PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Merle Roman (ranked 7449 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Mills (ranked 4341 p4p, 377 weight class). Brian Mills is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Roman
vs
Mills

210 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
23
229 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Merle Roman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brian Mills!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Wagner Zegers and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mills doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Mills feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mills passes Roman's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mills is controlling the pace.
Roman is positioning himself well to prevent Mills advancing to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mills is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Roman is trying is best to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman manages to get to full guard.
Roman looking to control.
Roman wants to stand up but Mills is controlling him.
Mills wants to stand but Roman has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mills stops Roman from standing up.
Roman is pulling down on Mills's head. It's preventing any offense from Mills, at least for the moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Roman keeping moving, preventing Mills from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Mills darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Roman has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Mills is on him like a limpet, forcing Roman back against the cage.
Mills content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Roman takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mills throws a knee to the head but misses.

Mills manages to pull guard.
Mills avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mills looks winded!

Mills has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Roman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Roman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Roman throwing strikes but missing.
Roman landing with the ground and pound.
Mills has momentary wrist control but Roman slips an elbow through the middle.

Mills had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roman defends it easily.
Roman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Roman landing some decent shots from guard.
Roman postures up and lands a big shot to Mills's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman with a nice head shot there.
Roman throwing strikes from guard but Mills blocks nicely.
Roman is in close to Mills's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Roman with a nice head shot there.
Roman distracts Mills with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Roman stands up and waves to Mills to follow him.
Roman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Roman moves into the clinch.

Mills has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Roman regains guard immediately.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Roman is looking for a triangle but Mills pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merle Roman dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Roman wants to clinch.

Mills is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Roman's half guard.
Roman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mills is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mills is keen to just control but Roman is a slippery customer.

Mills decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Mills scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mills is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Roman wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Roman is trying to control Mills's posture but Mills avoids it.
Roman has one of Mills's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Mills wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roman keeps working.
Roman 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.
Mills in the domination position with Roman hanging on.
Roman seems a little lost for a moment, as Mills dominates the positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Roman prevents Mills from improving position.
Roman stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Merle Roman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Roman wants to control but Mills postures up.
Mills in the domination position with Roman hanging on.
Mills misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Roman controls the position for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mills avoids a kick to the body.

Mills gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman is trying to maintain the position but Mills is very close to passing his half guard.

Roman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Roman desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Mills controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Roman keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Roman wants to control but Mills is keeping busy.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Mills stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Roman to get to his feet.

Mills drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
I wouldn't like to be where Roman is right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Mills showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Roman doesn't manage to clinch there - Mills circles away.

Mills decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Roman is doing well to control the position and prevent Mills from advancing to side control.
Mills looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Roman is trying to control but can't.
Mills tries to stand but can't do so whilst Roman controls his leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roman wants to control but Mills is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mills takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mills circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mills shoots in and gets a takedown into Roman's guard.

Roman pushes Mills off and scrambles back to his feet.
Roman tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Mills is able to avoid easily.

Mills shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mills showed some decent athleticism there.
Roman is trying to maintain the position but Mills is very close to passing his half guard.
Mills trying to control from half guard but Roman is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman moves into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Roman is pulling down on Mills's head. It's preventing any offense from Mills, at least for the moment.
Mills is looking to work some ground and pound but Roman has wrist control.
Roman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mills trying to control the position from guard on top but Roman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roman wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Merle Roman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mills shoots in and bounces Roman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Mills avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Mills stands up from Roman's guard - Mills perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roman moves into range and clinches up with Mills.

Mills successfully pulls guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Roman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roman wants to get up but he can't break Mills's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Roman content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Roman is looking to work some ground and pound but Mills has wrist control.
Mills wants to sweep here but Roman controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roman scoring with punches to the head and body.
Roman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Roman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brian Mills.
I think Mills has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Brian Mills!
Brian Mills tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.