PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Giancarlo Zuniga (ranked 1070 p4p, 1259 weight class) and Mike Miami (ranked 84 p4p, 95 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Zuniga
vs
Miami

173 cm
26
135
6 - 3 - 0

170 cm
26
135
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Giancarlo Zuniga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mike Miami!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, David Hoff and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zuniga fails in his attempt to clinch.
Miami is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Miami keeps the fight on the outside.

Zuniga rushes Miami and presses him up against the cage.
Miami swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Miami working aggressively here.
Zuniga taking a breather.
Zuniga stalls.
Miami leaning against his opponent.
Miami lands an uppercut.
Zuniga is trying to pull guard but Miami has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miami taking a breather.
Miami misses with a body punch.
Zuniga prevents a body shot from Miami.
Miami lands with a right to the head.
Zuniga is trying to pull guard but Miami turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Miami looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miami tries to land knees in the clinch but Zuniga avoids the damage to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Miami takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Miami lands with a short shot to the head.
Miami leaning his opponent against the cage.
Miami misses with the head strike.
Zuniga's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zuniga's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Miami is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Miami misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zuniga manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zuniga bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Miami's guard.

Zuniga is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Zuniga stopping the sweep attempt from Miami.
Miami keeping moving, preventing Zuniga from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuniga forces his way into half guard.
Miami controlling the position well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Miami can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zuniga seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Miami does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zuniga content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Miami is looking for a sweep. Zuniga is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zuniga wants to control but Miami is keeping him busy.

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.
Zuniga looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Zuniga definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Zuniga gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Zuniga has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Miami uses from the top position.
Zuniga is trying to control the position but Miami postures up.
Zuniga is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Zuniga continues to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zuniga is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zuniga wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Miami will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zuniga tries to clinch but Miami moves away
and Miami counters with a three punch combo that has Zuniga backing up. Zuniga nods at Miami to acknowledge the strikes.
Miami keeps the fight on the outside.
A little jabbing left from Miami on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Zuniga moves into range and clinches up with Miami.
Zuniga trying to control the position but instead, Miami has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zuniga into the cage.

Zuniga decides to pull guard.
Miami 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.
Zuniga is pulling down on Miami's head to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zuniga not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Miami tries to bum rush Zuniga with a series of wild strikes but Zuniga uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zuniga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Miami avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Miami scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Zuniga clinches up against the cage.
Miami misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zuniga.
Zuniga fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zuniga avoiding damage as Miami throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuniga is trying to pull guard but Miami has him pressed against the cage.
Miami lands with a left to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zuniga.
Miami tries to throw a body punch but Zuniga avoids it by throwing Miami back against the cage.
Miami throws a punch but it's blocked by Zuniga.
Miami is looking to control Zuniga's arms but Zuniga gets an underhook and turns him. Now Miami has his back to the cage.

Zuniga decides to pull guard.
Miami must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Zuniga working a defensive guard here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zuniga controlling the position.
Zuniga is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miami has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zuniga is pulling down on Miami's head. It's preventing any offense from Miami, at least for the moment.
Zuniga looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zuniga instigates a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Miami.
Zuniga blocks a body shot from Miami.
Miami tries a body shot but Zuniga blocks it.

That's four 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.
Zuniga blocks a body shot from Miami.
Miami lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zuniga backwards.
Miami misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zuniga is trying to pull guard but Miami turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giancarlo Zuniga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Miami creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zuniga.
Zuniga jumps guard but Miami stands there with Zuniga around his waist. Zuniga gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zuniga tries to pull guard but Miami forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zuniga is trying to pull guard but Miami turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Miami throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zuniga blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zuniga jumps guard but Miami stands there with Zuniga around his waist. Zuniga gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Miami with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zuniga jumps guard but Miami stands there with Zuniga around his waist. Zuniga gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Miami showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Zuniga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Giancarlo Zuniga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Giancarlo Zuniga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zuniga is looking to clinch but Miami is avoiding it.
A countering left hand to the body from Miami misses.
Miami avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zuniga throws a hook to the side of Miami's head but Miami sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Miami unleashes a big counter combination but Zuniga bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Miami comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Miami misses the jab.
Mike Miami is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zuniga looks to clinch
and Miami counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zuniga avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zuniga tries to clinch but Miami moves out of range.
Miami fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zuniga manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miami avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mike Miami seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zuniga tries to clinch up.

Zuniga darts in and clinches Miami up against the cage.
Miami misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miami is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Zuniga blocks a body shot from Miami.
Miami lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zuniga is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Miami to keep the fight standing.
Zuniga fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Zuniga tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Miami just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giancarlo Zuniga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miami missing with knees to the body.
Zuniga tries to pull guard but Miami forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Miami lands a hook to the side of the head.
Miami tries to work over Zuniga's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Miami is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Zuniga is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Miami to keep the fight standing.
Zuniga is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Miami to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miami lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Zuniga blocking some punches.
Zuniga is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Miami can't find room to land a body shot as Zuniga controls the action.

Zuniga pulls Miami into guard.
Miami won't allow Zuniga to sweep him here.
Zuniga is trying to control the position but Miami postures up.
Miami is fighting to break Zuniga's control of his arms but Zuniga is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Zuniga controls Miami momentarily but Miami frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zuniga is really struggling to control Miami but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Miami ducks under a wild hook from Zuniga.
Miami throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zuniga wants to clinch
and Miami counters with a nice body shot.
Miami defending well as Zuniga loads up on a big left hand.
Zuniga moves in looking to clinch but Miami pushes him off.
Miami looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zuniga moves in looking to clinch but Miami pushes him off.
Zuniga throws an overhand right that lands on Miami's shoulder, as Miami tries to avoid the shot.
Miami now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miami pushes Zuniga up against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Miami scores with a nice hook to the head.
Miami makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zuniga jumps guard but Miami stands there with Zuniga around his waist. Zuniga gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Miami.
Miami is stalling here.
Zuniga tries to pull guard but Miami won't allow it.
Miami tries to land knees in the clinch but Zuniga avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zuniga is trying to pull guard but Miami turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Miami lands a body shot.
Zuniga misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mike Miami is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Good body shot from Miami.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Miami comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Miami winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Miami!