PBP Commentary

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

Miller
vs
Souza

170 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

176 cm
18
166 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ray Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roberto Souza!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Miller tries to avoid it but Souza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Miller to the ground. Miller escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Miller looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Miller gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Souza counters with a left and a right that stings Miller.
Souza darts in looking for a takedown but Miller gets double underhooks and turns Souza into the cage.
Miller seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Miller closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Miller lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Souza might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Miller haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Miller's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Souza throws a big elbow that misses.
Souza wants to control from the top but Miller keeps moving.
Souza throwing strikes but missing.
Souza sitting in guard here, content to control.
Souza wants to control from the top but Miller keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Souza throwing strikes from guard but Miller blocks nicely.
Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Souza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Souza has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Miller is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Souza looks for a takedown but Miller sprawls well.
Ray Miller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Souza.
An inside leg kick from Souza misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller blocks the body kick.
Miller keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Miller was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
No luck for Souza with that takedown attempt.
Miller blocks a low kick nicely.
Souza shoots in for a double leg but Miller sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Miller displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Souza.
Souza fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Miller avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza shoots for a takedown but Miller saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Souza darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Souza throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Souza not doing much here.
Souza looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Souza is looking to take a break and control but Miller is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roberto Souza will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Souza is defended easily by Miller.
Souza swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Miller shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Souza defends it nicely.
Despite the aggression on Souza's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Souza fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Miller avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Souza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller leaves Souza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ray Miller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Souza.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Souza is defended easily by Miller.
Miller missing with a left hand there. Souza was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Miller tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Souza defends well and Miller ends up having to push Souza into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Souza dives in for a single leg takedown but Miller sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ray Miller is winning the standup battle so far.
Miller leaves Souza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Miller seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but Miller shows good takedown defense.
Miller throws a big counter combination but Souza scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Miller looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Souza tries to score a power double leg takedown but Miller sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Souza somewhat.
Souza defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Miller.
Souza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch combination from Souza misses.
Souza shoots in looking for a takedown but Miller manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Souza's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Miller appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Souza fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Souza.
Miller changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but Miller shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like Miller was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Souza fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ray Miller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Souza wants to land a leg kick but Miller is out of range.
Souza fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Souza tries to work over Miller's front leg with a kick but Miller checks it.
Miller drops down looking for a counter takedown but Souza sprawls and moves away.
Ray Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Miller showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Souza.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller leaves Souza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Souza misses with a kick to the body.
Souza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Miller tries to avoid it but Souza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Miller to the ground. Miller escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As Souza tries to get set, Miller tries to push him back and clinch up but Souza manages to avoid the attempt.
Souza darts in looking for a takedown but Miller gets double underhooks and turns Souza into the cage.
Nice sprawl there from Miller as Souza shoots in.

Souza shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Miller is pulling down on Souza's head to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Miller working for a triangle but Souza defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ray Miller will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Souza closes the distance and clinches up with Miller, looking for a takedown. Souza pushes Miller against the cage but Miller circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As Souza looks to move away, Miller throws a big counter combo but Souza just gets out of the way.
Souza misses with a takedown attempt - Miller sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Souza moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Souza fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Miller avoids it really well and circles away.
Ray Miller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Souza.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza misses with a few strikes there.
Sloppy strikes from Souza. Those never looked like landing.
Souza throws a sloppy head kick and Miller moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller leaves Souza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Souza fails with the takedown

and Miller counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Miller.
Souza jumps guard but Miller stands there with Souza around his waist. Souza gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Souza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Souza throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Miller blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza is trying hard to land a takedown here. Miller sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Miller seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Souza shoots in but no luck this time.
Souza misses with a two punch combination.
Miller blocks a head kick by Souza.
Souza looks to throw the jab but Miller is out of range.

Miller closes the distance and clinches.
Souza goes for a takedown attempt but Miller pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Souza shoots in for a takedown but Miller shows good takedown defense.
Souza swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Miller counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Miller pulls guard effortlessly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is trying to control the position but Souza postures up.
Souza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Miller works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Souza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Souza trying to control but Miller is working from the bottom.
Souza advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Souza is trying to control. Miller wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Souza thows a huge punch but Miller dodges it nicely.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Souza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Miller is just riding it out for now. Souza eventually gives up the hold.
Souza is keen to just control but Miller is a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Roberto Souza.
I think Souza 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ray Miller!