PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Julius Schoonover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Jitsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Schoonover comes to the cage accompanied by Daylight - Matt and Kim. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Schoonover
vs
Jitsu

185 cm
24
195 lbs
13 - 2 - 1

183 cm
25
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

[WAO]MADE IN GERMANY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Julius Schoonover!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sean Jitsu!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shirou Masuda and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schoonover misses with a takedown attempt
and Jitsu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jitsu throws a looping overhand right but Schoonover ducks down to avoid it.
Jitsu misses with a straight left.

Jitsu fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Schoonover to the ground. Jitsu is now in Schoonover's guard.
Jitsu stopping the sweep attempt from Schoonover.
Schoonover wants to hit a switch here but Jitsu passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Schoonover there!
Schoonover is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jitsu manages to capitalize on a mistake by Schoonover to take his back!
Schoonover breaks Jitsu's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Jitsu trying to keep a closed guard but Schoonover is proving a slippery customer.
Schoonover trying to control the position from guard on top but Jitsu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schoonover stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jitsu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jitsu keeping moving, preventing Schoonover from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu keeping full guard, as Schoonover tries to pass.
Jitsu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Schoonover controls the pace.
Jitsu is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Julius Schoonover has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Schoonover drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Schoonover wants to control from the top but Jitsu keeps moving.
Jitsu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Schoonover trying to control but Jitsu is working from the bottom.
Jitsu is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover pushing down on Jitsu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Schoonover scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Schoonover trying to control the action but Jitsu is working from the bottom.
Schoonover seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Schoonover thows a huge punch but Jitsu dodges it nicely.
Schoonover is thwarting Jitsu's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu wants to get back to full guard.

Schoonover is looking for a kimura here.
Schoonover is thwarting Jitsu's attempts to control the position.
Jitsu is looking to improve his position.
Schoonover trying to pass the guard but Jitsu defending well.
Jitsu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Schoonover is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Schoonover wants to work for an arm triangle but Jitsu is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Jitsu trying to control but Schoonover postures up.
Schoonover is trying to control the action in half guard but Jitsu is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jitsu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Jitsu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu keeping full guard, as Schoonover tries to pass.
Jitsu keeping moving, preventing Schoonover from controlling successfully.
Schoonover is really struggling to control Jitsu but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Schoonover got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jitsu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Schoonover has managed to get both his arms back between Jitsu's legs - danger averted.
Schoonover wants to pass the guard but Jitsu is keeping the position.
Schoonover wants to control from the top but Jitsu keeps moving.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Julius Schoonover has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Schoonover scores a takedown into full mount!
Jitsu keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jitsu prevents Schoonover from taking his back.
Schoonover trying to control but Jitsu is having none of it.

Schoonover jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Jitsu is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Jitsu and Schoonover has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Jitsu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jitsu being controlled for a moment.
Schoonover tries to move into full mount but can't pass Jitsu's legs.
Jitsu taking a bit of punishment here - Schoonover scoring with strikes.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Jitsu down.

Schoonover is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jitsu has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Jitsu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Schoonover tries to move into full mount but can't pass Jitsu's legs.
Jitsu gets back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schoonover wants to take a breather but Jitsu is having none of it.
Jitsu is trying to maintain the position but Schoonover is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Schoonover dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

An inside leg kick from Schoonover misses.
Schoonover tries for a takedown but Jitsu circles away easily
and Jitsu counters with a nice uppercut.
Schoonover misses with a head kick.
Jitsu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Schoonover shoots in for a double leg but Jitsu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Schoonover lands with a right hand.
Jitsu looks to throw the jab but Schoonover is out of range.
Schoonover displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jitsu throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schoonover lands with a kick to the temple. Jitsu shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Schoonover ducks under a wild hook from Jitsu.
Schoonover uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jitsu.
Schoonover throws a sloppy head kick and Jitsu moves out of range easily.
Schoonover throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Schoonover shoots in looking for a takedown but Jitsu manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Schoonover's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julius Schoonover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schoonover with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Jitsu counter with a right hand.

