PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrea Taggliatelle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taggliatelle comes to the cage accompanied by I Woke Up This Morning. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taggliatelle
vs
Miller

188 cm
21
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andrea Taggliatelle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Miller!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miller wants to clinch up but Taggliatelle keeps it at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Miller. No joy for Taggliatelle on that attempt.

Taggliatelle moves into range and clinches up with Miller.

Taggliatelle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Miller has taken the fight to the clinch.
Taggliatelle prevents Miller from breaking the clinch.
Miller wants to break free but Taggliatelle has control.
Taggliatelle wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Miller has him pressed against the cage.

Taggliatelle breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taggliatelle misses with a double jab.
Taggliatelle tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Miller counters with a series of strikes. Taggliatelle will be more careful next time no doubt.
Miller tests Taggliatelle's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Miller tries to bum rush Taggliatelle with a series of wild strikes but Taggliatelle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taggliatelle with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller with a lazy takedown attempt

so Taggliatelle counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Miller trying to control the position here.
Miller is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Taggliatelle is controlling him.
Miller keeping moving, preventing Taggliatelle from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taggliatelle wants to pass the guard but Miller is keeping the position.
Taggliatelle stops Miller from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taggliatelle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Miller keeping moving, preventing Taggliatelle from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Miller as Taggliatelle shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller looks to throw a body kick
and Taggliatelle counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Miller throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Miller misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Miller has his takedown stuffed
and Taggliatelle counters with a head kick.
Michael Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Miller looks gassed!
Taggliatelle will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrea Taggliatelle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miller throws a leg kick that is checked

and Taggliatelle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Taggliatelle manages to break the clinch.
Taggliatelle tries to clinch up
and Taggliatelle takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taggliatelle cracks Miller with an open hand slap.
Miller throws a left and a right that both miss

and Taggliatelle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Taggliatelle is trying to break free.
Miller can't break the clinch.

Miller escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taggliatelle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Taggliatelle clinches up against the cage.
Taggliatelle wants to get back to striking at distance but Miller won't allow it.
A short left from Miller.

Miller breaks the clinch.

Taggliatelle closes the distance and clinches.
Miller tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Taggliatelle just stands there and leans against the cage.
Taggliatelle wants to get back to striking at distance but Miller won't allow it.
Taggliatelle is trying to break free.
Taggliatelle using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Taggliatelle manages to break the clinch.
Miller misses with a double jab
and Taggliatelle counters with an outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller stuffs the takedown attempt from Taggliatelle. Taggliatelle gets slowly back to his feet.
Miller scores with a jab to the jaw.
Miller throws a leg kick but Taggliatelle moved away.
Taggliatelle throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Miller's waist but Miller gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taggliatelle off to one side.
Taggliatelle swats away the attempt to clinch by Miller.
Miller ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taggliatelle moves away.
Miller is looking to clinch.
Miller swats away the attempt to clinch by Taggliatelle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Miller swinging wilding here.
Taggliatelle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Miller shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taggliatelle as he jumps to the side.
Miller clinches but Taggliatelle breaks the clinch

and Taggliatelle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Taggliatelle makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Taggliatelle stands and throws Miller's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Taggliatelle thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Miller can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Miller explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Taggliatelle throws a nice outside leg kick.
Taggliatelle fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Miller tries to clinch there but Taggliatelle circles away.
Miller throws a combination that misses
and Taggliatelle counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taggliatelle lands a nice leg kick that just misses Miller's sensitive parts.
Taggliatelle lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Miller gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Taggliatelle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Taggliatelle stands and steps away. Miller gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggliatelle can't break the clinch.
Taggliatelle tries a knee to the head but Miller blocks it.

Taggliatelle breaks the clinch.

Miller gets a clinch.
Miller prevents the takedown attempt.

Miller breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taggliatelle wants to clinch but Miller slips to the side
and Miller counters with a stiff right hand.

Taggliatelle gets the takedown into side control.
Miller is not content to let Taggliatelle control the position.
Miller gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Taggliatelle trying to control the action but Miller is working from the bottom.
Taggliatelle working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller is staying active underneath Taggliatelle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Taggliatelle wants to pass the guard but Miller is defending well.
Taggliatelle is looking to take a break and control but Miller is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taggliatelle tries to pass the half guard into mount. Miller knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Taggliatelle lands with a punch from half guard.
Miller on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Miller tries to get to full guard but Taggliatelle has control of the leg.

Taggliatelle is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Miller defends it well.
Miller looks like he's trying to stand up.
Taggliatelle is looking to take a break and control but Miller is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Miller pushes Taggliatelle off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taggliatelle throws a head kick that misses.

Miller takes the fight into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Miller.

Miller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Miller misses with a takedown attempt

and Taggliatelle counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Taggliatelle.

Taggliatelle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Miller uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Miller connects with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taggliatelle blocks a head kick by Miller.

Miller rushes Taggliatelle and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taggliatelle looks to land a left hand but Miller moved out of range nicely.
A lazy body kick from Miller
and Taggliatelle counters with an outside leg kick.
Miller misses with a combination
letting Taggliatelle counter with a right hand.
Miller lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Taggliatelle keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Miller.
Miller tries to clinch up.
Taggliatelle takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taggliatelle misses with a head kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Taggliatelle.
Miller tries for a takedown but Taggliatelle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Miller takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taggliatelle scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Taggliatelle has Miller up against the cage in a clinch.
Taggliatelle lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Miller backwards.
Miller wants to get back to striking at distance but Taggliatelle won't allow it.
Miller wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taggliatelle has him pressed against the cage.

Taggliatelle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Miller throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taggliatelle's waist but Taggliatelle gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Miller off to one side.
Taggliatelle fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Taggliatelle tries to clinch but Miller is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Miller. No joy for Taggliatelle on that attempt.
Miller lands with a nice combination. Taggliatelle backs away looking to recover.
Taggliatelle scores with a jab to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Taggliatelle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrea Taggliatelle. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggliatelle pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Taggliatelle pushes Miller up against the cage in a clinch.
Miller keeps control of Taggliatelle as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Miller gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Taggliatelle moves into full guard.
Taggliatelle looking for a sweep. Not yet Taggliatelle, not yet.
Miller sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Taggliatelle's guard.
Andrea Taggliatelle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taggliatelle is trying to maintain the position but Miller is very close to passing his half guard.
Miller looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Taggliatelle with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

It looks like Andrea Taggliatelle has been cut.

Miller stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Taggliatelle to get to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Taggliatelle shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taggliatelle showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Taggliatelle is working away from the top position though.

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

Miller looking for submissions off his back.
Taggliatelle 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.
Miller is looking to improve his position.
Miller tries to kick Taggliatelle off but Taggliatelle keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nice strikes from Taggliatelle there.
Taggliatelle sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Taggliatelle wants to control but Miller is keeping him busy.

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.
Taggliatelle working over Miller with some ground and pound. Miller looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Taggliatelle is keen to just control but Miller is a slippery customer.
Taggliatelle performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Taggliatelle working the head and body with strikes.
Taggliatelle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Miller keeps working.

Taggliatelle is working for a submission of some sort.
Miller missing with punches from the bottom.

Taggliatelle is looking for a kimura but Miller is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Taggliatelle to get the leverage.
Taggliatelle takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Taggliatelle has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Michael Miller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taggliatelle wants to control the pace but Miller is squirming around nicely.

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 Andrea Taggliatelle.
Well Taggliatelle has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrea Taggliatelle!