PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heath Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Miller comes into a darkened arena with his song building. HYPNOTIZE kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Heath Miller has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rua
vs
Miller

185 cm
21
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

189 cm
23
213 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mauricio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Heath Miller!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Miller showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rua.
A combination from Rua does no damage.
Miller blocks the body kick.
Rua swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rua looks to land a combination but Miller avoids it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rua. Miller does a little dance to reset his feet.
Miller throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rua lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Miller circles away quickly and effectively.
A combination from Rua does no damage.
Rua throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rua throws a series of punches but Miller avoids them all with ease.
Rua lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Miller circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rua misses with a double jab.
Miller misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rua throws a left and a right that both miss
and Miller counters with a nice body kick.
Rua is breathing heavily.
A right-left combo lands from Miller.
Miller scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rua walks into a stiff left hand from Miller.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Miller drops Rua with a beautiful combination! Rua stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Miller is looking for the KO!

Rua is rocked!

Miller clinches up with Rua and pushes him back against the cage.
Oh Rua is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Miller tries to pull guard but Rua won't allow it.

Miller breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rua seems to have got his legs back now.
Rua misses with a double jab

and Miller counters with a crisp one two that drops Rua! Miller thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Rua to his feet! Rua is in big trouble!
Miller fakes the leg kick and cracks Rua in the body.
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!
Miller throws a nice outside leg kick.
Miller with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rua looks to throw a body kick

and Miller counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Miller.

Miller escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Miller tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Miller has taken the fight to the clinch.
Miller tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rua wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Miller has him pressed against the cage.
Miller tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Miller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Rua misses.
Rua throws a combination that misses

and Miller moves into the clinch.
Miller landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Miller lands with a right to the head.
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 Rua walks away with a smile on his face. Miller gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Miller.
Miller comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Miller has closed the distance and engaged Rua in a clinch.

Miller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Miller lunges at Rua with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rua's hand.

Miller has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Miller lands a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Miller escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rua throws a body punch but Miller moves out of range.

Miller forces Rua back against the cage and clinches.
Rua takes a knee right on the jaw!

Miller breaks from the clinch.
Rua misses with a jab, cross combination.

Miller clinches up with Rua and pushes him back against the cage.
Rua has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rua is trying to force a seperation but Miller has the dominant position.
Rua tries to circle away but Miller has him pinned against the cage.
Miller with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Miller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rua avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller slows down the pace here.

Miller breaks from the clinch.
Rua swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Miller counters with a left and a right that stings Rua.
Miller throws a leg kick which misses Rua's front leg but catches the back leg as Rua tries to avoid it.
Miller closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mauricio Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Miller, right into the meat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Miller fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rua, pushing him back against the cage.
Miller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rua avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rua gets underhooks to prevent Miller's takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rua has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heath Miller dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Miller misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Miller uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rua.
Miller chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rua can pounce on him.
Rua throws a combination that misses
and Miller counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Miller closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rua is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rua is trying to break the clinch but Miller is controlling him.
Miller goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rua prevents it.
Rua tries to circle away but Miller has him pinned against the cage.
Miller looking for a takedown.
Rua tries to break the clinch but Miller is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua tries to break the clinch but Miller is controlling the position.
Rua is looking to control Miller's arms but Miller gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rua has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua wants to break free but Miller has control.
Miller tries to land a knee to the head but Rua blocks with his arms.
Rua is trying to force a seperation but Miller has the dominant position.
Miller tries to score a body lock takedown but Rua shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mauricio Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Miller.

Rua pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rua throws a series of punches but Miller avoids them all with ease.
Miller moves away from the strike by Rua.
Heath Miller seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rua throws a left and a right that both miss

and Miller counters by moving into the clinch.
Miller wants a takedown but no success here.
Miller prevents Rua from breaking the clinch.

Rua breaks from the clinch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Miller in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Rua throws a combination that misses
and Miller counters with a straight right hand.
Miller scoring well with a low kick there.
Rua has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Miller has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Miller scores with a spinning back kick!
Rua falls off balance throwing a combination
and Miller counters with a solid body kick.

Miller gets a clinch.

Miller jumps guard and drags Rua to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rua trying to stand up but can't free himself from Miller's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Miller escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miller looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rua is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua tries to stand but Miller is controlling from the bottom.

Miller is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rua defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to stand and escape but instead Miller has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Miller with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Rua is looking for a triangle but Miller pushes his legs off easily.
Miller won't allow Rua to sweep him here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heath Miller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rua tries to land a body kick
and Miller counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rua's knee momentarily.
Rua takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rua slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rua throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Miller counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Miller fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rua misses with a straight left.
Rua misses with a shot to the body
and Miller counters with a three punch combo that has Rua backing up. Rua nods at Miller to acknowledge the strikes.
Miller throws a series of punches but Rua avoids them all with ease.
Rua throws a left and a right that both miss

and Miller counters by clinching up.
A frustrated look appears on Rua's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Miller has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Rua clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Miller lands a shot to the head.
Miller is working the ground and pound. Can Rua escape?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua just trying to survive but Miller is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Rua rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Miller winds up and cracks Rua with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rua tries to kick Miller off but Miller keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Miller is thwarting Rua's attempts to control the position.
Miller is nestled in close to Rua, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two 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.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.

Miller is working for a submission of some sort.
Miller passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rua!
Miller pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rua wants to control but Miller is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to escape the mount.
Rua tries to buck Miller off but he can't manage it.
Rua is desperately trying to improve his position but Miller has a good base and remains in mount.
Miller landing strikes from the mount and Rua is in trouble!
Rua tries to hold on but Miller pushes him away.
Miller landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rua is wriggling around trying to escape.
Miller with a couple of short strikes.
Rua is squirming around, avoiding Miller's attempts to control the action.
Miller controlling from mount.
Miller has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rua's face.
Mauricio Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miller is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rua can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heath Miller comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Miller 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heath Miller!