PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stacey Poole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Poole
vs
Miller

165 cm
25
141 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

165 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stacey Poole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nate Miller!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poole closes this distance looking for a takedown but Miller circles away.
Nate Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Poole fails with a takedown attempt.
Poole lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Miller closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Poole quickly recovers to half guard.

Miller looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Poole tries to kick Miller off but Miller keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Miller not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Poole tries to roll over but Miller keeps him under control.
Poole is trying to control but can't.
Still in half guard, Miller seems content to control.

Miller decides to stand up.
Poole misses with a two punch combination.
Poole throws a hook but Miller blocks it.
Poole swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Miller counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Miller.
Poole is breathing heavily.
Miller is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
It looks like Miller might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Miller stands up from Poole's guard - Miller perhaps looking for a knockout.
Poole pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Miller shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Poole is trying to defend but Miller finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Miller sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miller looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Miller stands up from 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.

Poole rushes Miller and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Poole is trying to force a seperation but Miller has the dominant position.

Poole breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Miller. No joy for Poole on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stacey Poole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miller fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Miller shoots in and gets a takedown into Poole's guard.
Miller is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Miller dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Miller shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Poole wants to get back to his feet.
Miller is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Poole avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Miller.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller trying to advance position but Poole counters by regaining guard.
Miller slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poole lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Poole postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Poole throwing strikes but missing.

Poole avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Miller is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Poole is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Miller is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Miller slows the pace down in half guard.
Poole tries to kick Miller off but Miller keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Miller looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nate Miller has got the better of the ground game so far.
Miller throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Poole to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poole pushes Miller off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Miller circles away from the clinch attempt.
Miller with the counter takedown but Poole avoids it easily.
Poole misses with a jab, cross combination.
Poole tries to clinch there but Miller circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Poole. No joy for Miller on that attempt.

Poole gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Miller to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Miller wants to pass the guard but Poole is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poole avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Miller passes Poole's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Poole is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Miller working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nate Miller will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Miller checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Miller takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Miller shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Poole manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Miller walks into a straight right hand from Poole.
Poole tries to close the distance and clinch but Miller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Poole connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Miller closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Poole to the mat! Poole manages to get full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Miller is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poole is looking to stand back up but Miller counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Poole.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Miller throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ground and pound from Miller.
Still in half guard, Miller seems content to control.
Poole is trying to maintain the position but Miller is very close to passing his half guard.
Miller missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Miller sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Poole defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Miller throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Miller shoots in and bounces Poole off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Miller stands up and waves to Poole to follow him.

Poole gets caught flat footed, as Miller shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Poole keeping full guard, as Miller tries to pass.
Miller engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Miller must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Poole is working an open guard so Miller takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Miller closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Miller thows a huge punch but Poole dodges it nicely.
Poole trying to hold on to Miller's head to control him but Miller postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poole blocking the ground and pound attempt from Miller.
Miller trying to mount his opponent but Poole defends it.
Poole is in trouble now - Miller has advanced to mount!
Miller thowing shots but they're missing.
Stacey Poole has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nate Miller is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Miller lands a big shot there that rocks Poole but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Miller comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Miller 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Miller!
Nate Miller was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.