PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tendaji Afolayan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franck Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Tendaji Afolayan has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Afolayan
vs
Miller

200 cm
25
130 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

177 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tendaji Afolayan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Franck Miller!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Afolayan counters with a stiff right hand.
Miller misses with a wild combination.
Miller misses with a double jab.
Afolayan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Afolayan looks to land a combination. Miller sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Afolayan throws a right hand that Miller ducks under and follows up with a left that Miller also avoids with ease.

Afolayan gets caught flat footed, as Miller shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Miller stopping the sweep attempt from Afolayan.
Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Afolayan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Afolayan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Miller working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Afolayan's head.
Miller prevents Afolayan from getting back to his feet.
Miller really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Afolayan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Afolayan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Miller missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Miller trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Miller stops Afolayan from standing up.
Miller looking to pass the guard.
Afolayan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Miller is one step ahead there.
Afolayan is looking to stand up but Miller isn't so interested in that idea.
Miller loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Miller's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Miller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Afolayan wants to stand up but Miller is controlling him.
Afolayan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Afolayan landing strikes, looking to finish!
Afolayan misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Afolayan is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Miller is surviving well by controlling Afolayan's body position as best he can.
Afolayan controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afolayan prevents Miller from getting the reversal.
Poor strikes thrown by Afolayan there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Afolayan throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Afolayan wants to control the pace but Miller is squirming around nicely.
Miller can't escape the position.
Miller avoids a series of strikes thrown by Afolayan.
Miller blocking the ground and pound.
Miller is looking to improve his position but Afolayan isn't that keen on the idea.
Afolayan sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Afolayan there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Afolayan is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Miller can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Afolayan misses with a head shot.
Miller is squirming around, avoiding Afolayan's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Afolayan fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Afolayan wants to control the pace but Miller is squirming around nicely.
Afolayan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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 sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tendaji Afolayan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Miller looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Afolayan!
Afolayan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Afolayan is looking for a sweep.
Miller in side control lands a decent elbow.
Miller looks up at the clock and then as Afolayan takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Miller smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Miller is putting a hurting on Afolayan here, landing some big shots from side control.
Miller lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Afolayan manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Miller pushes Afolayan off looking to stand but Afolayan dives back in and keeps control.
Afolayan trying to control from half guard but Miller is working away.
Miller trying to hold on to Afolayan's head to control him but Afolayan postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Afolayan trying to control from half guard but Miller is working away.
Afolayan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Afolayan is looking for a kimura here.
Miller wants to get back to full guard.
Afolayan wants to control but Miller is keeping him busy.
Afolayan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Afolayan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Miller does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller trying to get back to full guard but Afolayan takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Afolayan prevents Miller from getting the reversal.
Miller is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Afolayan wants to control the pace but Miller is squirming around nicely.
Miller reaches up and holds on to Afolayan to control the position.
Afolayan throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Miller can do anything to dispel that myth.
Afolayan looking to finish with strikes here!
Afolayan landing strikes from the mount and Miller is in trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afolayan wants to control the pace but Miller is squirming around nicely.
Miller is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Afolayan thowing shots but they're missing.
Afolayan thowing shots but they're missing.
Afolayan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Afolayan throws some wild stikes that Miller manages to avoid easily.
Afolayan throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Miller is in a horrible position here. Afolayan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Miller working to try and regain half guard.
Tendaji Afolayan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Afolayan trying to control but Miller is having none of it.
Afolayan misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Afolayan tries to control but Miller wriggling away.
Afolayan sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Afolayan trying to control but Miller is having none of it.
Afolayan throwing strikes here but Miller is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tendaji Afolayan dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Afolayan tries to close the distance and clinch but Miller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A left and a right from Afolayan both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Franck Miller has been cut.
Afolayan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Miller is fending him off so far but Afolayan persists. Nope, Miller circles away and we're back to standing.
Some wild striking there from Miller.
Miller moves out of range of the body kick from Afolayan.
Franck Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Miller changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Afolayan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Miller tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Miller lands a decent elbow from side control.
Miller is chipping away with strikes.
Miller grinds an elbow into Afolayan's temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Miller lands some shots froms side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller wants to control for a moment but Afolayan uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Afolayan manages to get to full guard.
Afolayan looking for a sweep. Not yet Afolayan, not yet.
Afolayan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Afolayan trying to keep a closed guard but Miller is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller won't allow Afolayan to sweep him here.
Miller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Miller postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tendaji Afolayan just wasn't active enough.
Afolayan tries to bum rush Miller with a series of wild strikes but Miller uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Miller swinging wildly here.

Miller closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Afolayan to the mat! Afolayan manages to get full guard.
Miller takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Afolayan trying to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Afolayan has momentary wrist control but Miller slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Afolayan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Miller is aware though and is defending well.
Afolayan controls Miller momentarily but Miller frees himself.
Afolayan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Miller is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
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.

Afolayan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Miller gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Miller landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Afolayan trying to keep a closed guard but Miller is proving a slippery customer.
Miller throws a big elbow that misses.
Franck Miller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Afolayan trying to keep a closed guard but Miller is proving a slippery customer.
Afolayan is looking to stand up but Miller isn't so interested in that idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Afolayan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tendaji Afolayan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Miller must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Miller lands a couple of decent looking shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Franck Miller.
Well Afolayan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tendaji Afolayan!