PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pope Callixtus (ranked 572 p4p, 556 weight class) and Mike Miami (ranked 47 p4p, 45 weight class). Mike Miami told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Callixtus
vs
Miami

167 cm
27
140
8 - 4 - 0

170 cm
26
135
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pope Callixtus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mike Miami!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, David Hoff and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Callixtus drops his hands momentarily and Miami takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Callixtus's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Miami connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Callixtus scrambles back to his feet.
Callixtus definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Callixtus looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Miami!
Callixtus trying to control the action but Miami is working from the bottom.
Miami trying his best to control but Callixtus has mounted him.
Callixtus controlling from mount.
Miami wants to hold on but Callixtus pushes him away.

Callixtus goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Miami is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Callixtus has his foot on Miami's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Miami works his way back into a safe position though.
Miami stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Callixtus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Miami looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Callixtus looking for a guillotine here but Miami defends easily.
Miami must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miami content to stall in guard here.
Let's hope that Miami has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Miami tries to free his leg and advance position but Callixtus is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miami got a little sloppy there for a moment and Callixtus has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Miami has managed to get both his arms back between Callixtus's legs - danger averted.
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.
Callixtus is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Callixtus has Miami pulled in close to control his posture.

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.
Callixtus looking to control but Miami passes into half guard.
Callixtus is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Callixtus wants to get back to full guard.
Callixtus moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pope Callixtus will probably get the nod.
That's time! Callixtus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Callixtus loads up on a big right hand but Miami slips the punch.
Miami swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Miami uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Callixtus has time to react.
Callixtus throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Callixtus throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Miami sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Miami gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Callixtus decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Miami is staying active underneath Callixtus, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Miami tries to get to full guard but Callixtus has control of the leg.
Pope Callixtus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Callixtus trying to pass the guard but Miami defending well.
Callixtus wants to control but Miami is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miami is looking to control Callixtus's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Miami avoid being mounted?
Miami is looking for a sweep. Callixtus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Callixtus dives in and scores a takedown into Miami's guard.
Miami looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Callixtus puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Callixtus in particular looking to stall.
Callixtus wants to control but Miami is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Miami really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Callixtus. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Callixtus seems to be looking for submissions.
Callixtus is keen to just control but Miami is a slippery customer.
Miami is positioning himself well to prevent Callixtus advancing to mount.
Miami is staying active underneath Callixtus, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Callixtus is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Callixtus is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Callixtus is pressing down on Miami's thigh, looking to free his foot. Miami is holding on for now.
Callixtus stalling away here and it's allowed Miami to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Callixtus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Miami keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Callixtus throws a hook but Miami avoids it easily.
Callixtus throws a jab but it's blocked by Miami.
Callixtus uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Miami.
Miami clobbers Callixtus with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Miami bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Callixtus's head.
Miami bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mike Miami is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miami throws a hook but Callixtus avoids it easily.
Callixtus slips a jab from Miami.
Callixtus appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Miami throws an overhand right that lands on Callixtus's shoulder, as Callixtus tries to avoid the shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pope Callixtus dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Callixtus avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mike Miami has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miami misses with a straight right.
Miami throws a shot from downtown. Callixtus moves away and avoids it.
Miami stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Miami connects with a single shot there.
Callixtus steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Miami.
Miami misses with an uppercut. Callixtus saw that one coming.
Callixtus swings for the body but Miami moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Miami. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Miami.
Callixtus throws a hook but Miami blocks it.
Miami swings widly with a right hand

and Callixtus counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Miami is trying to escape back to his feet but Callixtus uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Callixtus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Miami keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callixtus advances to full mount.

Callixtus jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Miami manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Callixtus tries for a kimura but Miami is defending well.
Callixtus trying to control the action but Miami is working from the bottom.

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.

Callixtus tries for a kimura but Miami is defending well.
Miami is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus in side control, just content to control the action for now.

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

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.

Callixtus tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Callixtus working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Callixtus is trying to get an arm triangle but Miami is defending well.

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 Pope Callixtus.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Callixtus, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pope Callixtus!
Pope Callixtus seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.