PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Mir
vs
Miller

190 cm
25
248 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
28
225 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frank Mir!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Miller!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mir.

Miller shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Miller being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Miller got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mir has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Miller has managed to get both his arms back between Mir's legs - danger averted.
Miller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mir is keeping the position for now.

Mir is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Miller wants to stand but Mir has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Mir throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Miller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mir is keeping the position for now.

Mir throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mir working for a triangle but Miller defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller tries to free his leg and advance position but Mir is retaining full guard.
Miller landing with the ground and pound.
Miller postures up.
Miller wanted to stand there but Mir had control of the position.
Miller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mir is keeping the position for now.

Mir is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Miller defends well.
Miller postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mir keeping full guard, as Miller tries to pass.
Miller won't allow Mir to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miller stands up from guard. Let's bang!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mir changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Miller fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Miller closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miller gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Frank Mir has been cut.
Miller lands a left hand.
Miller lands with a left to the head.
Miller lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Miller gets underhooks to prevent Mir's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Mir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mir is breathing heavily.
Miller lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Miller throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mir 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 lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miller breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Miller takes the fight into the clinch.
Miller lands a hook that snaps the head of Mir backwards.

Miller is trying to trip Mir. He has hold of a leg but Mir is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Miller persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Miller slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Miller decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mir will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mir enables Miller to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mir manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mir is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Miller must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Miller gets to his feet - Mir follows without any prompting.
Miller bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mir's head.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mir enables Miller to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mir manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miller drops back looking for a leg! Mir is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mir manages to kick Miller off! Miller jumps back into Mir's guard.

Mir has his foot on Miller's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Miller works his way back into a safe position though.

Miller stands up and waves to Mir to follow him.

Mir gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Miller to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Miller trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Miller pushes down on Mir's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mir is looking to improve his position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Miller has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Miller raining down hammerfists from mount.
Mir wants to hold on but Miller pushes him away.
Mir is looking to improve his position but Miller isn't that keen on the idea.
Miller working the ground and pound effectively.
Mir wants to control but Miller is having none of it.
Miller scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Miller avoids the attempt from Mir to control.

Miller stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Miller darts in and clinches Mir up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miller pushes Mir back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Miller creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mir's defenses.
Miller lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mir backwards.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Miller pulls Mir into guard.
Mir wants to pass the guard but Miller is keeping the position.
Miller managing to control the position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Mir trying to control the position from guard on top but Miller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Miller has taken the fight to the clinch.

Miller lands a takedown into guard.
Miller advances to half guard.
Miller works his way into full mount!
Mir is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Miller connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Miller prevents Mir from getting the reversal.
Miller lands a heavy elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miller lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Miller working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Mir tries to hold on but Miller pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Miller cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mir is trying desperately to improve position.

Miller is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Mir can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Mir is bucking up trying to escape but Miller cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Miller is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Mir to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Mir shrugs it off.
Miller lands with some strikes.

Mir is rocked!
Mir is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mir takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Oh Mir is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Miller working for a guillotine from mount but Mir is in no mood to give up.
Mir is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Miller takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Mir covers up after that shot from Miller.

Miller is cranking Mir's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Mir! He's tightened the choke and Mir is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Matt Miller! Matt Miller retains his heavyweight title!