PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexandre Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Schulz (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.

Almeida
vs
Schulz

181 cm
26
141 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

150 cm
26
130 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

CEC Nutrition Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexandre Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dan Schulz!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almeida fails with the takedown

and Schulz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Almeida won't be happy with that.
Schulz trying to control the action but Almeida is working from the bottom.
Schulz tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Schulz throws an elbow but Almeida slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida is trying to control Schulz's posture but Schulz avoids it.
Schulz trying to control the position but Almeida is working away.
Schulz wants to stand but Almeida is controlling his arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida is looking to regain half guard here but Schulz keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Almeida prevents Schulz from moving into mount.
Schulz landing a few strikes.
Almeida looking for a sweep but Schulz has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Almeida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Schulz trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida wants to control but Schulz is having none of it.
Schulz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Almeida is looking to escape.
Almeida slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Almeida tries to roll over but Schulz keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schulz trying to control from half guard but Almeida is working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dan Schulz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Schulz leaves Almeida with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Schulz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Almeida is defended easily by Schulz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandre Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Almeida is trying hard to land a takedown here. Schulz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Almeida shoots in for a takedown but Schulz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Alexandre Almeida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Almeida doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Schulz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Almeida fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Almeida tests Schulz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Almeida throws a big shot that misses.

Almeida fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Schulz sprawls well initially but Almeida persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Schulz desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Almeida passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Schulz!

Almeida is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Schulz has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Schulz!
Schulz trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida pulls Schulz in to control the position.
Almeida will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Schulz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Schulz wants to get up but he can't break Almeida's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Schulz is fighting to break Almeida's control of his arms but Almeida is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alexandre Almeida.
Almeida with a lazy takedown attempt

and Schulz moves into the clinch.
Almeida drops down looking for an ankle pick but Schulz pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandre Almeida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Almeida fails with a takedown attempt.
Schulz should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Almeida misses with a takedown attempt

and Schulz counters with a takedown into side control.
Schulz wants to stand but Almeida is controlling his arm.
Almeida tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Schulz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schulz wants to control for a moment but Almeida uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Almeida is trying to get back to full guard.
Schulz is trying to control the action in half guard but Almeida is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Almeida controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Almeida really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dan Schulz was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Almeida shoots for a double leg takedown but Schulz sprawls well. He's pushed Almeida's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida with a lazy takedown attempt
and Schulz counters with a slapping leg kick.
Almeida misses with a looping right.
Almeida fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Almeida fails with the takedown

and Schulz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Schulz.

Schulz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A slow jab from Almeida misses its intended target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almeida throws a right hand that misses
and Schulz counters with a slapping leg kick.
Schulz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Almeida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dan Schulz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Almeida swings widly with a right hand

and Schulz counters with a shoot takedown. Almeida fights it but they end up in guard.
Schulz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Schulz from controlling successfully.
Almeida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Schulz is one step ahead there.
Schulz lands a couple of digs.
Schulz wants to stand but Almeida has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schulz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Almeida is keeping the position for now.
Schulz looking to sit in guard and control but Almeida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Almeida wants to control from the top but Schulz keeps moving.
Almeida tries to free his leg and advance position but Schulz is retaining full guard.
Schulz is trying to control the position but Almeida postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida controls from within his opponent's guard.
Schulz controls Almeida momentarily but Almeida frees himself.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dan Schulz wasn't active enough on the ground.
Almeida uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Schulz has time to react.
Almeida lands the left hand.
Almeida's jab looks to have found its range, popping Schulz under the eye.

It looks like Dan Schulz has been cut.

Almeida looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Schulz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almeida tries to free his leg and advance position but Schulz is retaining full guard.

Schulz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Almeida is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Schulz's head.
Almeida engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Almeida trying to control but Schulz is working from the bottom.
Almeida is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Almeida thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Almeida throwing strikes but missing.

Almeida has gone for a leg lock! Schulz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Almeida's guard.
Schulz trying to control but Almeida is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schulz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dan Schulz wasn't active enough on the ground.
Almeida throws out a loose jab but Schulz uses good head movement to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almeida shoots for a takedown but Schulz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Alexandre Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dan Schulz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Almeida gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Schulz counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alexandre Almeida.
I think Schulz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Schulz!