PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bartlomiej Bartnicki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Miranda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bartnicki
vs
Miranda

185 cm
25
245 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

193 cm
28
224 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Bartlomiej Bartnicki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Miranda!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bartnicki gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Miranda to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bartnicki looking to control.
Miranda trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartnicki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miranda throws a big right hand that misses.
Miranda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Miranda thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Bartnicki is looking for a triangle but Miranda pushes his legs off easily.
Bartnicki looking to control but Miranda passes into half guard.

Miranda is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bartnicki wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartnicki misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Bartnicki is defending against the submission attempts here by Miranda.
Bartnicki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bartnicki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Miranda on the ground.
Miranda is keen to just control but Bartnicki is a slippery customer.
Miranda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Miranda takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bartnicki is trying to get back to full guard.
Bartnicki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bartnicki.
Miranda trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartnicki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bartnicki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Miranda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bartnicki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bartnicki on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bartnicki tries to get out of the position.
Bartnicki working a defensive guard here.
Miranda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bartnicki tries to strike from the bottom.
Bartnicki lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Miranda!

Bartnicki working for a submission but Miranda is keeping him at bay.
Miranda is trying to stand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bartnicki tries to control but Miranda wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartnicki wants to control but Miranda has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

Bartnicki is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Miranda has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bartnicki thows a huge punch but Miranda dodges it nicely.
Bartnicki prevents Miranda from standing back up.
Bartnicki wants to take a breather but Miranda is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miranda gets full guard.

Bartnicki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Miranda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bartnicki has managed to get both his arms back between Miranda's legs - danger averted.
Miranda looks winded!
Miranda wants to get back to his feet but Bartnicki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bartnicki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Miranda looking for a sweep. Not yet Miranda, not yet.
Miranda keeping moving, preventing Bartnicki from controlling successfully.

Miranda looking for a guillotine here but Bartnicki defends easily.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bartnicki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miranda is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Miranda dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Miranda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bartnicki.
Miranda stuffs the takedown attempt from Bartnicki. Bartnicki gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Miranda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miranda misses with the combination.

Bartnicki shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Bartnicki was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Miranda is not content to let Bartnicki control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bartnicki working the ground and pound.
Bartnicki trying to control the position but Miranda is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Bartnicki goes for an armbar but Miranda turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Miranda.
Bartnicki can't keep his opponent in guard - Miranda advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bartnicki is staying active underneath Miranda, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bartnicki is in trouble now - Miranda has advanced to mount!
Bartnicki wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Miranda.
Bartnicki really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda looking to ground and pound but Bartnicki is blocking nicely.
Bartnicki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bartnicki is squirming around, avoiding Miranda's attempts to control the action.

Miranda swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Bartnicki is now in Miranda's guard. A big mistake from Miranda there, giving up the dominant position!
Bartnicki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rafael Miranda has got the better of the ground game so far.

Miranda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Miranda is breathing heavily.
Bartnicki trying to control the position from guard on top but Miranda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bartnicki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bartnicki trying to control but Miranda is working from the bottom.
Bartnicki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Miranda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bartnicki defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bartnicki postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Miranda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Miranda enables Bartnicki to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Miranda manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bartnicki is working Miranda over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bartnicki throwing strikes but missing.

Miranda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bartnicki is aware though and is defending well.
Bartnicki trying to control but Miranda is working from the bottom.

Miranda is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bartnicki trying to control but Miranda is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartnicki tries to free his leg and advance position but Miranda is retaining full guard.
Bartnicki won't allow Miranda to sweep him here.
Miranda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bartnicki wants to control from the top but Miranda keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bartlomiej Bartnicki wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Bartnicki shoots in for a double leg but Miranda sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Miranda misses with a takedown attempt

and Bartnicki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Miranda's guard.

Miranda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bartnicki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bartnicki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartnicki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bartnicki trying to control the action but Miranda is working from the bottom.

Bartnicki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Miranda, who protects the arm well.
Miranda is looking to reverse the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bartnicki controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartnicki trying to control the position but Miranda is working away.

Bartnicki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Bartnicki goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Miranda has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bartnicki but great work by Miranda.
Bartnicki is trying to control Miranda's posture but Miranda avoids it.
Bartnicki tries to buck Miranda off but Miranda is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Miranda looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Miranda working away.
Bartnicki is not content to let Miranda control the position.
Bartnicki tries to buck Miranda off but Miranda is having none of it.

Miranda is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bartnicki has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Miranda tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Miranda has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

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 Bartlomiej Bartnicki.
Well Miranda has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rafael Miranda!