PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: "Hip To Be Square," by Huey Lewis and the News. Mike Miller has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Miller
vs
Steven

198 cm
24
210 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

185 cm
28
222 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Syndicate Drugs
Phoenix Nutrition - 158 recovery $99

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Steven!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Matheus Silva and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Mike Steven has been cut.
Miller swings for the body but Steven moves out of range.
Steven is looking to clinch but Miller is avoiding it.
Miller throws a wild body kick that Steven sees coming a mile off.
Miller misses the shot to the body.
Steven uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Miller.
A swing and a miss from Miller.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steven moves out of range as Miller strikes.
Steven showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Miller.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steven bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miller is looking for a sweep.
Miller is trying to buck Steven off.
Steven works to advance to full mount. Miller defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Miller tries to lock up and control but Steven gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steven tries to control but Miller wriggling away.
Steven throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Steven has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Miller's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Steven connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Steven jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Miller is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Miller and Steven has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Miller wants to control but Steven postures up.
Miller knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Steven on the ground.
Steven sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Miller is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Miller is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Steven asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Steven throws a strike aimed at the side of Miller's head but Miller avoids it well.

Steven working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Steven throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Miller works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Miller regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Steven.
Steven trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Miller wants to stand but Steven is controlling the position.
Miller trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Steven tries to free his leg and advance position but Miller is retaining full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Steven throwing strikes but missing.
Miller looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steven in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Steven dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Steven's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Steven doesn't manage to clinch there - Miller circles away.
Miller swings for the body but Steven moves out of range.

Steven is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Miller's half guard.
Miller is trying to stand back up but Steven is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Steven is looking for a kimura but Miller is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Steven to get the leverage.
Steven working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Steven thows a huge punch but Miller dodges it nicely.
Steven passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Steven working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
A lull in the action here as Steven stalls from top position.
Miller on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Miller tries to get out of the position.

Steven working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Miller wants to get back to his feet.

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.
Steven in side control, throwing shots but Miller defends.
Miller takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Steven is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Miller is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Steven tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Steven throws an elbow but Miller slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is pushing Steven's head away, looking to escape. Steven manages to hold on to the position though.
Steven landing a few strikes.
Miller is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Steven has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Steven throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Miller is not content to let Steven control the position.
Miller is looking to reverse the position.

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 is working hard here to advance position.
Steven lands a decent elbow from side control.

Steven is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Miller has escaped the position, nice work there.
Miller is trying to get back to half guard.
Steven has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Steven tries for a kimura but Miller is defending well.
Steven trying to control the action but Miller is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Miller misses with a looping right.
Steven tries to clinch but Miller moves out of range.
Steven has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Miller finds it's way round the side to connect with Steven's head.
Miller looks to land a right hand but Steven moved out of range.

Steven shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Miller is trying to defend but Steven finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Miller regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Steven.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller is trying to keep Steven in close.
Miller avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Steven missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Steven trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steven working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Miller keeping full guard, as Steven tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Steven accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Miller is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mike Steven has got the better of the ground game so far.
Steven forces his way into half guard.
Steven prevents Miller from standing back up.
Steven lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Steven is nestled in close to Miller, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Steven is looking to take a break and control but Miller is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steven has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Miller defend it? Steven steps over the head and cranks it - Miller is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Steven!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:06 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mike Steven!