PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gibson Rickenbacker v.2 (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Schone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 2 and Jeff Schone. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rickenbacker v.2
vs
Schone

175 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gibson Rickenbacker v.2!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jeff Schone!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rickenbacker v.2 gets caught flat footed, as Schone shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Schone is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rickenbacker v.2 trying to keep a closed guard but Schone is proving a slippery customer.

Rickenbacker v.2 looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rickenbacker v.2 is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Schone slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jeff Schone wasn't active enough on the ground.
Schone lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schone shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rickenbacker v.2's guard.
Schone is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rickenbacker v.2 is trying to keep Schone in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jeff Schone.
Schone avoids the head kick by Rickenbacker v.2.

Schone decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Schone content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rickenbacker v.2 wants to improve his position but Schone is controlling well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rickenbacker v.2 wants to control but Schone is keeping busy.
Well, if Schone is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jeff Schone.
Rickenbacker v.2 misses with a takedown

and Schone counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rickenbacker v.2 is trying to get back to full guard.
Schone slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schone is working for a submission of some sort.
Schone working over Rickenbacker v.2 with some ground and pound. Rickenbacker v.2 looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Schone performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like Schone might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rickenbacker v.2 wants to get back to full guard.

Schone is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Schone content to control rather than advance.

Jeff Schone has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Schone shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rickenbacker v.2 has a hand on Schone's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Schone takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Schone dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rickenbacker v.2 lands a head kick!

Schone dives in and scores a takedown into Rickenbacker v.2's guard.
Schone content to stall in guard here.
Schone's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Jeff Schone has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Schone closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rickenbacker v.2 to the mat! Rickenbacker v.2 manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rickenbacker v.2 had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Schone defends it easily.
Schone slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Schone trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rickenbacker v.2 being controlled here, momentarily.
Rickenbacker v.2 is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Rickenbacker v.2 escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Schone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schone is working Rickenbacker v.2 over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Schone content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jeff Schone was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Schone doesn't manage to clinch there - Rickenbacker v.2 circles away.
Rickenbacker v.2 throws a head kick but Schone moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schone looking to score a takedown here. Rickenbacker v.2 is defending well but Schone drives through and ends up in Rickenbacker v.2's guard.
Rickenbacker v.2 is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Rickenbacker v.2 escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Schone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Schone slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Schone stands and steps away. Rickenbacker v.2 gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Schone dives in and grabs Rickenbacker v.2's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rickenbacker v.2 pushes down on Schone's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schone moves out of range as Rickenbacker v.2 strikes.
Schone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rickenbacker v.2 pinned against the cage. Rickenbacker v.2 gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Schone shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rickenbacker v.2 is trying to defend but Schone finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rickenbacker v.2 trying to hold on to Schone's head to control him but Schone postures up.
Schone controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rickenbacker v.2 is looking to improve his position.

Schone is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rickenbacker v.2 is just riding it out for now. Schone eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Schone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Schone shoots for a double leg takedown but Rickenbacker v.2 sprawls well. He's pushed Schone's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Schone avoids the head kick by Rickenbacker v.2.
Rickenbacker v.2 throws a head kick but Schone moves out of range.
Rickenbacker v.2 shoots in and drives through. Schone sprawls well.
Jeff Schone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Schone fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rickenbacker v.2 sprawls well initially but Schone persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Schone works his way into full mount!
Schone sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schone avoids the attempt from Rickenbacker v.2 to control.
Jeff Schone has got the better of the ground game so far.

Schone stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Schone drives through with a takedown into Rickenbacker v.2's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Schone not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rickenbacker v.2 not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jeff Schone wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rickenbacker v.2 throws a sloppy head kick and Schone moves out of range easily.
Gibson Rickenbacker v.2 seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rickenbacker v.2 pinned against the cage. Rickenbacker v.2 gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rickenbacker v.2 tries to clinch but Schone moves out of range.
Schone fails with the takedown.
Gibson Rickenbacker v.2 has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Schone.
Schone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rickenbacker v.2 pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Schone shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rickenbacker v.2 as he jumps to the side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rickenbacker v.2 misses with a head kick.
Gibson Rickenbacker v.2 has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rickenbacker v.2 connects with a solid leg kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Schone.
Rickenbacker v.2 is trying to buck Schone off.
Schone working away.
Rickenbacker v.2 is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Schone has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rickenbacker v.2 looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rickenbacker v.2 gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schone stays in close to Rickenbacker v.2's body and controls the position.
Jeff Schone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Rickenbacker v.2 looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rickenbacker v.2 controls Schone momentarily but Schone frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schone sitting in guard here, content to control.
Schone has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jeff Schone wasn't active enough on the ground.
Schone avoids the head kick by Rickenbacker v.2.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Schone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Schone has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Schone!