PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Souta Itou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souta Itou looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Itou
vs
Miller

170 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Souta Itou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Josh Miller!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Miller looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Itou has Miller up against the cage in a clinch.
Itou looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Itou breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Itou throws a sloppy head kick and Miller moves out of range easily.
Itou tries a head kick but it misses.
Miller looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Miller shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Itou defends it nicely.
Miller tries to clinch up.

Itou moves into the clinch.

Itou's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itou slaps away a takedown attempt from Miller, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Souta Itou has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Miller.
Miller tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Itou moves into the clinch.
Miller tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Itou breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Itou misses with a head kick.
Itou stuffs the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Miller or perhaps it was just good defense by Itou which made him look bad.

Itou looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Miller!
Itou sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Miller holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Itou tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Itou lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Itou is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Miller is surviving well by controlling Itou's body position as best he can.
Itou sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itou unloads with some shots from mount but Miller bucks and avoids them well.

Itou is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Miller has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Miller tries to lock up and control but Itou gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Itou misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Miller really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Itou. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Itou looking to ground and pound but Miller is blocking nicely.

Itou stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Miller.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itou thuds his shin into the meat of Miller's side.
Miller looks winded!
Miller fails with a takedown attempt.
Miller tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Itou manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Itou shoots for a takedown but Miller saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Miller shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Itou but Itou pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Miller shoots in looking for a takedown but Itou manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Miller's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Itou moves into the clinch.

Itou pulls guard effortlessly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Souta Itou dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Itou fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Miller avoids it really well and circles away.
Miller misses with a takedown attempt - Itou sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Itou shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Miller manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Miller looking to control.
Itou content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Itou pushes down on Miller's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Itou performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Itou moves into full mount! Miller won't be happy about that!
Miller wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Itou.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Itou stands up from mount. Strange move.
Miller ducks under a wild hook from Itou.
Itou looks for a takedown but Miller sprawls well.
A head kick by Miller misses

and Itou moves into the clinch.
Itou tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Souta Itou. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Miller is looking to control Itou's arms but Itou gets an underhook and turns him. Now Miller has his back to the cage.
Itou is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Miller to keep the fight standing.
Miller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Itou avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Itou gets control of Miller's arms and successfully pulls guard. Itou will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miller connects with a couple of short punches.
Miller wants to control from the top but Itou keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itou seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Itou keeping full guard, as Miller tries to pass.
Miller trying to control the position from guard on top but Itou is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Itou managing to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Miller is looking to clinch but Itou is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itou throws a head kick that Miller semi-blocks.
Miller fails to land the takedown.

Itou clinches up against the cage.
Itou is looking for a takedown.
Itou fails to pull guard.

Miller jumps guard and drags Itou to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Itou decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miller looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Itou is fending him off so far but Miller persists. Nope, Itou circles away and we're back to standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Miller misses with an attempted mid kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Souta Itou dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Miller keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Itou shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Miller is trying to defend but Itou finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Itou decides to return to a standing position.
Itou fails in his attempt to clinch.
Itou throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Miller's head.
Miller throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Itou on the side of the head.
Miller changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Itou tries to avoid it but Miller manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Itou to the ground. Itou escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Itou leaves Miller with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Miller tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Itou swivels and escapes.
Souta Itou has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Miller.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itou lands a head kick. Miller smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Miller shoots in but Itou avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Itou.
Itou shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Miller defends it nicely.
Miller stuffs the takedown.
Nice body punch from Miller.
Miller fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller tries to close the distance and clinch but Itou swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Miller throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Itou circles away from the clinch attempt

and Itou counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Miller wants to control but Itou passes easily into half guard.
Itou uses his free foot to push down on Miller's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Miller.
Souta Itou overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Itou moves to take his opponent's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Itou has got one arm under Miller's chin. This could be trouble... Miller trying to control the other hand but Itou gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Miller has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Souta Itou!