PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Abdulmuslim Malikov (ranked 5620 p4p, 514 weight class) and Deandre Miller (ranked 24597 p4p, 600 weight class). Deandre Miller struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Deandre Miller has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Malikov
vs
Miller

178 cm
26
158 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Abdulmuslim Malikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Deandre Miller!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Miller rushes Malikov and presses him up against the cage.

Miller pulls Malikov into guard.
Miller is trying to keep Malikov in close.

Miller throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Malikov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Malikov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Miller swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Malikov throwing strikes but missing.
Malikov throws an elbow that misses. Miller uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Malikov's guard. Nice move by Miller!

Malikov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Miller defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Malikov looking for a guillotine here but Miller defends easily.

Malikov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Miller has picked Malikov up and slammed him! Malikov can't keep hold of the triangle and Miller manages to pass to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malikov regains half guard.
Malikov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Malikov tries to get out of the position.

Malikov looking for submissions off his back.
Miller controlling the action here.

Malikov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Miller pulls his head out easily.
Malikov is looking for a sweep. Miller is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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

Malikov looking for subs from the bottom but Miller mounts him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Malikov is working to get back to half guard.
Miller sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Malikov is desperately trying to improve his position but Miller has a good base and remains in mount.
Malikov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Miller on the ground.
Miller trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Malikov manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Malikov actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malikov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Miller pulls his head out easily.
Malikov wants to get back to full guard but Miller has mounted him!
Miller takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Malikov tries to reverse the position but Miller maintains control.
Miller is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Malikov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Malikov is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller looks winded!
Miller is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Malikov is in all sorts of trouble here.

Miller looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Malikov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Miller looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malikov bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malikov is working Miller over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Malikov throws a strike but Miller rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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

Deandre Miller dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Miller dives in and scores a takedown into Malikov's guard.

Miller got a little sloppy there for a moment and Malikov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Miller has managed to get both his arms back between Malikov's legs - danger averted.
Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Malikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Malikov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Miller is aware though and is defending well.

Malikov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Malikov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Miller is looking to stand up but Malikov won't let him.

Malikov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Miller stacks Malikov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Miller!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malikov tries to improve position but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Miller stands up.
Miller fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malikov tries for a takedown but Miller circles away easily

and Miller counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Miller.

Miller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malikov shoots in but no luck this time.
Miller shoots in for a takedown but Malikov shows good takedown defense.
Miller stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdulmuslim Malikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malikov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Miller defends it nicely.
Malikov shoots and misses
and Miller counters with a one-two to the body.
Miller changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Malikov tries to avoid it but Miller manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Malikov to the ground. Malikov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Malikov feinted with a counter takedown.
Malikov shoots in for a takedown but Miller shows good takedown defense.
Nice sprawl there from Miller as Malikov shoots in.
Malikov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Malikov closes the distance and clinches up with Miller, looking for a takedown. Malikov pushes Miller against the cage but Miller circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malikov looks for a takedown but Miller sprawls well.
Miller is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Malikov is defended easily by Miller.
Miller is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Malikov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Miller but Miller pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Malikov shoots in for a takedown but Miller shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miller keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is working for takedown but Malikov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Malikov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Miller stops a takedown attempt from Malikov.
Malikov wants a takedown but no success here.

Miller breaks from the clinch.
Malikov shoots in looking for a takedown but Miller manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Malikov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Miller decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Malikov looking for a kimura from the bottom but Miller passes into side control!
Malikov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Deandre Miller has got the better of the ground game so far.

Miller is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Malikov has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malikov is looking for a sweep.
Malikov is trying to work for a sweep but Miller has mounted him!
Malikov is looking to get to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Miller there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Malikov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deandre Miller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Malikov misses with a takedown attempt

and Miller holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Malikov fails to pull guard.

Miller pulls guard effortlessly.
Miller manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Malikov manages to get himself to full guard.

Miller wants to control from the top but Malikov keeps moving.
Miller is stalling in the full guard.

Malikov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Malikov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Miller passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malikov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Miller maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Malikov could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Miller has cracked it and Malikov is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Miller!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Deandre Miller!
In his post fight interview, Deandre Miller started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.