PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dax Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Godbolt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Godbolt is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Trenches by Pop Evil. Dax Miller has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Miller
vs
Godbolt

185 cm
26
190 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

186 cm
34
202 lbs
24 - 17 - 4

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

AnonymouS
Milwaukee's Best 160 (80% laundry)

Milwaukee's Best 160 (80% laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dax Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matthew Godbolt!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller lands a nice shot to the body.
A big right from Godbolt misses.
Godbolt throws a jab when Miller was well out of range.
As Godbolt looks to move away, Miller throws a big counter combo but Godbolt just gets out of the way.

Godbolt drives through with a takedown into guard.
Godbolt is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Godbolt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Miller trying to control the position here.
Miller working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Godbolt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Godbolt trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miller can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Godbolt controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Godbolt postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Godbolt throwing strikes but missing.
Godbolt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miller keeping moving, preventing Godbolt from controlling successfully.
Godbolt slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Godbolt is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Miller has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller is not content to let Godbolt control the position.
Godbolt throws an elbow but Miller slips to the side and avoids it well.
Godbolt throws a strike aimed at the side of Miller's head but Miller avoids it well.
Miller is not content to let Godbolt control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miller managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Godbolt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt trying to control the action but Miller is working from the bottom.
Godbolt misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Godbolt throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Miller is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Godbolt postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The ground and pound from Godbolt seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Godbolt working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Godbolt working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Godbolt with the ground and pound but Miller regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Godbolt is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Godbolt controlling the action here.
Miller is staying active underneath Godbolt, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Miller holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Godbolt in particular looking to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Miller tries to work over Godbolt's front leg with a kick but Godbolt checks it.
Miller throws the left hand but Godbolt avoids the punch easily.
Godbolt misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Godbolt dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Godbolt drives through with a takedown into Miller's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Godbolt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Godbolt looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Godbolt throws a big right hand that misses.
Miller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Matthew Godbolt has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Miller preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Miller seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Godbolt passes Miller's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Godbolt missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Godbolt sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Godbolt not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Godbolt trying to mount his opponent but Miller defends it.
Miller keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Godbolt is trying to control. Miller wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Godbolt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Godbolt thows a huge punch but Miller dodges it nicely.
Godbolt missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Miller is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Godbolt scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ground and pound from Godbolt.
Godbolt is pressing down on Miller's thigh, looking to free his foot. Miller is holding on for now.
Godbolt not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Godbolt is looking for a kimura here.
Godbolt takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Godbolt looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Miller takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Godbolt missing with a left hand there. Miller was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Godbolt takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Matthew Godbolt has been cut.
Godbolt connects with a right hand. Miller shakes it off.
Miller just misses with a punch to the body.
Godbolt checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt loads up on a big right hand but Miller slips the punch.
Miller is looking to counter the offense by Godbolt and move into the clinch.
Miller ducks under a wild hook from Godbolt.
Godbolt shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Miller as he jumps to the side.

Miller lands a high kick to the side of Godbolt's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Miller dives into guard, looking to finish.

Godbolt is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Miller trying to control but Godbolt is working from the bottom.
Godbolt is still in real trouble! Can Miller finish him?
Godbolt is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Godbolt seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Godbolt tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Godbolt is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Miller defends well.
Miller throwing strikes from guard but Godbolt blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matthew Godbolt will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Matthew Godbolt's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Miller keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Miller misses with a body shot.
Godbolt jabs Miller to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Godbolt misses with an uppercut. Miller saw that one coming.
Miller misses the shot to the body.
Miller avoids the body shot from Godbolt.
Miller doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Miller scores with a nice right hand.
Miller lands a leg kick that knocks Godbolt off balance momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Godbolt takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Godbolt avoids the body shot from Miller.
Miller with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've been told by Miller's head coaches at Mello MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Godbolt takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Godbolt misses the shot to the body.
Miller tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Godbolt is able to avoid easily.
Godbolt paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Miller tries to work over Godbolt's front leg with a kick but Godbolt checks it.
Godbolt misses with a straight right.
Miller lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Miller misses with a series of wild punches.
A countering left hand to the body from Godbolt misses.
Godbolt lands a really nice looking cross but Miller seems unphased.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Godbolt crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Miller - the referee stops the clock and Godbolt gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Miller. Godbolt manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Matthew Godbolt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Godbolt misses with a hook. Miller ducked under it nicely.
Miller shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Miller keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Godbolt.
Godbolt throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Godbolt throws a hook to the side of Miller's head but Miller sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Godbolt with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Miller to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Godbolt scores with a sloppy right hand. Miller should have avoided that one.
Miller tries to clinch but Godbolt is having none of it.

Godbolt shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Miller has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Godbolt engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Godbolt has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dax Miller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Miller is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Godbolt controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Godbolt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
An attempted straight right counter from Miller misses the target.
Miller waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Godbolt.
Godbolt displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Miller throws out the jab.
Miller attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Godbolt misses with a body shot.
Miller walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matthew Godbolt.
I've got Godbolt winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Matthew Godbolt!
Matthew Godbolt made sure to mention his sponsor, Milwaukee's Best 160 (80% laundry) in his post fight interview.
In defeat, Dax Miller stepped up to the mic, saying 'This loss will only make me better. '.