PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otavio Ikuhisa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Miller
vs
Ikuhisa

168 cm
26
146 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

187 cm
26
135 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Otavio Ikuhisa!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Miller feints and as Ikuhisa raises his hands in defense, Miller changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Miller wants to control from the top but Ikuhisa keeps moving.
Miller stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ikuhisa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Miller postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ikuhisa is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Miller, into his guard.

Ikuhisa tries to free his leg and advance position but Miller is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller wants to sweep here but Ikuhisa controlling him for the moment.
Ikuhisa trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ikuhisa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ikuhisa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ikuhisa is controlling him.
Ikuhisa tries to free his leg and advance position but Miller is retaining full guard.
Miller is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Ikuhisa drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Miller dives on top into guard.

Ikuhisa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miller loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Miller is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ikuhisa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ikuhisa has escaped and now he's on top!

Ikuhisa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ikuhisa is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Miller is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ikuhisa defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ikuhisa advances to half guard.
Miller is pressing down on Ikuhisa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ikuhisa content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ikuhisa passes Miller's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Miller is not content to let Ikuhisa control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ikuhisa is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Miller doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ikuhisa.
Ikuhisa trying to control from half guard but Miller is working away.
Ikuhisa prevents Miller from standing back up.

Ikuhisa wants to work for an arm triangle but Miller is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Miller wants to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.

Ikuhisa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Miller has managed to free his arm - good work.
Miller might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ikuhisa stops Miller from getting back to his feet.

Ikuhisa 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. Ikuhisa eventually gives up the hold.
Miller slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Miller looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ikuhisa trying to control but Miller is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Otavio Ikuhisa will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ikuhisa shoots in and bounces Miller off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Miller keeping moving, preventing Ikuhisa from controlling successfully.
Ikuhisa distracts Miller with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ikuhisa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Miller looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ikuhisa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Miller's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ikuhisa connects with a couple of short punches.
Miller is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ikuhisa is controlling him.
Ikuhisa wants to control from the top but Miller keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikuhisa won't allow Miller to get back to his feet.
Miller can't keep his opponent in guard - Ikuhisa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Ikuhisa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Miller sees it coming and defends easily.

Miller looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ikuhisa is thwarting Miller's attempts to control the position.
Ikuhisa controlling the action here.
Ikuhisa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Miller does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Miller on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Miller tries to get out of the position.

That's two 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 trying to stand up here but Ikuhisa is controlling him well.

Ikuhisa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Miller sees it coming and defends easily.
Miller is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ikuhisa working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Ikuhisa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ikuhisa stops Miller from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ikuhisa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Miller fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ikuhisa to the ground. Miller is now in Ikuhisa's guard.
Miller wants to stand and escape but instead Ikuhisa has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Otavio Ikuhisa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ikuhisa trying to control but Miller is working from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to stand up but Ikuhisa is controlling him.
Ikuhisa is in close to Miller's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ikuhisa stops Miller from standing up.

Ikuhisa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ikuhisa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ikuhisa won't allow Miller to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ikuhisa looking to sit in guard and control but Miller gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Miller tries to stand but Ikuhisa is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otavio Ikuhisa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Miller fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ikuhisa wants to counter the offense by Miller and move into the clinch position.
Miller gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ikuhisa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ikuhisa.
Miller is wriggling around but Ikuhisa manages to pass to half guard.

Miller tries to roll over but Ikuhisa keeps him under control.
Miller is trying to maintain the position but Ikuhisa is very close to passing his half guard.
Miller tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Ikuhisa has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ikuhisa looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ikuhisa with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Miller defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ikuhisa.
Miller regains half guard.
Miller wants to control but Ikuhisa is keeping busy.

Ikuhisa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Miller defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Miller is trying to stand.

Ikuhisa seems to be looking for submissions.
Miller is looking to escape.
Miller wants to get back to full guard.
Miller regains full guard. Nicely done.

Miller escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ikuhisa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Miller is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ikuhisa puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ikuhisa frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Ikuhisa jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Miller manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Ikuhisa working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ikuhisa prevents Miller from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ikuhisa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Miller, who protects the arm well.
Ikuhisa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ikuhisa tries to get to his feet but Miller is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Ikuhisa in his guard.
Miller preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ikuhisa trying to control but Miller is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ikuhisa won't allow Miller to sweep him here.
Nick Miller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Otavio Ikuhisa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Ikuhisa. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Miller is looking to stand up but Ikuhisa isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Otavio Ikuhisa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ikuhisa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Otavio Ikuhisa!