PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tony Kazarian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romano Schoots (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazarian kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Limp Bizkit - My Way. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kazarian
vs
Schoots

165 cm
34
146 lbs
26 - 9 - 1

180 cm
33
155 lbs
27 - 19 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Merciless Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Tony Kazarian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Romano Schoots!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schoots throws the left hand but Kazarian avoids the punch easily.
Kazarian slips a straight right by Schoots.
Nice shot lands for Schoots.
Kazarian blocks a low kick nicely.
Schoots throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Romano Schoots seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left lands for Schoots.
Kazarian changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Schoots tries to avoid it but Kazarian manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Schoots to the ground. Schoots escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Schoots pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Schoots tries to clinch up.
Schoots lands a head kick!
Kazarian walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Schoots lands a really nice looking cross but Kazarian seems unphased.
Kazarian has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Steel Penn Icon Training Grounds in the buildup to the fight.
Schoots throws out a loose jab but Kazarian uses good head movement to avoid it.

Kazarian gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Schoots is not content to let Kazarian control the position.
Schoots is pressing down on Kazarian's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kazarian throwing strikes from guard but Schoots blocks nicely.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Schoots holds on and takes a little breather.
Kazarian throws a big elbow that misses.
Kazarian looking to sit in guard and control but Schoots gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Schoots must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kazarian will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schoots trying to control but Kazarian is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Romano Schoots has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Jab by Schoots.
Schoots wants to land a leg kick but Kazarian is out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Schoots. No joy for Kazarian on that attempt.
Kazarian circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Schoots. No joy for Kazarian on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Kazarian. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schoots lands a jab to the head.
Schoots pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kazarian is out of range and Schoots settles back down.

Schoots gets caught flat footed, as Kazarian shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Schoots utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kazarian throws a strike but Schoots rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kazarian keeping full guard, as Schoots tries to pass.
Kazarian is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Schoots keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kazarian thows a huge punch but Schoots dodges it nicely.
Kazarian missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Schoots trying to control here.
Schoots holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schoots is staying active underneath Kazarian, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kazarian throwing shots but Schoots is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Romano Schoots will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kazarian walks into a straight right hand from Schoots.
Kazarian takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Schoots throws a body punch but Kazarian moves out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Kazarian checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Kazarian gets tackled into the cage by Schoots. Schoots maintains the clinch.
Kazarian is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Schoots pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Schoots stops a takedown attempt from Kazarian.
Kazarian is working for takedown but Schoots is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Kazarian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kazarian tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A short uppercut from Schoots.
Schoots throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kazarians head.
Schoots scores with a shoulder strike.
Schoots manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kazarian fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Schoots scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schoots is struggling to control the position.
Kazarian tries for a takedown but Schoots manages to get underhooks.

Kazarian is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Schoots can't fight it off and eventually Kazarian manages to take the fight to the floor. Schoots looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Schoots trying to control the position here.
Kazarian throws a big right hand that misses.
Kazarian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian is looking to work some ground and pound but Schoots has wrist control.
Schoots is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kazarian is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Schoots wants to control but Kazarian is keeping him busy.

Kazarian looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kazarian tries to roll over but Schoots keeps him under control.
Tony Kazarian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazarian is working hard here to advance position.
Schoots is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Romano Schoots was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Schoots throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Schoots is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kazarian ducks under a wild hook from Schoots.
Nice defenses there by Kazarian.
Schoots looks to land a right hand but Kazarian moved out of range.
A left lands for Schoots.
Schoots bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The fighters circling - Schoots throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Schoots ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kazarian moves away.
Schoots misses with an uppercut
and Kazarian counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kazarian stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Schoots.
Schoots throws a solid leg kick but Kazarian takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Schoots.
Schoots uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kazarian has time to react.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romano Schoots showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Schoots tries to clinch but Kazarian moves out of range.
Schoots tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kazarian manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kazarian blocks a head kick by Schoots.
Kazarian moves away from the strike by Schoots.
Schoots tries to bum rush Kazarian with a series of wild strikes but Kazarian uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kazarian swings for the body but Schoots moves out of range.
Schoots throws a lazy right hand but Kazarian sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kazarian throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Schoots throws a right hand that misses

and Kazarian counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Schoots!
Schoots is trying to get back to half guard.
Kazarian throwing strikes but Schoots manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Kazarian holds on to Schoots's head and controls the position momentarily.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Schoots working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazarian wants to control but Schoots postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Schoots controlling from side mount.
Kazarian is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schoots taking a breather here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tony Kazarian.
Schoots throws the left hand but Kazarian avoids the punch easily.
Kazarian keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schoots drives through and clinches with Kazarian against the cage.
Schoots scores with a shoulder strike.
Kazarian jumps guard but Schoots turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A frustrated look appears on Kazarian's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kazarian jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Schoots walks away with a smile on his face. Kazarian gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice uppercut lands for Schoots. That snapped Kazarian's head back.
Romano Schoots seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Donk. Schoots catches Kazarian right on the button with a cross.
Schoots misses the shot to the body.
Schoots lands with a nice body punch.
Kazarian defending well as Schoots loads up on a big left hand.
Kazarian jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Kazarian manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Schoots on his heels. He'll look to pass Schoots's guard now, I'm sure.
Kazarian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Schoots working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kazarian.
Tony Kazarian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kazarian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Schoots is keeping the position for now.
Kazarian wants to control from the top but Schoots keeps moving.
Schoots has Kazarian pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Schoots has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Romano Schoots was stalling too much, according to the referee.
The fighters circling - Schoots throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

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 Tony Kazarian.
I think Schoots 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romano Schoots!
Romano Schoots thanked the fans post fight for their support.