PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brent Schultz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norm Croft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Schultz
vs
Croft

179 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brent Schultz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Norm Croft!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schultz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Croft defends it nicely.
Croft throws out a powerful jab.
Croft rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Schultz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Croft throws a nice looking combination but Schultz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Croft throws a solid leg kick but Schultz takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Croft.
Some wild striking there from Croft.
Schultz misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schultz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schultz wants to stand but Croft has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Croft working for submissions but it's allowed Schultz to get to half guard.
Croft tries to kick Schultz off but Schultz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Croft trying to control but Schultz postures up.
Schultz blocks the strikes from Croft.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schultz is working for a submission of some sort.
Schultz tries to stand but can't do so whilst Croft controls his leg.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Croft fails to land with a series of punches.
Schultz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Croft as he avoids it easily.
Schultz fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brent Schultz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Croft scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croft tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Schultz was well out of range. Poor timing from Croft.
As Croft looks to move away, Schultz throws a big counter combo bu Croft just gets out of the way.
Croft is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Schultz appears to be looking for a big counter.
Schultz feints a jab promting Croft to slip. Schultz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Croft slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Croft throws a series of punches but Schultz avoids them all with ease.
Croft goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Croft misses with a head kick.
Croft throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Croft tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schultz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Schultz is looking to counter the offense by Croft and move into the clinch.
Croft misses with a hook.
Croft tries to bum rush Schultz with a series of wild strikes but Schultz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Croft throws a series of punches but Schultz moves out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Schultz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Schultz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Left hook, right uppercut from Croft.
Schultz tries to land a front kick but Croft steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Croft misses with a leg kick
and Schultz counters with a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norm Croft dominated that round.
That's time! Schultz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice defenses there by Schultz.
Croft misses with a straight right.
It looked like Schultz was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Croft throws a head kick but Schultz moves out of range.

Schultz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Croft to the mat! Croft manages to get full guard.
Schultz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Schultz wants to stand and escape but instead Croft has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Croft works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Schultz trying to control but Croft postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Croft prevents Schultz from standing back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Schultz is trying is best to control the position here.

Croft is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Schultz is just riding it out for now. Croft eventually gives up the hold.
Schultz is looking to escape.
Schultz trying to control but Croft postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Schultz is refusing to be controlled, as Croft sits in half guard.
Schultz wants to control but Croft is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Croft looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Schultz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croft connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Croft looks to land a combination but Schultz avoids it well.
Schultz appears to be looking for a big counter.
Croft throws a series of punches but Schultz avoids them all with ease.
Schultz tries for a takedown but Croft circles away easily
and Croft counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Schultz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Schultz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schultz postures up in Croft's guard and throws a big left but Croft blocks it.
Croft avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Croft will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Brent Schultz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Schultz throwing strikes from guard but Croft blocks nicely.

Schultz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norm Croft showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Croft will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As Croft tries to get set, Schultz tries to push him back and clinch up but Croft manages to avoid the attempt.
Schultz throws a head kick that Croft semi-blocks.
Croft pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Schultz gets a takedown into half guard.

Croft actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schultz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Croft with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz slips a nice elbow through Croft's hands, connecting with Croft's forehead.
Schultz not doing much here.
Croft works his way to full guard. Good work.
Schultz looking to pass the guard.
Croft working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Schultz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Croft looking for subs off his back but Schultz has passed one foot through into half guard.
Croft is trying to get back to full guard.
Croft moves into full guard.

Croft isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Schultz stacks Croft on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Schultz!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schultz stands up and beckons Croft to his feet.
Croft misses with the combination.
Croft misses with a hook. Schultz ducked under it nicely.
Schultz changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Norm Croft is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Schultz is defended easily by Croft.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Schultz.
Croft tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Norm Croft seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schultz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Croft to score with a decent uppercut.
Croft dodges the punch combination from Schultz.
Croft throws a combination. Schultz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Schultz goes for a double leg but Croft avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Croft continues to drive forward.
Brent Schultz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Norm Croft is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brent Schultz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from Croft misses.

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 Brent Schultz.
I think Croft 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norm Croft!