PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Miike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dude Love (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Love has chosen Imagine as his entrance music. Both these fighters had to take extra time to make weight as they missed the initial 135lb limit. Takeshi Miike came in at 136.1 and Dude Love came in at 136.8 but after the extra two hours, both guys managed to get within the one pound allowance. No doubt it will have affected them physically though, so let's see if that has an impact on the fight. Takeshi Miike has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Miike
vs
Love

162 cm
33
148 lbs
33 - 14 - 0

150 cm
32
149 lbs
19 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 33 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Takeshi Miike!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dude Love!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miike looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Miike swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Love counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Love seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miike trying to hold on to Love's head to control him but Love postures up.

Miike looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Love is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Miike defends it well.

Love is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Miike is just riding it out for now. Love eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Love is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Miike has managed to free his arm - good work.
Miike trying to control but Love postures up.
Miike tries to roll over but Love keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Love stops Miike from getting back to his feet.
My spies in Hilo Training Center inform me that Love has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miike wants to get back to full guard.
Miike is trying to control but can't.
Miike moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Miike looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Love decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Miike, up you get!
Miike misses with a double jab.
Miike does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Miike misses with a telegraphed body shot

so Love counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Miike looking for a guillotine here but Love defends easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Love has gone for a leg lock! Miike slips out almost immediately though and dives into Love's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Love is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Miike is aware though and is defending well.

Love working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Miike doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Miike manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Miike content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Love is looking for a triangle here but Miike uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Miike decides to stand back up. Miike steps back and let's Love get back to his feet.
Miike misses with a body shot.
Miike shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Love pinned against the cage. Love gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Miike swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Love ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Miike scores with a jab to the body.
Love walks into a straight right hand from Miike.
Miike throws a right hand that Love ducks under and follows up with a left that Love also avoids with ease.
Miike tries a low kick but Love avoids it.
Miike misses with a right hand

and Love counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Miike moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Miike will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Love stands and throws Miike's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Love is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Miike knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Miike is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Love's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miike wants to control but Love is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Miike is looking for a sweep. Love is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Miike is defending against the submission attempts here by Love.
Miike manages to get to full guard.

Miike is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Love tries to pull guard but Miike won't allow it.
Love tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dude Love will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Miike fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Miike misses with an uppercut. Love saw that one coming.
Miike rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Love moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Miike just misses with a punch to the body.
Miike is looking to land body kicks.

Miike gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Love is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Miike to keep the fight standing.
Love jumps guard but Miike stands there with Love around his waist. Love gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Miike breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Miike tries to clinch but Love is having none of it.
Miike displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Miike lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miike misses with a looping left.
Miike lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Miike lands a glancing blow to the side of Love's head.
Love dodges the punch combination from Miike.
Miike doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Love counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Love tries to pull guard but Miike won't allow it.
Takeshi Miike has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dude Love.
Miike can't break the clinch.

Miike jumps guard and drags Love to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Love pushing down on Miike's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Love is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dude Love has got the better of the ground game so far.
Miike gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Love drops back looking for a leg! Miike is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Miike manages to kick Love off! Love jumps back into Miike's guard.

Miike working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Love doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Love manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Miike controlling the position.
Love preventing the sweep.
Miike is looking to stand up but Love isn't so interested in that idea.

Love drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Love jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Miike wants to sweep here but Love controlling him for the moment.
Miike is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Love preventing the sweep.
Love pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miike is keeping the position for now.

Miike escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Love gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Love passes Miike's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Love uses his free foot to push down on Miike's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Miike.

Love is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Miike has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Love working for a guillotine from mount but Miike is in no mood to give up.
Miike really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Love working for a guillotine from mount but Miike is in no mood to give up.
Miike is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Miike working to try and regain half guard.

Love has control of Miike's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Miike regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Love stands up from mount. Strange move.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miike thows a body shot but no joy.

Miike shoots in and gets a takedown into Love's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Miike dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Love moves out of range as Miike strikes.
Miike throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Love steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Miike.
Miike throws a leg kick but Love sees it coming and moves out of range.
Miike shoots in but no luck this time.
Love checks a leg kick nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Love as Miike shoots in.
An inside leg kick lands from Miike.
A jab from Miike misses.
Miike thows a left - swing and a miss!
Miike misses with a leg kick.
Takeshi Miike is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miike throws a half hearted mid kick.
Miike misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Love fails with a takedown attempt.
Takeshi Miike seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Miike throws a combination that misses

and Love counters by clinching up.

Love has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Miike uses from the top position.

Love has his foot on Miike's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Miike works his way back into a safe position though.

Love looking for a guillotine here but Miike defends easily.
Miike content to stall in guard here.

Love working for a triangle but Miike defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miike pushing down on Love's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Miike controlling the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Love is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Love actively working from the bottom here.
Miike passes the guard and advances to mount!
Miike controlling his opponent.
Love manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Love wants to improve his position but Miike is controlling well.
Miike is keen to just control but Love is a slippery customer.

Love looking for submissions off his back.
Love is refusing to be controlled, as Miike sits in half guard.

Miike decides to stand and escape the position.
Love shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miike scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Miike, right into the meat.
Miike misses with an attempted mid kick.
Miike is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Good work by Love as he checks the leg kick.
Love keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Love avoids the body shot from Miike.
Miike is looking to clinch but Love is avoiding it.
Miike falls off balance throwing a combination

and Love counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miike lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Love.
Love presses Miike against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeshi Miike showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Miike 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeshi Miike!
Takeshi Miike spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.