PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian Schulte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AJ Styles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Styles is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: I Am by Dale Oliver. Brian Schulte has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Schulte
vs
Styles

185 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

180 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brian Schulte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, AJ Styles!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schulte throws a head kick but Styles moves out of range.
Styles looks to score with a jab to the body but Schulte is just out of range.
Schulte lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Styles backs up against the cage.

It looks like AJ Styles has been cut.
Styles throws a big shot that misses.
Schulte avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Styles throws a hook but Schulte blocks it.
Styles misses with a straight left.
Schulte fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Styles looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Schulte takes one on the button.
Styles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Styles looks to land a body kick but Schulte moved away.
Styles takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Styles swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schulte misses the body punch
and Styles counters with a head kick.
Schulte lands with a cross.
A combination from Schulte does no damage.
Styles fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Schulte is out of range.
Schulte fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Styles looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Styles gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Schulte postures up in Styles's guard and throws a big left but Styles blocks it.
Schulte missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Styles is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Styles controlling the position.
Schulte has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Styles working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Schulte.
Schulte won't allow Styles to get back to his feet.
Schulte trying to control the position from guard on top but Styles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Schulte drops back looking for a leg! Styles is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Styles manages to kick Schulte off! Schulte jumps back into Styles's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Schulte throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Good shot there by Styles.

It looks like Brian Schulte has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schulte misses with the body kick
and Styles counters with a right hand to the body.
Styles throws a looping overhand right but Schulte ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schulte scores with a takedown into Styles's guard.
Schulte with a flurry of punches that miss.
Schulte postures up.
Schulte with a flurry of punches that miss.
Schulte scoring with punches to the head and body.
Schulte makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Schulte wants to control from the top but Styles keeps moving.
Schulte stands and throws Styles's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Styles can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schulte wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Styles, who protects the arm well.
Schulte throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Styles works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Schulte wants to free his trapped foot but Styles is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schulte wants to control but Styles is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Brian Schulte will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Styles misses with a hook.
Styles lands a head kick. Schulte smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Styles throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Styles misses with a combination
and Schulte counters with a left and a right that stings Styles.
AJ Styles seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Styles misses the jab.
Schulte changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Styles tries to avoid it but Schulte manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Styles to the ground. Styles escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Styles tries a head kick but it misses.
A lazy body kick from Schulte
and Styles counters with a nice leg kick.
Schulte throws a hook but Styles blocks it.
Schulte shoots for a takedown but Styles saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Schulte dodges the punch combination from Styles.
Schulte thows a body shot but no joy.
Styles just misses with a punch to the body.
Styles missing with a left hand there. Schulte was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Schulte ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A head kick misses from Schulte.
No luck for Schulte with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Schulte. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schulte checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Styles scores with the left hand. Schulte knows he should have avoided that one.
Schulte fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Styles manages to avoid it.
Styles chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Styles with a hook.
Schulte slips a jab from Styles.
Styles misses with a hook. Schulte ducked under it nicely.
Schulte misses with a shot to the body
and Styles counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Styles looks to land a body kick but Schulte moved away.
Styles looks to land a left hand but Schulte moved out of range nicely.
Schulte shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Styles but Styles pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A telegraphed right hand from Styles misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schulte misses with a jab, cross combination.
Schulte shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Styles but Styles pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Styles fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Styles waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Schulte.
Styles swats away the attempt to clinch by Schulte.
Schulte blocks a head kick by Styles.
A nice leg kick lands there from Styles.
Styles listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schulte shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Schulte is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Styles doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Schulte.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Schulte lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Schulte not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Schulte seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Styles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Styles pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Styles throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Styles keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Styles buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Styles lands with a straight right. Schulte didn't see that one coming.
Styles swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Schulte counter with a right hand.
Schulte avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab from Schulte misses.
The fighters circling - Styles throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Schulte scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A low kick from Styles is predictable there

and Schulte counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Styles's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styles keeping moving, preventing Schulte from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schulte chips away with some ground and pound.
Schulte loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Styles is looking to stand up but Schulte isn't so interested in that idea.
Schulte stands up over Styles, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Schulte is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Styles is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Styles has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Styles stands up and waves to Schulte to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Styles throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Schulte counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Schulte throws a big right hand that misses.
Styles is looking to stand up but Schulte isn't so interested in that idea.
Schulte working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Styles's head.
Brian Schulte overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Schulte working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Schulte throws a strike but Styles rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Styles wants to control from the top but Schulte keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schulte seems keen to control Styles's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Schulte is on top in guard.
Schulte postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Styles wants to get back to his feet but Schulte is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Schulte slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Schulte stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Styles swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Schulte drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Styles dives on top into guard.
Schulte trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Styles is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Styles looking to pass the guard.
Styles must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Styles avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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 Brian Schulte.
I think Schulte has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Schulte!