PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alphonse Miller (ranked 24198 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Devira (ranked 5207 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Miller
vs
Devira

178 cm
23
215 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

182 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alphonse Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Johnny Devira!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Devira decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Miller could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Devira 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 is trying is best to control the position here.
Miller wants to get back to full guard.
Miller is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Devira sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Miller wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devira thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Miller's head.
Miller is looking for a sweep. Devira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Miller is trying to control but can't.
Devira trying to pass the guard but Miller defending well.
Devira thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Devira missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Devira seems to be looking for submissions.

Devira is looking for a kimura but Miller is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Devira to get the leverage.
Miller tries to kick Devira off but Devira keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Devira wants to advance to full mount but Miller doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devira controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Devira gets to his feet. Miller looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Miller tries to keep at a distance but Devira has taken the fight into the clinch.
Devira working hard to break the clinch.
Devira lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Miller backwards.
Miller throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Deviras head.
Devira lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Devira jumps into guard, dragging Miller to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller preventing the sweep.

Devira working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Miller doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Miller manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Devira looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Miller passes into side control.
Devira taking a bit of punishment here - Miller scoring with strikes.

Miller tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Miller has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Devira is looking for a sweep.

Miller is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Devira knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devira defending against the ground and pound.
Miller has control of an arm but Devira manages to advance to Miller's back!
Devira thows a strike but Miller uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Miller as he ends up in Devira 's guard!
Devira wants to stand but Miller is controlling the position.
Miller missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miller postures up and lands a big shot to Devira's brow.
Devira working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Miller.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Devira holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Devira dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Devira shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Miller manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Miller is on top in guard.

Miller avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Miller throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller throws a strike but Devira rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Devira working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Devira tries to free his leg and advance position but Miller is retaining full guard.
Johnny Devira has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miller controls Devira momentarily but Devira frees himself.
Devira looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Devira pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miller is keeping the position for now.
Miller is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Devira is controlling him.
Devira controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two 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.

Devira decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A combination from Devira does no damage.
Miller appears to be looking for a big counter.

Devira shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Miller manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Miller pushes Devira off and scrambles back to his feet.
Devira looks to throw a body kick
and Miller counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Devira shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Devira is breathing heavily.
Devira is pressing down on Miller's thigh, looking to free his foot. Miller is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devira stalling away here and it's allowed Miller to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Miller wants to stand but Devira is controlling the position.
Devira with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Devira throws a big right hand that misses.
Miller trying to strike off his back.
Miller is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Devira trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miller wants to sweep but no luck.

Devira stands and steps away. Miller gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Devira throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Devira comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Devira lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Miller has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Miller and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Miller went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miller is looking to clinch.

Devira clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Devira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Devira feints and as Miller raises his hands in defense, Devira changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Miller wriggles free and stands up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Devira.

Devira working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Devira swings around for an armbar but Miller sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Devira's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Devira looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller throws an elbow that misses. Devira uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Miller's guard. Nice move by Devira!

Devira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Miller is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Miller working a defensive guard but Devira manages to pass into side control anyway.
Miller is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Devira wants to lay and pray for a moment but Miller keeps working.
Devira passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Miller!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devira thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Devira moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Miller has worked his arm free - good work by Miller!
You can see the frustration on Miller's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Miller tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Miller trying to control the hands but Devira won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Miller blocking the ground and pound.
Miller tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Devira trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Miller is looking to improve his position but Devira isn't that keen on the idea.
Devira wants to control the pace but Miller is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Devira unloads with some shots from mount but Miller bucks and avoids them well.
Miller is desperately trying to improve his position but Devira has a good base and remains in mount.
Devira throwing strikes but Miller bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Devira trying to keep a closed guard but Miller is proving a slippery customer.
Devira trying to strike off his back.
Devira throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miller throws a big elbow that misses.
Devira seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Alphonse Miller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnny Devira is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Devira utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Johnny Devira.
Well Devira 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Devira!