PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Verneri Ahma (ranked 403 p4p, 392 weight class) and Lynton Miller (ranked 69 p4p, 64 weight class). Miller is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Tool - Sober. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ahma
vs
Miller

172 cm
38
156
33 - 23 - 0

173 cm
33
159
23 - 15 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Vegan Gains
HELLBENT

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 33 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Verneri Ahma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Lynton Miller!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shirou Masuda and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahma throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Miller.

Miller darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Miller throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ahma is not content to let Miller control the position.
Miller throwing shots but Ahma is blocking nicely.
Ahma regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Miller wants to control from the top but Ahma keeps moving.
Miller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Miller looking to pass the guard.
Miller is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
It looks like Miller might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Miller throws a body punch but Ahma moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Miller. That's going to slow Ahma down.

Ahma gets a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Miller fails to land.
Miller misses with a hook to the ribs.
Miller wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Miller lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ahma backwards.
Ahma displaying some good clinch control by pressing Miller up against the cage.
Miller working aggressively here.
A short body shot lands from Miller as the two fighters clinch.
The referee calls for Ahma to work.
Ahma stalling.
Ahma seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Miller is looking for a takedown.

Ahma escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ahma fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Miller, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahma tries to throw a body punch but Miller avoids it by throwing Ahma back against the cage.
Miller misses with the head strike.
Miller misses with a punch on the inside.
Miller lands an uppercut.
Miller misses with a hook from the clinch.

Ahma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Miller misses with a straight left.
Ahma appears to be looking for a big counter.

Ahma tries to keep at a distance but Miller has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ahma blocks an uppercut.
Ahma is stalling here.
Ahma blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Miller swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Miller takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Miller throws a head punch that misses.
Ahma is trying to break the clinch but Miller has him pressed against the cage.
Miller has a couple of punches blocked by Ahma.
Miller tries to score a body lock takedown but Ahma shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Verneri Ahma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lynton Miller.
Still in the clinch, Miller scores with a nice short uppercut.
Miller tries to work over Ahma's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Miller tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ahma's elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ahma prevents a takedown attempt there.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Miller.
The referee is keeping an eye on Miller - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lynton Miller dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Miller tries to close the distance and clinch but Ahma swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Miller scores with a decent looking hook.
Miller shoots for a takedown but Ahma saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Ahma misses the target.
Ahma tries to clinch but Miller is having none of it.
Ahma scores with a nice strike.
Miller throws a body kick that misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Ahma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ahma wants to clinch up but Miller keeps it at a distance.
Ahma looks to throw the jab but Miller is out of range.
Miller tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Miller dives in and grabs Ahma's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ahma pushes down on Miller's head and hops out.
Ahma misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ahma fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller defending well as Ahma loads up on a big left hand.
Ahma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ahma connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

It looks like Lynton Miller has been cut.

Miller has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Miller tries for a takedown. No joy.
Verneri Ahma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lynton Miller.
Miller softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller goes for a takedown attempt but Ahma pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ahma throws a looping overhand right but Miller ducks down to avoid it.
Verneri Ahma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ahma wants to clinch up but Miller keeps it at a distance.
Ahma looks to land a left hand but Miller moved out of range nicely.
A big left from Miller misses.
Miller swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Miller keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ahma.
Ahma scores with a nice right hand.
Ahma tries to close the distance and clinch but Miller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Miller has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Miller scores with a jab. Ahma acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Miller avoids the body shot from Ahma.
Ahma wants to clinch.

Miller drives through and clinches with Ahma against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller misses with a hook from the clinch.
Miller lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ahma backwards.
Ahma blocking some punches.
Miller can't get the takedown.
Ahma being controlled against the cage.
Miller misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Miller.
Lynton Miller seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ahma tries to break free but Miller pushes him back against the cage.

Ahma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Verneri Ahma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Miller gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Miller goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ahma's efforts to push away.
Ahma blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Miller changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ahma fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ahma looks to land a right hand but Miller moved out of range.
Miller feints the counter takedown.
Miller will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ahma misses the shot to the body.
Miller missing with a left hand there. Ahma was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ahma lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ahma digs a good body shot into Miller's ribs.
Ahma fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Miller on the side of the head.
Miller has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Miller there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nice cross by Miller.
Miller throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ahma lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Miller is rocked!
Miller tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Miller is still on wobbly legs! Can Ahma finish him?
Miller shoots in for a takedown but Ahma shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahma keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ahma is looking to counter punch.
Ahma scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Miller seems to have recovered his senses.
Miller is breathing heavily.
Ahma wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ahma misses with an uppercut.
Miller changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ahma missing with a left hand there. Miller was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Miller avoids a punch combination nicely.
Miller has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ahma.
Miller fails with the takedown.
Miller cracks Ahma with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ahma tries to clinch up.
Miller takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That has opened up Lynton Miller's cut even more.
Ahma misses with a looping left.
That kick from Miller tenderised Ahma's leg. Ahma is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ahma has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Miller.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Verneri Ahma dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lynton Miller's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Miller cracks Ahma with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Some wild striking there from Ahma.

Ahma gets a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Miller scores with a nice short uppercut.

Ahma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Ahma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ahma looks to land a left hand but Miller moved out of range nicely.
Ahma misses with a body shot.

Miller drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ahma looking to control.
Miller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Miller wants to control from the top but Ahma keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ahma works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Miller working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Miller stopping the sweep attempt from Ahma.
Ahma keeping moving, preventing Miller from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ahma throws a wild body kick that Miller sees coming a mile off.
Miller shoots for a double leg takedown but Ahma sprawls well. He's pushed Miller's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A jab from Miller does it's job there.
Miller slips under a jab.
Miller is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ahma throwing a counter right hand but Miller manages to avoid it.
Ahma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller takes one on the chin but seems OK.
That kick from Ahma tenderised Miller's leg. Miller is trying to keep his angry face on.
Miller shoots in and drives through. Ahma sprawls well.
Ahma lands an overhand right.
Ahma tries to clinch there but Miller circles away.
Miller feints the counter takedown.
Miller tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ahma was well out of range. Poor timing from Miller.
Ahma digs a good body shot into Miller's ribs.
A big right from Miller misses.
Miller tries to clinch but Ahma moves away
and Ahma counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Miller is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ahma sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Verneri Ahma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lynton Miller.
Miller takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Miller lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ahma's sensitive parts.
Miller scores with a hook to the body. Ahma takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Miller throws a looping overhand right but Ahma ducks down to avoid it.
Miller connects with a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ahma. Miller does a little dance to reset his feet.

Ahma gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Miller to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahma tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ahma keeping moving, preventing Miller from controlling successfully.
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.
Miller loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ahma keeping moving, preventing Miller from controlling successfully.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Miller working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Miller has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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.
Miller trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Miller wants to control from the top but Ahma keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Miller throws a hook to the side of Ahma's head but Ahma sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ahma checks a leg kick.
Miller connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ahma is looking to clinch but Miller is avoiding it.
Ahma connects with a crisp jab.
Ahma fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Miller shoots in but no luck this time.
Miller tries to clinch up.
It looked like Ahma wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Verneri Ahma.
I think Ahma has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lynton Miller!
A victorious Lynton Miller thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.