PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between David Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karol Cropp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David Miller has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Miller
vs
Cropp

225 cm
25
300 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

209 cm
26
290 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, David Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Karol Cropp!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller lands a jab-cross combination.
Miller swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice defenses there by Miller.
Cropp throws a predictable looking body shot
and Miller counters with a straight right hand.
Miller slips under a jab from Cropp.
Cropp cracks a nice hook into Miller's ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miller shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Miller moves into the clinch.
Cropp will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Miller up against the cage.
Cropp is trying to pull guard but Miller turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Cropp pulls guard effortlessly.
Miller controls from within his opponent's guard.
Miller tries to free his leg and advance position but Cropp is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller trying to control but Cropp is working from the bottom.
Cropp has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Miller loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Miller works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Miller trying to control from half guard but Cropp is working away.
Cropp preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to free his trapped foot but Cropp is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Cropp is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Miller pulls his head out easily.
Miller is pressing down on Cropp's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cropp is holding on for now.
Cropp is trying to maintain the position but Miller is very close to passing his half guard.
Cropp wants to improve his position but Miller is controlling well.
Miller takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cropp is refusing to be controlled, as Miller sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller trying to advance position but Cropp counters by regaining guard.
Miller will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Miller loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Miller is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Miller avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Miller controlling from the top position.
Miller looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cropp is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Cropp trying to keep a closed guard but Miller is proving a slippery customer.
Cropp looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Miller looking to sit in guard and control but Cropp gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Miller trying to keep a closed guard but Cropp is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cropp trying to control but Miller is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that David Miller will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice cross by Cropp.
Cropp misses with a wild body shot.
Miller tries to close the distance and clinch but Cropp swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Miller bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cropp swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Miller avoids the body shot from Cropp.
Cropp shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Miller eats them both and turns towards Cropp to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like David Miller has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cropp throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Miller bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cropp throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Miller stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cropp smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Miller throws a series of punches but Cropp avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cropp fails with the takedown
and Miller counters with a lovely straight right hand!
No joy there for Miller, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Miller scores with a nice head shot.
Miller is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cropp pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cropp lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miller lands the left hand.
Miller cracks Cropp with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Miller misses with a looping right.
Miller tries to land a leg kick but Cropp saw it coming and moves away.
Miller doesn't manage to clinch there - Cropp circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cropp shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Miller eats them both and turns towards Cropp to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice takedown defense from Miller. No joy for Cropp on that attempt.
Cropp misses with a combination
and Miller counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Miller swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Cropp closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Miller quickly recovers to half guard.
Cropp wants to lay and pray for a moment but Miller keeps working.
Cropp prevents Miller from improving his position.
Cropp throwing shots but Miller is blocking nicely.
Cropp is controlling the pace.
Cropp thows a huge punch but Miller dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to improve his position but Cropp is controlling well.
Miller is refusing to be controlled, as Cropp sits in half guard.
Miller has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cropp is working away from the top position though.
Cropp wants to control but Miller is keeping him busy.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Miller actively working from the bottom here.
Cropp sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cropp throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Cropp is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cropp trying to pass the guard but Miller defending well.
Cropp lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cropp not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Miller trying to get back to full guard but Cropp takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Cropp lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karol Cropp showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on David Miller'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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cropp takes a jab right on the kisser.
Miller ducks under a wild hook from Cropp.
The fighters circling - Cropp throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Miller ducks under a wild hook from Cropp.
Cropp lands a jab.
Cropp looks to land a combination. Miller sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cropp uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Miller.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A punch combination from Cropp misses.
Miller steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cropp.
Miller takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Some wild striking there from Cropp.
Miller keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller misses with the combination.
Miller throws a head kick but Cropp moves out of range.
Miller moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Miller is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Miller closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cropp quickly recovers to half guard.

Cropp is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Miller pulls his head out easily.
Miller prevents Cropp from improving his position.
Cropp holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Cropp tries to roll over but Miller keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cropp is looking to control Miller's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cropp avoid being mounted?
Cropp is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Miller scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miller perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Miller passes the guard and advances to mount!
Miller can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cropp is looking to escape.
Cropp is bucking up trying to escape but Miller cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cropp wants to hold on but Miller pushes him away.
Cropp manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Cropp, under a barage of strikes from Miller.

Miller is looking for a kimura here.
Miller keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Cropp trying to control here.
Miller not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cropp trying to hold on to Miller's head to control him but Miller postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller trying to control from Cropp's half guard. Cropp has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Cropp wants to sweep here but Miller controlling him for the moment.
Miller works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Miller is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
David Miller overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Miller looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cropp sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
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 thows a huge punch but Cropp dodges it nicely.

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 David Miller.
I think Miller 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... David Miller!
David Miller decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.