PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Shields (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jim Miller told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Shields
vs
Miller

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Shields!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jim Miller!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Steve Erwin and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Shields gets caught flat footed, as Miller shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Miller postures up.
Shields pulls Miller in close to prevent any damage.

Shields looking for a guillotine here but Miller defends easily.

Miller is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Miller is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shields wants to control the position but Miller says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller prevents Shields from standing back up.
Shields throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Shields pushes Miller off looking to stand but Miller dives back in and keeps control.
Shields tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shields wants to improve his position but Miller is controlling well.
Miller not doing much here.
It looks like Miller might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Shields tries to kick Miller off but Miller keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Miller not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Miller with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shields is looking for a sweep. Miller is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Miller is working for a kimura but Shields is defending it quite comfortably.
Miller slows the pace down in half guard.
Shields tries to get to full guard but Miller has control of the leg.

Miller looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Miller works his way into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shields tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Miller raining down hammerfists from mount.
Shields is in a horrible position here. Miller smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Miller wants to finish this one by submission but Shields is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Miller.

Miller looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller controlling from mount.
Miller's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Miller punishing his opponent with strikes.
Shields in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Miller cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
BOOM! Miller connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Miller controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Miller dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Miller fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shields sprawls well initially but Miller persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Miller performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Shields tries to roll over but Miller keeps him under control.
Miller has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Miller is thwarting Shields's attempts to control the position.
Miller keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Shields wants to control but Miller is keeping busy.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Miller takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

John Shields has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Shields closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Miller did well to prevent Shields getting side control.
Miller is looking to escape.
Shields wants to control but Miller is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Miller gets full guard.

Shields has gone for a leg lock! Miller slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shields's guard.
Miller sitting in guard here, content to control.
Shields is looking to stand up but Miller isn't so interested in that idea.
Shields 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.
Jim Miller has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller scoring with some ground and pound.
Miller lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shields being controlled here, momentarily.
Miller postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Miller lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Miller seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Shields is looking to stand back up but Miller counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Shields.
Miller keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller trying to mount his opponent but Shields defends it.
Miller perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Miller winds up and cracks Shields with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Miller passes to full mount!
Miller content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shields wants to hold on but Miller pushes him away.
Miller putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Shields is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Miller controlling the pace for now.
Miller putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Miller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Miller drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Miller lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Miller is looking to work some ground and pound but Shields has wrist control.
Shields will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Miller controlling from the top position.
Shields is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Miller is controlling him.
Miller lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Miller prevents Shields from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Miller not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller stops Shields from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jim Miller was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Miller shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Miller postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Miller forces his way into half guard.
Miller is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Shields taking some punishment here, with Miller in his half guard.
Well, if Miller is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shields pushes Miller off looking to stand but Miller dives back in and keeps control.

Miller is trying to work for a kimura but Shields is defending well.
Miller sitting and controlling from the half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jim Miller hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Shields shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Miller looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Miller regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller controlling the position.

Miller is looking for a triangle but Shields pushes his legs off easily.
Shields scoring with punches to the head and body.
Shields trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shields is in close to Miller's body, working some short punches and elbows.
John Shields has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Shields has gone for a leg lock! Miller slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shields's guard.
Miller content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

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