PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jack Miller (ranked 2204 p4p, 286 weight class) and Johann Zagler (ranked 2533 p4p, 317 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Miller
vs
Zagler

182 cm
25
172 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

MMA Underwear Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jack Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Johann Zagler!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zagler shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Miller napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Zagler working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miller tries to bench press Zagler off him but Zagler keeps the position.

Zagler thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Zagler thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller is trying to improve his position.
Miller is trying to control Zagler's posture but Zagler avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zagler looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Zagler tries for a kimura but Miller is defending well.

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

Zagler tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zagler has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Miller is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.

Zagler wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Miller, who protects the arm well.
Miller gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Miller looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Zagler seems to be working for a kimura but Miller defends the submission attempt.

Miller looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Zagler 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. Zagler eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Zagler seems to be working for a kimura but Miller defends the submission attempt.

Zagler is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Miller defends it well.
Miller wants to control but Zagler is keeping busy.
We've been informed that Zagler has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Zagler is working for a submission of some sort.

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.

Miller makes his way to full guard, as Zagler worked for a kimura.
Miller looking to control.
Miller keeping full guard, as Zagler tries to pass.
Miller is trying to control the position but Zagler postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zagler sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Miller's guard.

Zagler is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Zagler 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. Zagler eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johann Zagler dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Miller closes the distance and pushes Zagler back into the cage.

Miller has hold of one of Zagler's legs. Zagler is fighting the takedown attempt but Miller gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Zagler looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Miller passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller is thwarting Zagler's attempts to control the position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zagler controlling the position for now.
Zagler is staying active underneath Miller, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Zagler is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Miller pulls his head out easily.
Zagler trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zagler keeping control of the position.

Miller stands up from half guard.
Zagler defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Miller.

Zagler looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zagler trying to work for an americana but Miller has managed to regain full guard.
Zagler is breathing heavily.
Zagler preventing the sweep.

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

Zagler has his foot on Miller's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Miller works his way back into a safe position though.
Miller working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zagler's head.
Miller trying to control but Zagler is working from the bottom.
Johann Zagler has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zagler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Miller defends it easily.
Miller lands a couple of elbows.

Zagler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Miller can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Miller working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zagler's head.

Zagler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Miller can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Miller avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Miller seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zagler is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Miller wants to control from the top but Zagler keeps moving.
Miller is working Zagler over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Miller wants to control from the top but Zagler keeps moving.
Miller scoring with some ground and pound.
Zagler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Miller postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miller postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Zagler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Miller gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Miller lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Miller dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Miller throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zagler on the side of the head.
Miller uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zagler.

Zagler looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Miller tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zagler sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Miller's guard.

Zagler 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 Zagler.

Zagler wants to work for an arm triangle but Miller is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zagler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zagler 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. Zagler eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller gets full guard.

Miller escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zagler gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

Miller trying to control but Zagler is working from the bottom.
Zagler is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zagler 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.
Miller looking to pass the guard.
Zagler working a defensive guard here.
Miller is working Zagler over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Miller preventing the sweep.
Zagler is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Miller lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zagler keeping full guard, as Miller tries to pass.
Zagler keeping moving, preventing Miller from controlling successfully.
Miller has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zagler is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zagler is pulling down on Miller's head to control his posture.
Miller with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Zagler working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Miller has passed into half guard!

Miller is looking for a kimura but Zagler is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Miller to get the leverage.
Miller seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zagler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Miller is looking to advance position but Zagler won't allow it.
Zagler trying to control here.
Miller scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Miller is looking to take a break and control but Zagler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zagler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Miller is working away from the top position though.
Miller wants to free his trapped foot but Zagler is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Miller frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Miller with the ground and pound from mount.
Zagler tries to hold on but Miller postures up.
Miller scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zagler?
Miller avoids the attempt from Zagler to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zagler working to try and regain half guard.
Miller trying to control but Zagler is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Miller showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Miller 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Miller!
A very excited looking Jack Miller made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.