PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tai Kina (ranked 2965 p4p, 2129 weight class) and Grip Schnieder (ranked 370 p4p, 284 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Kina
vs
Schnieder

191 cm
22
193
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
195
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tai Kina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Grip Schnieder!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kina connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kina shoots in but Schnieder avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Kina darts in and clinches Schnieder up against the cage.
Schnieder has Kina pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kina manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Schnieder is trying to break the clinch but Kina is controlling him.
Schnieder tries for a takedown. No joy.

Kina gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kina wants to pass to mount but Schnieder is defending the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Schnieder manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Schnieder trying to control the position.
Schnieder manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kina manages to get himself to full guard.

Kina working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schnieder is fighting to break Kina's control of his arms but Kina is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Schnieder throwing strikes from guard but Kina blocks nicely.
Kina is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Schnieder is looking to work some ground and pound but Kina has wrist control.
Kina seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Schnieder trying to control the position from guard on top but Kina is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kina seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kina bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Schnieder's guard.

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.
Kina loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kina throws a big elbow that misses.
Kina stopping the sweep attempt from Schnieder.
Kina not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Schnieder looking for a sweep. Not yet Schnieder, not yet.
Kina is pushing down on Schnieder's leg trying to pass to half guard. Schnieder is fighting to maintain full guard but Kina has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kina throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Schnieder tries to roll over but Kina keeps him under control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kina working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kina is controlling the pace.
Kina prevents Schnieder from improving his position.
Schnieder felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kina is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Schnieder sees it coming and defends easily.
Kina prevents Schnieder from improving his position.
Kina not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kina definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Schnieder taking some punishment here, with Kina in his half guard.
Kina looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Schnieder keeping control of the position.
Schnieder wants to get back to his feet.
Schnieder tries to get to full guard but Kina has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kina is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kina wants to lay and pray for a moment but Schnieder keeps working.
The fighters are battling for position here. Schnieder manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kina content to stall in guard here.
Kina postures up in Schnieder's guard and throws a big left but Schnieder blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kina trying to control the position from guard on top but Schnieder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kina tries to free his leg and advance position but Schnieder is retaining full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tai Kina dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Schnieder misses with a takedown
enabling Kina to counter with a crisp jab.
Kina scoring well with a low kick there.

Kina bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kina scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Schnieder to see if he's OK.

Kina is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Schnieder is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Schnieder is trying to control Kina's posture but Kina avoids it.
Kina working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Schnieder is looking to regain half guard here but Kina keeps moving and retains side control.
Schnieder prevents Kina from moving into mount.
Schnieder takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Kina is looking to take a break and control but Schnieder is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kina looks up at the clock and then as Schnieder takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kina smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Schnieder sneaks back into half guard.
Schnieder is looking to improve his position.
Kina lands strikes from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kina connects with a nice short shot to Schnieder's temple.

Kina seems to be looking for submissions.
Kina trying to control the action but Schnieder is working from the bottom.
Kina seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kina uses his free foot to push down on Schnieder's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Schnieder.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schnieder is trying to escape the mount.
Kina looking to control but Schnieder is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Schnieder is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kina postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Schnieder looks a forlorn figure.
Schnieder bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Schnieder is breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kina is on top in guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kina wants to control from the top but Schnieder keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kina wants to pass the guard but Schnieder is keeping the position.
Kina looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Schnieder seems keen to control Kina's posture.
Schnieder trying to keep a closed guard but Kina is proving a slippery customer.
Kina trying to control the position from guard on top but Schnieder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schnieder keeping full guard, as Kina tries to pass.
Kina landing with the ground and pound.

That's four 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.

Schnieder looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Schnieder utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kina is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Schnieder can do to turn this around?
Kina trying to stand up but can't free himself from Schnieder's guard.
Kina slips nicely into half guard.
Kina looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kina is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Schnieder!
Schnieder wants to control but Kina is having none of it.
Kina lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tai Kina dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Schnieder slaps away a takedown attempt from Kina, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Schnieder has his takedown stuffed
and Kina counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

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

Kina kicks Schnieder off and gets back to his feet.
Kina dives in and grabs Schnieder's left leg, looking for a takedown. Schnieder pushes down on Kina's head and hops out.

Schnieder looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kina has momentary wrist control but Schnieder slips an elbow through the middle.
Schnieder won't allow Kina to sweep him here.
Kina wants to get back to his feet but Schnieder is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schnieder trying to control the position from guard on top but Kina is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kina has control of Schnieder's left arm, preventing Schnieder from doing any damage.

Kina is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kina looking for a sweep. Not yet Kina, not yet.
Kina keeping moving, preventing Schnieder from controlling successfully.
Kina has Schnieder pulled in close to control his posture.
Kina wants to stand and escape but Schnieder is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

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.

Kina closes the distance and clinches.

Schnieder is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kina is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Schnieder to the mat. Schnieder regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Schnieder lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Schnieder controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kina looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kina is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kina keeping moving, preventing Schnieder from controlling successfully.
Schnieder loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schnieder trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Schnieder distracts Kina with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kina is trying to control the position but Schnieder postures up.
Kina has Schnieder pulled in close to control his posture.
Schnieder working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kina's head.
Schnieder postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kina has control of Schnieder's left arm, preventing Schnieder from doing any damage.
Schnieder distracts Kina with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kina trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Tai Kina overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kina has his foot on Schnieder's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Schnieder works his way back into a safe position though.
Schnieder trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A punch combination from Kina misses.
Schnieder is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Schnieder is defended easily by Kina.

Kina shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Schnieder manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Schnieder working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kina doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kina manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Grip Schnieder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tai Kina is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kina content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tai Kina showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kina has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tai Kina!
An out of breath Tai Kina thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.