PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Schultz (ranked 2017 p4p, 4289 weight class) and Marco Rodrigues (ranked 218 p4p, 386 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Schultz
vs
Rodrigues

164 cm
26
150
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
155
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Hells Balls Clothing

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mike Schultz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marco Rodrigues!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodrigues gets caught flat footed, as Schultz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Schultz won't allow Rodrigues to sweep him here.
Rodrigues being controlled here, momentarily.
Schultz connects with a couple of short punches.
Schultz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Schultz has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Schultz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schultz stands up over Rodrigues, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodrigues working a defensive guard here.
Schultz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodrigues swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodrigues really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Schultz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Schultz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Schultz's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rodrigues shoots in for a takedown but Schultz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodrigues fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Schultz swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Schultz gets the takedown into side control.
Schultz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Schultz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rodrigues is looking for a sweep.
Schultz remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Schultz 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.

Schultz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Schultz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rodrigues struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schultz lands some shots froms side control.

Schultz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rodrigues is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
A lull in the action here as Schultz stalls from top position.
Schultz in side control lands a decent elbow.
Rodrigues wants to control but Schultz postures up.
Schultz takes a little break here. Rodrigues wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schultz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rodrigues, who protects the arm well.
Sloppy strikes there by Schultz.

Schultz has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Rodrigues is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Schultz yanks on the arm and Rodrigues is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Schultz.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mike Schultz!