slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popkin loads up on a big right hand but Miller slips the punch.

Miller rushes Popkin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Miller with a knee to the head.
Miller has Popkin pressed against the cage, preventing Popkin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Popkin is looking to break free of the clinch but Miller has double underhooks.
Miller misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Popkin.
Miller lands a knee to the head.
Miller taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Miller manages to break the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Popkin as he connects with a hook.
Miller with a nice cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miller moves into the clinch.
Popkin prevents the takedown attempt.
Miller misses with some punches.
Miller stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Miller changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Popkin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Popkin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Popkin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Miller throws a head kick but Popkin moves out of range.
Miller lands a two punch combo.
No joy there for Miller, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhorka Popkin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Heath Miller's cut.
That's time! Miller's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Popkin avoids the head kick by Miller.
Popkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Popkin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Miller momentarily.
Popkin throws a hook to the side of Miller's head but Miller sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Miller defending well as Popkin loads up on a big left hand.
Popkin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zhorka Popkin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Miller misses with a combination
and Popkin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Popkin throws a jab but it's blocked by Miller.

Miller rushes Popkin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Popkin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Popkin can't break the clinch.
Popkin is trying to break the clinch but Miller has him pressed against the cage.
Popkin tries to break the clinch but Miller is controlling the position.
Popkin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popkin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Miller leaning against his opponent.

Miller breaks the clinch.
Zhorka Popkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popkin walks into a stiff left hand from Miller.
Good leg kick by Miller there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Miller scores with a three punch combo!
Heath Miller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Miller scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Miller tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Popkin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Miller moves into the clinch successfully.

Miller manages to break the clinch.

Miller forces Popkin back against the cage and clinches.
Miller tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Popkin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Miller has Popkin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Popkin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Popkin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heath Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miller scores with a nice hook to the head.
Miller tries to land a knee to the head but Popkin blocks with his arms.
Miller lands a knee to the head.

Miller turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Miller manages to end up in side control.

Miller wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Popkin, who protects the arm well.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Miller is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popkin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Miller looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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.

Miller stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heath Miller dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Heath Miller's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Miller misses with a two punch combination.
Popkin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Popkin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Miller lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Popkin circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Popkin.
Miller on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Popkin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller throws a right and a left that Popkin avoids nicely.
Miller tries to clinch up but Popkin circles away and keeps his distance.
Miller ducks under a wild hook from Popkin.
Popkin throws a nice looking combination but Miller bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Popkin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Popkin throws a hook but Miller blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller lands with a nice body kick.
Miller throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Popkin.
Both fighters circling a little - Miller finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Miller takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Miller looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Miller lands a nice leg kick that just misses Popkin's sensitive parts.

Miller rushes Popkin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Miller jumps guard and drags Popkin to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Popkin tries to stand but Miller is controlling from the bottom.

Miller looking for a triangle here. Popkin is fighting it but it looks tight! Miller pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Popkin is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Heath Miller!