PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Linwood Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ares Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Linwood Miller has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Miller
vs
Junior

206 cm
21
161 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
24
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Linwood Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ares Junior!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller shoots in but no luck this time.
Miller stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Miller wants it to stay on the feet.
Miller shoots in and drives through. Junior sprawls well.

Junior clinches up against the cage.
Miller has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Junior after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Linwood Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Junior lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Miller fails to pull guard.
Miller jumps guard but Junior stands there with Miller around his waist. Miller gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Junior ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Junior no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Miller sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Junior is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miller is really struggling to control Junior but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Miller really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Linwood Miller just wasn't active enough.
Junior will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Junior has taken the fight to the clinch.

Miller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Miller shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Junior manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Miller sitting in guard here, content to control.
Junior looking to hit a scissor sweep but Miller is one step ahead there.
Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Junior is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller is stalling in the full guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Linwood Miller wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Junior fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Junior.
Junior stuffs the takedown attempt from Miller. Miller gets slowly back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Miller shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Junior as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Miller pinned against the cage. Miller gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Junior misses with a wild combination.
Junior tries for a takedown but Miller circles away easily

and Miller counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Junior wants to break the clinch but can't.

Miller pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Junior lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Junior fails with the takedown

and Miller counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller jumps guard but Junior stands there with Miller around his waist. Miller gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Miller tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Junior smiles and moves away.
Junior leaves Miller with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Junior has Miller up against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Junior is looking to take this one to the mat.
Junior scores with a nice hook to the head.
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 Linwood Miller will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Junior pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Junior darts in looking for a takedown but Miller gets double underhooks and turns Junior into the cage.
Junior managing to block the knees to the body from Miller.
Miller takes a shot to the head.
Miller tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Junior just stands there and leans against the cage.

Miller gets control of Junior's arms and successfully pulls guard. Miller will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Miller is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Junior throwing strikes but missing.
Junior working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Miller wants to stand up but Junior is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Miller is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Miller will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Junior got a little sloppy there for a moment and Miller has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Junior has managed to get both his arms back between Miller's legs - danger averted.
Junior pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miller is keeping the position for now.

Miller looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Junior tries to free his leg and advance position but Miller is retaining full guard.
Miller keeping moving, preventing Junior from controlling successfully.
Junior passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior trying to control the action but Miller is working from the bottom.
Miller can't do much from the bottom here.
Junior blocks the strikes from Miller.
Junior wants to lay and pray for a moment but Miller keeps working.
Junior working away.

Junior has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Junior rushes Miller and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is trying to drag Junior to the mat but Junior just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Miller is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Junior is defending well for now.
Junior tries to score a body lock takedown but Miller shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Junior is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Miller to keep the fight standing.
Linwood Miller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ares Junior.
Junior wants to take the fight to the mat but Miller manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Miller jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Junior walks away with a smile on his face. Miller gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Junior fails with a takedown attempt.
Junior is breathing heavily.
Miller looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ares Junior seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Junior clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller tries to pull guard but Junior holds him up against the cage and eventually Miller drops back down to his feet.
Junior wants a takedown.
Miller jumps guard but Junior stands there with Miller around his waist. Miller gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Junior jumps guard.
Miller postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Junior is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Junior throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Miller stays in close to Junior's body and controls the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Junior looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ares Junior 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! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Miller fails with the takedown.
Junior shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Miller defends it nicely.
Junior throws a right hand that Miller ducks under and follows up with a left that Miller also avoids with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior blocks a jab.
Junior darts in looking for a takedown but Miller gets double underhooks and turns Junior into the cage.
Miller tries to pull guard but Junior holds him up against the cage and eventually Miller drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller tries to pull guard but Junior holds him up against the cage and eventually Miller drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Linwood Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miller is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Junior to keep the fight standing.

Miller pulls guard effortlessly.
Junior trying to control but Miller is working from the bottom.

Junior stands and steps away. Miller gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Junior shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Miller sprawls well. Miller wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Junior gets slowly back to his feet.
Miller dives in and grabs Junior's left leg, looking for a takedown. Junior pushes down on Miller's head and hops out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Junior tries a low kick but Miller avoids it.
Linwood Miller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Junior moves into the clinch.
Miller tries to break free but Junior pushes him back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Miller throws an elbow but misses.
Miller throws a punch but it's blocked by Junior.
Ares Junior seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Junior wants to break the clinch but can't.
Junior tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Miller just stands there and leans against the cage.
Miller is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Miller's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Junior fails with a takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miller shoots in and drives through. Junior sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior tries for a takedown but Miller sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Miller misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Junior fails with the takedown.
Miller dives in for a single leg takedown but Junior sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Junior has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Miller avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Junior jumps guard.
Miller lands a couple of digs.

Miller thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior looking for a sweep. Not yet Junior, not yet.
Miller won't allow Junior to get back to his feet.
Linwood Miller overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Junior looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Miller working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Junior's head.
Miller sitting in guard here, content to control.
Junior looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Miller is standing up over Junior. Junior looks to escape but Miller dives into side control.
Junior seems a little lost for a moment, as Miller dominates the positioning.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ares Junior.
I think Junior 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ares Junior!