PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nikos Papadopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Miller's choice of entrance music: Reggae Mix. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Papadopoulos
vs
Miller

180 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikos Papadopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Junior Miller!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Miller goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Miller plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Miller is looking to clinch.
Miller will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Papadopoulos tries to clinch
and Miller counters with a left to the body.

Papadopoulos shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Miller's guard.

Papadopoulos 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 Papadopoulos, into his guard.
Miller trying to control but Papadopoulos is working from the bottom.
Papadopoulos manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Papadopoulos connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Papadopoulos with the ground and pound from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Papadopoulos is going olschool here, as he tries to force Miller to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Miller shrugs it off.
Papadopoulos has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Papadopoulos punishing his opponent with strikes.
Miller is in all sorts of trouble here.
Miller really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Papadopoulos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Miller wants to control but Papadopoulos is having none of it.
Papadopoulos breaks from Miller's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Miller wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
A nice elbow there by Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Miller manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The strikes coming from Papadopoulos are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadopoulos in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Papadopoulos is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Miller is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Papadopoulos is breathing heavily.
Papadopoulos working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Papadopoulos tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Papadopoulos has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Miller tries to bench press Papadopoulos off him but Papadopoulos keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller wants to control but Papadopoulos postures up.
An elbow from Papadopoulos crashes against the mat.
Miller is trying to control Papadopoulos's posture but Papadopoulos avoids it.
Papadopoulos trying to control the action but Miller is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Miller scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Miller lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Papadopoulos sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Miller shoots for a double leg takedown but Papadopoulos sprawls well. He's pushed Miller's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Miller throws a head kick that Papadopoulos semi-blocks.
Papadopoulos takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Papadopoulos has his takedown stuffed
and Miller counters with a thumping low kick.

Miller has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miller jumps guard.
Papadopoulos is looking to work some ground and pound but Miller has wrist control.
Miller trying to keep a closed guard but Papadopoulos is proving a slippery customer.
Miller wants to stand and escape but Papadopoulos is having none of it.

Miller is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Papadopoulos is aware though and is defending well.
Papadopoulos works over Miller with some ground and pound from guard.
Papadopoulos won't allow Miller to get back to his feet.
Miller not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Miller is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Papadopoulos is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Miller rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Papadopoulos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Junior Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Papadopoulos throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Miller counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight stays on the outside here - Papadopoulos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Papadopoulos is defended easily by Miller.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Papadopoulos.
Nice takedown defense from Miller. No joy for Papadopoulos on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikos Papadopoulos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miller throws a one two combo.
Miller throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Miller lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Papadopoulos wants to clinch but Miller slips to the side
and Miller counters with a straight right hand.
Miller goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Miller has Papadopoulos up against the cage in a clinch.
Miller gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Papadopoulos.
Miller is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Miller controlling the action here for a moment.
Papadopoulos takes a knee to the side of the body.

Miller escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Miller's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Miller duly obliges.
Papadopoulos is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Miller.

Miller darts in and clinches Papadopoulos up against the cage.

Miller has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Papadopoulos uses from the top position.
Papadopoulos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Miller controls Papadopoulos momentarily but Papadopoulos frees himself.
Miller wants to stand up but Papadopoulos is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miller is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Miller looking to control.
Miller keeping moving, preventing Papadopoulos from controlling successfully.
Miller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Papadopoulos leaves Miller with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Miller's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Miller duly obliges.
Papadopoulos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Miller avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miller has taken the fight to the clinch.
Miller lands a shot to the body.
Miller wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Miller throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Papadopouloss head.
Papadopoulos stops a takedown attempt from Miller.
Miller will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Papadopoulos up against the cage.
Papadopoulos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Miller is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Miller slowing the pace effectively.
Miller wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Papadopoulos gets underhooks to prevent Miller's takedown attempt.
Miller lands a nice knee to the body.
Papadopoulos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Miller gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miller breaks the clinch.
Papadopoulos takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Danga de danga de dang - Miller scores with a four punch combination!
Papadopoulos tries to land a body kick
and Miller counters with a body kick that stops Papadopoulos in his tracks momentarily.
Miller lands a head kick. Papadopoulos smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Miller's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Miller duly obliges.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Miller!
Miller closes this distance looking for a takedown but Papadopoulos circles away.
Miller lands with a kick to the temple. Papadopoulos shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Miller has a takedown stuffed.
Miller is working the combinations to good effect here.
Papadopoulos takes one to the side of the head.

Miller moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Miller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Papadopoulos's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Miller forces Papadopoulos back against the cage and clinches.
Papadopoulos is trying to force a seperation but Miller has the dominant position.
Miller tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Papadopoulos just stands there and leans against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Miller.
Miller with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Miller breaks the clinch.
Miller shoots in for a double leg but Papadopoulos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Miller instigates a clinch.
Papadopoulos goes for a takedown attempt but Miller pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Miller throws a combination. Papadopoulos tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Miller throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Miller lets loose with a powerful body kick. Papadopoulos will feel that in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopoulos swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Miller moves into the clinch.
Miller tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Papadopoulos smiles and moves away.
Nikos Papadopoulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Miller.

Miller closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Miller lands in his opponent's guard.
Miller looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Let's hope that Miller 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.

Papadopoulos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Papadopoulos 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.

Papadopoulos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Papadopoulos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Miller is looking to stand up but Papadopoulos won't let him.
Miller wants to control from the top but Papadopoulos keeps moving.
Papadopoulos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Papadopoulos thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Miller wants to control from the top but Papadopoulos keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Miller lands a high kick!
Miller throws a combination. Papadopoulos tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Miller!
Miller throws a series of strikes that have Papadopoulos backpedaling.
Miller leaves Papadopoulos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Miller has Papadopoulos up against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Miller.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miller manages to break the clinch.
Junior Miller seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Miller lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Papadopoulos takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Miller connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Papadopoulos tries to clinch but Miller moves away
and Miller counters with a series of strikes. Papadopoulos will be more careful next time no doubt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Miller breaks the clinch.
Papadopoulos takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A left and a right from Miller both land. Nice combination.
Papadopoulos shoots in for a takedown but Miller shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Miller has taken the fight to the clinch.
Miller dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Miller lands a good knee to the midsection. Papadopoulos won't want to take too many of those.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junior Miller comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Miller has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Junior Miller!