Schoonover throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Jitsu was covering up waiting for the punch and Schoonover finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jitsu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jitsu is keeping the position for now.
Jitsu trying to control the position.
Julius Schoonover overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sean Jitsu hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Jitsu stuffs the takedown attempt from Schoonover. Schoonover gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schoonover with a poor takedown

and Jitsu counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Schoonover is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Schoonover working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jitsu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jitsu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jitsu wants to control from the top but Schoonover keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Jitsu preventing the sweep.
Schoonover looking to control but Jitsu passes into half guard.
Schoonover missing with punches from the bottom.

Schoonover is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jitsu pulls his head out easily.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu wants to control but Schoonover is keeping him busy.

Schoonover is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jitsu pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Schoonover manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Jitsu stopping the sweep attempt from Schoonover.

Schoonover has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Jitsu is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Schoonover.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Schoonover!
Schoonover is working to get back to half guard.
Schoonover tries to lock up and control but Jitsu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu trying to control but Schoonover is having none of it.
Schoonover gets back to half guard.
Schoonover is looking to control Jitsu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Schoonover avoid being mounted?
Schoonover is trying to get back to full guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu trying to control the action but Schoonover is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sean Jitsu.
Jitsu connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Schoonover misses with a head kick.
Jitsu dives in and grabs Schoonover's left leg, looking for a takedown. Schoonover pushes down on Jitsu's head and hops out.
Nice takedown defense from Jitsu. No joy for Schoonover on that attempt.
Sean Jitsu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Schoonover shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Jitsu moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Jitsu looking for a guillotine here but Schoonover defends easily.
Jitsu keeping moving, preventing Schoonover from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jitsu pulls Schoonover in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sean Jitsu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Schoonover looks for a takedown but Jitsu sprawls well.
Jitsu misses with a looping left.

Schoonover closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Jitsu wants to improve his position but Schoonover is controlling well.
Jitsu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Jitsu keeping moving, preventing Schoonover from controlling successfully.
Schoonover trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schoonover slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Jitsu trying to control the position.
Jitsu looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Jitsu keeping full guard, as Schoonover tries to pass.

Julius Schoonover has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Schoonover throws a body punch but Jitsu moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover throws a nice head kick!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jitsu.
Schoonover shoots and misses
and Jitsu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Schoonover tries a head kick but it misses.
Schoonover tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jitsu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jitsu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Schoonover wants to clinch up but Jitsu keeps it at a distance.
Schoonover bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Schoonover gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Schoonover is working away from the top position though.

Schoonover is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jitsu defends it well.
Jitsu wants to control but Schoonover is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Schoonover is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Schoonover sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jitsu defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schoonover is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jitsu sees it coming and defends easily.
Jitsu wants to improve his position but Schoonover is controlling well.

Schoonover is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Jitsu holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Schoonover is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Jitsu holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover wants to control but Jitsu is keeping him busy.
Jitsu wants to control but Schoonover is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Schoonover wants to pass to mount but Jitsu is defending the position.
Jitsu works his way to full guard. Good work.
Schoonover wants to control from the top but Jitsu keeps moving.

Jitsu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Schoonover is aware though and is defending well.
Jitsu is trying to control the position but Schoonover postures up.
Jitsu keeping moving, preventing Schoonover from controlling successfully.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Julius Schoonover.
Jitsu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jitsu wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julius Schoonover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schoonover looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jitsu is fending him off so far but Schoonover persists. Nope, Jitsu circles away and we're back to standing.
Jitsu might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Schoonover plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A punch combination from Jitsu misses.

Schoonover shoots in and gets a takedown into Jitsu's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Jitsu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jitsu has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu looking to control.
Schoonover slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jitsu tries to bench press Schoonover off him but Schoonover keeps the position.

Schoonover tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Schoonover has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Schoonover in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu is trying to control Schoonover's posture but Schoonover avoids it.
Jitsu gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Schoonover wants to control the pace but Jitsu is squirming around nicely.
Jitsu is looking to get to half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Jitsu manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Jitsu is trying to control but can't.
Schoonover frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Jitsu is squirming around, avoiding Schoonover's attempts to control the action.
Jitsu tries to reverse the position but Schoonover maintains control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jitsu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julius Schoonover showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Schoonover 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight for Julius Schoonover!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Julius Schoonover!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Julius Schoonover!

Julius Schoonover wins by unanimous decision!
Julius Schoonover retains his middleweight title!