PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lars Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Martino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martino has chosen Bring The Pain as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Miller
vs
Martino

170 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
143 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

Instinct

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lars Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josh Martino!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martino fails in his attempt to clinch.
Martino moves in looking to clinch but Miller pushes him off.

Miller feints and as Martino raises his hands in defense, Miller changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Miller might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Martino is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Miller is controlling him.

Miller decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Some wild striking there from Martino.
Miller attempts a counter takedown but Martino avoids it well and moves away.
Miller closes the distance and clinches up with Martino, looking for a takedown. Miller pushes Martino against the cage but Martino circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Martino pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martino leaves Miller with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller tries for a takedown but Martino sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lars Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miller shoots in for a takedown but Martino shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Martino misses with a leg kick.
Martino lands a nice leg kick that just misses Miller's sensitive parts.
Martino throws a right hand that Miller ducks under and follows up with a left that Miller also avoids with ease.
Miller drops down looking for a counter takedown but Martino sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martino wants to clinch.
Martino is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Miller closes the distance and pushes Martino back into the cage.
Martino lands an elbow inside that Miller shrugs off.
Martino misses with a body punch.
Martino lands a left hand.
Miller effectively controlling the action here.
Martino looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Martino blocks an uppercut.
Miller misses with a knee to the head.
Martino blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Martino creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Miller's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller looking to throw knees to the head but Martino is blocking nicely.
The referee is keeping an eye on Martino - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Martino lands a nice elbow.
Miller is stalling here.
Martino told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Martino trying to land knees to the body.
Martino pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Martino tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Martino tries a body shot but Miller blocks it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Martino lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Martino blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Miller has Martino pushed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martino taking a breather.
Miller lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Miller dodges an elbow strike from Martino.
Miller looking to throw knees to the head but Martino is blocking nicely.
Martino struggles to land a body shot inside as Miller controls his hands.
Miller blocks an elbow strike from Martino.
Miller avoiding damage.
Miller trying to stall but Martino improves his position.
Martino pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Miller looking for a takedown.
Miller is breathing heavily.
Miller is looking to control Martino's arms but Martino gets an underhook and turns him. Now Miller has his back to the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Martino just misses with a elbow thrown towards Miller's brow.
Martino pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Martino trying to control the position but instead, Miller has worked for underhooks and has pushed Martino into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martino tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Miller avoids it.
Martino blocking some punches.
Miller avoiding damage as Martino throws knees to the body.
Martino lands an elbow inside.
Miller pushes off an throws an elbow but Martino leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Miller on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Miller tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Miller stalling the fight.
Miller managing to block the knees to the body from Martino.
Martino lands a damaging elbow.
A left hand lands to the body for Martino.
Martino looking to slow down the pace here.
Miller will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Martino up against the cage.
Martino misses with an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Martino dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Martino plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Miller showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Martino.
An attempted straight right counter from Miller misses the target.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Martino tries to close the distance and clinch but Miller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Martino is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Miller darts in looking for a takedown but Martino gets double underhooks and turns Miller into the cage.
A solid leg kick lands there for Martino.
Miller swats away the attempt to clinch by Martino.
Josh Martino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Miller misses its intended target.
Martino just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miller keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Martino misses with a low kick.
Lars Miller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martino tries to clinch up.
Martino tries to clinch up but Miller circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Martino as he jumps to the side.
Martino tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Miller paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Martino fails with an attempt to clinch.
Miller checks a leg kick.
Martino misses with a head kick.
Martino is breathing heavily.
Miller shoots in for a takedown but Martino shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lars Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martino fails in his attempt to clinch.
Martino lands a really nice looking cross but Miller seems unphased.
Martino fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Miller is out of range.
Martino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Josh Martino seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Miller bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Martino's head.
Martino misses with a low kick.
Martino has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Martino misses with the combination.
Martino thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Martino's waist but Martino gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Miller off to one side.
Miller tries to score a power double leg takedown but Martino sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Miller somewhat.
Martino tries to land a leg kick but Miller saw it coming and moves away.
Josh Martino is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Martino lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Miller has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Miller and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Miller avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Martino ducks right into an uppercut from Miller.
Martino throws a front kick aimed at Miller's knee but Miller avoids it well.
Miller shoots in for a takedown but Martino shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Martino appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Martino closes the distance and pushes Miller back into the cage.
Miller misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Martino.
Miller stalling against the cage.
Martino lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Martino tries to land knees in the clinch but Miller avoids the damage to the body.
Miller stalling against the cage.
Martino is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Miller taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Miller.
Martino lands an elbow inside that Miller shrugs off.
Miller's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Martino throws an elbow but it misses.
Martino throws an elbow but it misses.
Miller with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller looking to throw knees to the head but Martino is blocking nicely.
Martino missing with knees to the body.
Martino pushes off an throws an elbow but Miller leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Miller slowing the pace effectively.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Miller.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Miller just misses with a elbow thrown towards Martino's brow.
Martino pushes off an throws an elbow but Miller leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Miller is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Miller's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Martino lands a damaging elbow.
Martino misses with an elbow strike.
Miller throws a punch but it's blocked by Martino.
Miller trying to stall but Martino improves his position.

Miller pulls Martino into guard.
Martino trying to stand up but can't free himself from Miller's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Martino showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Miller swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Martino misses with a low kick.
Martino with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Miller shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Martino defends it nicely.
Martino fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Miller has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Martino moves in looking to clinch but Miller pushes him off.
Miller has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Martino finds it's way round the side to connect with Miller's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martino throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Miller throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Martino's waist but Martino gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Miller off to one side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Miller manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
An inside leg kick lands from Martino.
A combination from Martino does no damage.
Martino slaps away a takedown attempt from Miller, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lars Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martino throws a series of punches but Miller moves out of range.
Martino lands with a shot to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Martino. No joy for Miller on that attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Miller takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Martino is looking to clinch but Miller is avoiding it.
Martino lands an overhand right.
Miller avoids the head kick by Martino.
Martino fails with an attempt to clinch.
Martino is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Miller misses with a takedown attempt - Martino sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Martino fails with an attempt to clinch.
Martino is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Martino.
A combination from Martino does no damage.

Miller clinches up with Martino and pushes him back against the cage.
Miller blocks an elbow strike.
Miller has Martino pushed against the cage.
Miller tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right hook to the body lands for Martino.
Martino lands a damaging elbow.
Martino throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Miller blocks it with crossed arms.
Miller missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Martino tries a body shot but Miller blocks it.
Miller trying to control the position but instead, Martino has worked for underhooks and has pushed Miller into the cage.
Martino with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martino pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Martino missing with knees to the body.
Martino taking a breather.
Miller controlling the action here for a moment.
Miller tries to land a knee to the head but Martino blocks with his arms.
Miller prevents a body shot from Martino.
Martino trying to land knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Martino - that landed with a thud.
Martino throws an elbow that misses.
Martino is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Josh Martino is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller stalls.
Martino doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Miller tries a knee to the head but Martino blocks it.
Martino scores a nice knee to the body.
Martino pushes off an throws an elbow but Miller leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Martino throws a head punch that misses.
Miller controlling the action here for a moment.
Martino doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Martino tries to work over Miller's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lars Miller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miller using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Martino has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Martino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Martino winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Martino!
An out of breath Josh Martino thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
The defeated Lars Miller had this to say: 'I don't look at it as loosing, i look at it as a learning experience'.