PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cenai Cukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morne Schmidt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Cukko
vs
Schmidt

190 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

195 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Malicious Intent Fight Gear - Everything 15$

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cenai Cukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Morne Schmidt!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Cukko. Schmidt does a little dance to reset his feet.

Schmidt rushes Cukko and presses him up against the cage.
Schmidt lands a body shot.

Schmidt pulls guard.
Cukko throwing strikes but missing.
Cukko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Schmidt trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cukko wants to get up but he can't break Schmidt's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cukko is looking to work some ground and pound but Schmidt has wrist control.
Cukko wants to get up but he can't break Schmidt's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Schmidt controlling the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cukko scores with a one two! Schmidt had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Cukko takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Cenai Cukko has been cut.
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!
A combination from Cukko does no damage.
Cukko slaps away a takedown attempt from Schmidt, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmidt fails with the takedown.
Cukko stuffs the takedown.
Cenai Cukko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Morne Schmidt.
Cukko throws a nice looking combination but Schmidt bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Cukko gets the takedown into side control.
Schmidt is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Schmidt is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cukko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Schmidt trying to control here.

Cukko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cukko is breathing heavily.
Schmidt is pressing down on Cukko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Schmidt can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt is adopting a defensive guard.
Cukko trying to control but Schmidt is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cukko won't allow Schmidt to get back to his feet.
Schmidt trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Schmidt holds on and takes a little breather.

Schmidt working for a triangle but Cukko defends it easily.
Cukko preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Schmidt closes the distance and clinches.
Schmidt presses Cukko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Schmidt lands a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Schmidt slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cukko looking to control but Schmidt passes into half guard.
Schmidt is looking to advance position but Cukko won't allow it.

Schmidt seems to be looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schmidt content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morne Schmidt dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cenai Cukko's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Schmidt has managed to clinch.
Schmidt wants a takedown.

Schmidt breaks the clinch.
Schmidt doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cukko misses with a wild combination.
Cukko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Schmidt circles away quickly and effectively.
Schmidt shoots in and drives through. Cukko sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from Cukko. No joy for Schmidt on that attempt.
Cenai Cukko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Morne Schmidt.

Schmidt moves into the clinch successfully.
Cukko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Schmidt walks away with a smile on his face. Cukko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Schmidt shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cukko misses with an uppercut.
Cukko avoids the head kick by Schmidt.
Schmidt is breathing heavily.
Cukko lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cukko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cukko swinging wildly here.
Cukko throws a body kick that misses.
Cukko throws a right and a left that Schmidt avoids nicely.
Cenai Cukko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cukko throws a right and a left that Schmidt avoids nicely.

Schmidt closes the distance and pushes Cukko back into the cage.
Cukko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Schmidt drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cukko pulls his leg out and moves away.

Schmidt looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cukko controls Schmidt momentarily but Schmidt frees himself.
Schmidt with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cukko is working an open guard so Schmidt takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Schmidt shoots in looking for a takedown. Cukko tries to sprawl out of it but Schmidt keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cukko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Schmidt shoots in and drives through. Cukko sprawls well.
Schmidt closes the distance and clinches up with Cukko, looking for a takedown. Schmidt pushes Cukko against the cage but Cukko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Schmidt gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Schmidt goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cukko prevents it.
Schmidt lands a body punch in the clinch.
Schmidt tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Schmidt has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cukko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Schmidt tries to pull guard but Cukko won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schmidt has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cukko uses from the top position.
Cukko works over Schmidt with some ground and pound from guard.
Schmidt trying to keep a closed guard but Cukko is proving a slippery customer.
Cukko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Schmidt wants to sweep here but Cukko controlling him for the moment.
Cukko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Schmidt pulls Cukko in close to prevent any damage.
Cukko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Schmidt pulls Cukko in close to prevent any damage.
Schmidt wants to stand and escape but Cukko is having none of it.
Schmidt is adopting a defensive guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schmidt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Schmidt seems to be working for a kimura but Cukko defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Morne Schmidt will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Cenai Cukko's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Schmidt shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cukko pinned against the cage. Cukko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Schmidt is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cukko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cukko is working for takedown but Schmidt is calmly controlling the position for now.
Schmidt has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cukko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schmidt presses Cukko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Schmidt'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.

Schmidt successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmidt wants to hit a switch here but Cukko passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Schmidt there!
Schmidt is trying desperately to improve position.

Cukko jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Schmidt manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Cukko trying to control the position but Schmidt is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cukko tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Schmidt can't do much from the bottom here.
Cukko working the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Schmidt looks for a takedown but Cukko sprawls well.
Cenai Cukko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Morne Schmidt.

Schmidt closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cukko did well to prevent Schmidt getting side control.
Schmidt perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Schmidt prevents Cukko from improving his position.
Schmidt is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cenai Cukko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cukko looking for submissions off his back.
Schmidt controlling the action here.

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.
Cukko is trying to control but can't.

Schmidt decides to return to a standing position.
Schmidt throws a head kick but Cukko moves out of range.

Schmidt moves into the clinch.

Schmidt drags the fight down to the ground.

Schmidt is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cukko defends well.
Morne Schmidt has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schmidt has a closed guard, preventing Cukko from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morne Schmidt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Schmidt 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Morne Schmidt!