PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rubin Knowles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stipe Miocic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Knowles
vs
Miocic

160 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rubin Knowles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stipe Miocic!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Ryoma Takatsuka and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters circling a little - Knowles finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Miocic misses with a few strikes there.

Miocic tries to keep at a distance but Knowles has taken the fight into the clinch.
Knowles working hard to break the clinch.
Knowles managing to block the knees to the body from Miocic.
Knowles lands a nice knee to the body.
Knowles is trying to pull guard but Miocic turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Knowles has Miocic pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Miocic manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Knowles drops down looking for an ankle pick but Miocic pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rubin Knowles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miocic is looking to clinch.
Miocic fails with a takedown attempt.
Knowles pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knowles tries a head kick but it misses.

Miocic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Miocic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Miocic tries to pull guard but Knowles won't allow it.

Miocic breaks from the clinch.

Miocic closes the distance and clinches.

Miocic jumps guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knowles looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Knowles got a little sloppy there for a moment and Miocic has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Knowles has managed to get both his arms back between Miocic's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miocic controls Knowles momentarily but Knowles frees himself.
Miocic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Knowles is controlling him.

Knowles avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Knowles trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knowles is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Knowles fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Miocic, pushing him back against the cage.
Knowles is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Miocic pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Knowles drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Miocic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Knowles really is a fat lump.
Knowles wants a takedown.
Miocic jumps guard but Knowles turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

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.

Miocic lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Miocic wants to control but Knowles is keeping him busy.

Miocic stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Knowles to get to his feet.
A thudding body kick lands there by Knowles!

Knowles shoots in and bounces Miocic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knowles throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rubin Knowles will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Knowles connects with an inside leg kick.

Knowles looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Miocic!
Knowles is looking to take a break and control but Miocic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Knowles works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Knowles trying to control the action but Miocic is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miocic tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knowles is looking to take a break and control but Miocic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Knowles working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Miocic tries to bench press Knowles off him but Knowles keeps the position.
Knowles scores with a couple of short elbows.
Miocic being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Knowles working away.
Knowles trying to control the position but Miocic is working away.
Knowles in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
A control attempt from Miocic but he's now mounted!
Miocic tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miocic is still trying to improve position.
Miocic tries to hold on but Knowles postures up.
Miocic is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Knowles is staying active.
Miocic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Knowles controlling the position easily from mount.
Knowles looking to finish Miocic with some ground and pound. This is bad for Miocic!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miocic tries to hold on but Knowles pushes him away.
Knowles breaks from Miocic's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Miocic landing with some feeble shots from his back... He should probably try escaping the position instead.
Miocic slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Miocic tries to roll over but Knowles keeps him under control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Knowles not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Knowles trying to control the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rubin Knowles dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Miocic throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Knowles tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Miocic is in Knowles's guard.

Knowles scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rubin Knowles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Knowles has taken the fight to the clinch.
Miocic fails to pull guard.
Knowles drops down looking for an ankle pick but Miocic pulls his leg out and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knowles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Knowles is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Miocic can do to turn this around?
Miocic tries to clinch up but Knowles circles away and keeps his distance.
Knowles quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Miocic wants to clinch up but Knowles keeps it at a distance.
Knowles throws a counter high kick but Miocic was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miocic tries to clinch up.
Miocic shoots for a double leg takedown but Knowles sprawls well. He's pushed Miocic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rubin Knowles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stipe Miocic.
Miocic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Knowles moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A thudding body kick lands there by Knowles!

Miocic gets caught napping as Knowles dives in and scores a takedown. Miocic manages to retain guard.
Knowles content to stall in guard here.
Knowles throwing strikes from guard but Miocic blocks nicely.
Miocic is looking to sweep but instead, Knowles has passed into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miocic wants to get back to his feet.
Miocic is trying to maintain the position but Knowles is very close to passing his half guard.
Miocic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Knowles.
Miocic is looking to improve his position.
Knowles lands with a punch from half guard.
Miocic trying to get back to full guard but Knowles takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knowles is landing with some decent strikes but Miocic is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Knowles has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Knowles avoids the attempt from Miocic to control.
Knowles looking to control and managing it successfully.
Knowles raining down shots from the mount!
Rubin Knowles overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Knowles lands a big shot there that rocks Miocic but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Knowles lands a couple of good shots and Miocic has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knowles is landing with strikes from the back.
Miocic is trapped and Knowles is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Miocic is trying to stand back up.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Knowles controlling the positon.
Stipe Miocic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rubin Knowles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rubin Knowles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Knowles has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rubin Knowles!