PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cid Strife (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strife's entrance music is Tool - Ticks and Leeches. A fine choice. Miller has chosen Roy Jones Jr - Go hard or go home as his entrance music. Damian 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!

Strife
vs
Miller

183 cm
25
167 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

172 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Australian Xtreme - 159 Video Proof.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cid Strife!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damian Miller!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Steve Erwin and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strife stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Strife wants it to stay on the feet.
Strife wants to clinch

and Miller counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Strife kicks Miller off and gets back to his feet.
Miller gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Strife counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Miller's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Strife connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Miller scrambles back to his feet.
Miller tries for a takedown but Strife circles away easily

and Strife counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cid Strife has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Miller.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Strife lands an elbow inside that Miller shrugs off.

It looks like Damian Miller has been cut.
Strife creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Miller's defenses.
A knee to the head by Strife.
Strife pushes off an throws an elbow but Miller leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Miller fails to pull guard.
Strife lands an elbow inside.
Strife with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Strife trying to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Strife.
Strife gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Miller.
Miller tries to break free but Strife pushes him back against the cage.
Strife working Miller over with knees to the body.
Strife lands an elbow just above Miller 's eye.

That has opened up Damian Miller's cut even more.
Strife lands a damaging elbow.
Strife throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Miller blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Strife just misses with a elbow thrown towards Miller's brow.
Strife slowing the pace effectively.
Strife connects with a knee to the head.
Strife creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Strife creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Strife gets underhooks to prevent Miller's takedown attempt.
Nice elbow from Strife.
Strife tries a knee to the head but Miller blocks it.
Strife with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Strife tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Miller wants a takedown but no success here.
Miller goes for a takedown attempt but Strife pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cid Strife is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Miller misses with a takedown
and Strife counters with a three punch combo that has Miller backing up. Miller nods at Strife to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife tries to clinch up
and Miller counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Strife uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Strife has managed to clinch.
Strife using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Miller has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Strife lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
With the fighters up against the cage, Strife throws an elbow but misses.

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 looking for a takedown up against the cage. Strife gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Strife looking to throw knees to the head but Miller is blocking nicely.
Strife tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Strife misses with a knee to the head.
Strife throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Miller is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Strife gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Strife misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Miller.
Strife trying to land knees to the body.
Strife is breathing heavily.
Strife throws an elbow that misses.
Miller is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Strife lands an elbow inside that Miller shrugs off.

The cut above Damian Miller's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Miller blocks an elbow strike.
Strife gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Miller.
Strife tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Miller avoids it.
Miller swings wildly with an uppercut but Strife uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strife lands a nice elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cid Strife dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Damian Miller's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Miller circles away from the clinch attempt.
Miller works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Strife tries to close the distance and clinch up but Miller swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Miller gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Strife counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller tries for a takedown but Strife circles away easily
and Strife counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller tries for a takedown but Strife circles away easily
and Miller takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cid Strife has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Miller.
Miller lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Strife closes the distance looking to clinch

and Miller decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Strife's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strife keeping moving, preventing Miller from controlling successfully.
Strife keeping full guard, as Miller tries to pass.
Miller pushes down on Strife's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Miller stalling.

Miller is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife wants to get back to his feet.
Strife keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miller is taking a breather. Strife says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Miller stops Strife from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Miller is stalling here. Strife is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Miller seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Strife has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Strife working away.
Miller is pushing Strife's head away, looking to escape. Strife manages to hold on to the position though.
Strife remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Miller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Damian Miller's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Strife throws a big shot that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Miller is defended easily by Strife.
Strife moves in looking to clinch but Miller pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller misses with a takedown attempt
and Strife counters with a stiff right hand.
Damian Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strife fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Miller manages to avoid it.
Strife tries to close the distance and clinch but Miller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Miller chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Miller tries to score a power double leg takedown but Strife sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Miller somewhat.
Cid Strife has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Miller.
Strife tries to clinch up but Miller circles away and keeps his distance.

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.
Miller misses with a few strikes there.
Strife is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Miller misses with a takedown
and Strife cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Miller shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Strife connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strife misses with a right hand

so Miller counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Miller showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Strife will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Miller tries to free his leg and advance position but Strife is retaining full guard.
Miller looking to sit in guard and control but Strife gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strife wants to control from the top but Miller keeps moving.
Strife is really struggling to control Miller but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Strife would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Strife 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian Miller comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Miller has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

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