PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Max Schneider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rugg (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.

Schneider
vs
Rugg

172 cm
21
152 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

174 cm
22
139 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Battalion Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Schneider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Rugg!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rugg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Schneider circles away from the clinch attempt.
Schneider misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rugg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rugg throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A big left from Schneider misses.
Schneider shoots in but no luck this time.

Schneider drops Rugg with a beautiful combination! Rugg stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Schneider is looking for the KO!

Rugg is rocked!
Rugg tries to clinch up but Schneider circles away and keeps his distance.
Rugg is still on wobbly legs! Can Schneider finish him?
Rugg tries to clinch but Schneider moves out of range.
Rugg seems to have recovered his senses.
Rugg wants to clinch up but Schneider keeps it at a distance.
Rugg throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Schneider circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rugg tries to clinch but Schneider moves out of range.
Schneider blocks a head kick by Rugg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schneider looks to score with a jab to the body but Rugg is just out of range.
Matt Rugg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rugg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Schneider swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Schneider avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rugg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice defenses there by Rugg.
Rugg steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Schneider.
Rugg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rugg bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Schneider swats away the attempt to clinch by Rugg.
Rugg tries to clinch but Schneider moves out of range.
Rugg tries to close the distance and clinch but Schneider swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Schneider gets cracked there but stands up to it.

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.

Schneider fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rugg sprawls well initially but Schneider persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rugg is staying active underneath Schneider, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Schneider looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Schneider has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Schneider thows a huge punch but Rugg dodges it nicely.
Schneider is looking to take a break and control but Rugg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Schneider thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rugg's head.
Schneider throws a strike but Rugg avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Schneider throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rugg works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Schneider accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Schneider 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.
Schneider distracts Rugg with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Schneider trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rugg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Schneider trying to control but Rugg is working from the bottom.

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.
Schneider content to stall in guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Max Schneider.
Rugg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rugg takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matt Rugg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Schneider swats away the attempt to clinch by Rugg.
Schneider swats away the attempt to clinch by Rugg.
Schneider keeps the fight on the outside.
Rugg wants to clinch up but Schneider keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Schneider changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rugg looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Schneider working the ground and pound.
Schneider takes a little break here. Rugg wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rugg is not content to let Schneider control the position.
Schneider is putting a hurting on Rugg here, landing some big shots from side control.
Schneider landing a few strikes.
Schneider wants to control but Rugg is keeping him busy.
Schneider tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugg taking a bit of punishment here - Schneider scoring with strikes.
Schneider trying to control the position but Rugg is working away.
Sloppy strikes there by Schneider.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Schneider controls the position from side control.
Rugg managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Schneider.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rugg is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Schneider asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Check out the look on Schneider's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Schneider is looking to take a break and control but Rugg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Schneider looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rugg is avoiding damage well.
Schneider looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rugg is avoiding damage well.
Schneider creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rugg sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schneider fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Schneider in side control lands a decent elbow.
Schneider taking a breather here.
Schneider creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rugg sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
You can see the frustration on Rugg's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Schneider tries to advance to mount but Rugg denies him.
Rugg takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rugg takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sloppy strikes there by Schneider.
Schneider misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rugg is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Schneider working the ground and pound but Rugg is defending the strikes.
Schneider scoring with punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schneider tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Rugg defending against the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Schneider dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rugg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Schneider swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rugg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schneider paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rugg clinches up with Schneider and pushes him back against the cage.
Rugg is looking to break free of the clinch but Schneider has double underhooks.
Schneider lands an elbow just above Rugg 's eye.
Schneider misses with an elbow over the top.

Rugg manages to break the clinch.
Rugg tries to clinch but Schneider moves out of range.

Schneider lands a big uppercut and Rugg crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Rugg looks OK. Schneider waves Rugg back to his feet!
Schneider throws a jab when Rugg was well out of range.
Rugg throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Schneider's head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rugg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Schneider throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rugg on the side of the head.
Schneider throws a hook but Rugg blocks it.
Rugg throws a head kick that misses.
Rugg ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schneider cracks Rugg with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rugg tries to clinch there but Schneider circles away.
BOOM! Schneider lands a beautiful left hook that drops Rugg. Rugg tries to recover but Schneider is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Rugg lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Max Schneider!