PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cody Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris de la Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cody Miller has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Miller
vs
de la Cruz

183 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

180 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cody Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris de la Cruz!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller throws a head kick that misses.
Miller tries to close the distance and clinch up but de la Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck for de la Cruz with that takedown attempt.
de la Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Miller tries to close the distance and clinch up but de la Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
de la Cruz fails with the takedown.
de la Cruz looks gassed!
Miller wants to clinch up but de la Cruz keeps it at a distance.
de la Cruz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Miller manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Miller rushes de la Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
de la Cruz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Miller tries a knee to the head but de la Cruz blocks it.
Miller throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but de la Cruz blocks it with crossed arms.
Miller with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Miller as de la Cruz tries to tie him up.
Miller lands an elbow inside that de la Cruz shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de la Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!
Miller landing knees to the head.
de la Cruz wants a takedown.
Cody Miller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris de la Cruz.

Miller escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Chris de la Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Miller clinches.
Miller with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
de la Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!
Miller with a knee to the head.
Miller crunches a lovely knee into de la Cruz's ribcage.
Miller landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Miller lands a body punch.
Miller lands a knee to the body.
Miller makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Miller scores a nice knee to the body.
A right hand to the body from Miller.
Miller unloads a knee to the mid-section. de la Cruz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Miller unloads a knee to the mid-section. de la Cruz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Miller lands a nice knee to the body.
de la Cruz jumps guard but Miller stands there with de la Cruz around his waist. de la Cruz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
de la Cruz avoiding damage as Miller throws knees to the body.
de la Cruz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de la Cruz wants to break free but Miller has control.
de la Cruz is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Miller.
de la Cruz has Miller pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Miller manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

de la Cruz pulls Miller into guard.
de la Cruz is trying to keep Miller in close.
Miller preventing the sweep.
de la Cruz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Miller!
de la Cruz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is trying to stand up.
de la Cruz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

de la Cruz goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Miller turns into him and now he's in de la Cruz's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
de la Cruz working for a triangle but Miller defends it easily.

Miller stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Miller dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Miller is looking to clinch but de la Cruz is avoiding it.
Miller throws a nice head kick!
de la Cruz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Miller has closed the distance and engaged de la Cruz in a clinch.
Miller landing knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nice elbow from Miller.
Miller scores with a knee to the head.
Miller lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
de la Cruz takes a knee right on the jaw!
Miller scores with a shot to the side of de la Cruz's head.
Miller lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down de la Cruz.

de la Cruz gets control of Miller's arms and successfully pulls guard. de la Cruz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Miller has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
de la Cruz is controlling Miller's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de la Cruz wants to sweep but no luck.
de la Cruz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Miller tries to stand but de la Cruz is controlling from the bottom.
de la Cruz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Miller puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
de la Cruz wants to improve his position but Miller is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. de la Cruz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
de la Cruz pulls Miller in close to prevent any damage.
de la Cruz has a closed guard, preventing Miller from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

de la Cruz is working an open guard so Miller takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A bone on bone clash there as Miller blocks the leg kick.
Miller is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
de la Cruz keeps the fight on the outside.
Miller wants to clinch.

de la Cruz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Miller lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

de la Cruz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Miller tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Miller looks to clinch

and de la Cruz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by de la Cruz.
Miller landing knees to the body.
Miller misses with the head strike.
de la Cruz lands a body punch.
de la Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Miller won't allow it.
Miller looking to stall.
de la Cruz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Miller gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
de la Cruz avoiding damage as Miller throws knees to the body.
Miller unloads a knee to the mid-section. de la Cruz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A short right from Miller on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Miller dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

de la Cruz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

de la Cruz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Miller is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miller wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

de la Cruz decides to stand up, so the ref orders Miller to his feet.
Miller tries to clinch but de la Cruz moves out of range.
Miller tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
de la Cruz throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Miller takes the fight into the clinch.

de la Cruz works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Miller has momentary wrist control but de la Cruz slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as de la Cruz controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
de la Cruz stands and throws Miller's legs to the side, diving into side control.
de la Cruz working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de la Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Miller keeps working.
de la Cruz in side control, just content to control the action for now.
de la Cruz lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
de la Cruz wants to control but Miller is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miller parries the strikes from de la Cruz easily there. de la Cruz is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Miller to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris de la Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cody Miller!