PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ba Lil III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Millard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Lil III
vs
Millard

180 cm
29
160 lbs
17 - 5 - 1

169 cm
26
160 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality

Conquer
Affordable Quality

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 17 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Ba Lil III!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bruce Millard!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lil III will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Millard shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lil III napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lil III tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Millard is looking to take a break and control but Lil III is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Millard working away.
Millard lands a few punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lil III is looking for a sweep.
Lil III is working hard here to advance position.
Lil III gets back to half guard.
Millard wants to control but Lil III is keeping him busy.
Lil III is looking for a sweep. Millard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Millard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lil III is pressing down on Millard's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Millard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Lil III looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lil III can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Millard controls the pace.

Lil III is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Millard defends well.

Lil III has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Millard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Millard throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lil III is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Millard defends well.
Millard slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Lil III.
Millard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Lil III looking for subs from the bottom but Millard mounts him!
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!
Lil III gets back to half guard.

Lil III is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Millard pulls his head out easily.
Lil III regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lil III trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Millard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lil III swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lil III trying to control the position.

Lil III looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Millard wants to control from the top but Lil III keeps moving.

Lil III working for submissions but it's allowed Millard to get to half guard.
Lil III moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Lil III working for submissions but it's allowed Millard to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Millard connects with a nice short shot to Lil III's temple.
Lil III missing with punches from the bottom.
Well, if Millard 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.
Lil III is trying to control but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lil III is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Millard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Millard's back!
Millard wants to control his opponent's hands but Lil III gets his hands free.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Millard might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lil III haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lil III scores with punches from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ba Lil III dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Millard. No joy for Lil III on that attempt.
Millard slips a straight right by Lil III.
Lil III on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lil III walks into a jab.
A shot to the liver by Millard. Beautiful body shot.
Lil III lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Millard fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Millard punishes Lil III's body with a nice straight punch.
Millard fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Millard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lil III moves away.
Lil III scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lil III dives in and grabs Millard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Millard pushes down on Lil III's head and hops out.
A big left from Millard misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Millard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Millard lands with a hook. Lil III tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lil III lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lil III takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lil III connects with a body shot that sends Millard's belly button to the back.
Lil III lands a nice leg kick that just misses Millard's sensitive parts.
Lil III misses with a low kick as Millard jumps back.
An inside leg kick lands from Millard.
Lil III throws a looping overhand right but Millard ducks down to avoid it.
Millard misses with a wild body shot.
Millard throws a leg kick but Lil III moved away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Millard.
Millard moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lil III defending well as Millard loads up on a big left hand.
Millard throws a front kick aimed at Lil III's knee but Lil III avoids it well.
Millard misses with a low kick.
Millard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Millard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lil III throws a hook but Millard avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lil III looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Millard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lil III manages to avoid it.

Millard drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ba Lil III overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Millard trying to control but Lil III is working from the bottom.
Millard is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Lil III escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Millard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Lil III looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lil III is trying to hold Millard in close to prevent damage but Millard has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Millard prevents Lil III from improving his position.

Lil III looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Millard winds up and cracks Lil III with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Millard prevents Lil III from improving his position.
Lil III is looking to control Millard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lil III avoid being mounted?
Lil III tries to get to full guard but Millard has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lil III regains full guard. Nicely done.
Millard wants to control from the top but Lil III keeps moving.
Millard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lil III looking to control.
Lil III throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Lil III trying to control the position.
Lil III preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lil III thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Lil III working for submissions but it's allowed Millard to get to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lil III trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Millard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A good leg kick by Millard.
Millard scores with the left hand. Lil III knows he should have avoided that one.
A low kick from Millard misses
letting Lil III counter with a right hand.
Lil III throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Good work by Lil III as he checks the leg kick.
Bruce Millard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lil III takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Millard lands a nice looking body shot.
Lil III throws a leg kick that misses.
Millard slips under a jab.
The crowd cheers as Lil III lands an impressive looking overhand right. Millard doesn't seem phased though.
Millard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Millard looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Millard darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Millard fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lil III checks it well.
Millard misses with a leg kick
enabling Lil III to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Millard throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Millard is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Lil III misses the target.
Millard takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Millard has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Millard throws a leg kick which misses Lil III's front leg but catches the back leg as Lil III tries to avoid it.
Millard throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lil III throws a nice looking combination but Millard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lil III on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Millard. Millard obviously looking to wear him down.
Some bone on bone action there as Lil III checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Lil III keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lil III moves out of range of the body kick.
Lil III takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A good leg kick by Lil III.
Millard lands a leg kick that knocks Lil III off balance momentarily.
Lil III plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Lil III shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Millard napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lil III in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
You can see the frustration on Millard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Millard is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Lil III is staying active.
Millard is not content to let Lil III control the position.
Millard prevents Lil III from moving into mount.
Lil III fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Lil III tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Millard tries to buck Lil III off but Lil III is having none of it.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Lil III looking to control but instead Millard has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Lil III is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lil III will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Millard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lil III is keen to just control but Millard is a slippery customer.
Millard tries to roll over but Lil III keeps him under control.
Millard trying to control but Lil III postures up.
Lil III slips a nice elbow through Millard's hands, connecting with Millard's forehead.
Lil III is looking to take a break and control but Millard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Millard trying to hold on to Lil III's head to control him but Lil III postures up.
Lil III prevents Millard from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lil III sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Millard defending well though.
Lil III wants to pass to mount but Millard is defending the position.
Lil III is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Millard wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Lil III.

Lil III is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Millard is surviving well by controlling Lil III's body position as best he can.
Lil III tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lil III is landing with some decent strikes but Millard is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lil III throws a wild left hand from mount and Millard manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Millard is pressing down on Lil III's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ba Lil III.
I think Lil III has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ba Lil III!
Ba Lil III seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.