PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Renato Cardoso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romano Schoots (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cardoso kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Samba de Janeiro. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cardoso
vs
Schoots

170 cm
36
168 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

180 cm
39
155 lbs
38 - 28 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Powerful

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Renato Cardoso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 28 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Romano Schoots!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Schoots tries to sprawl but Cardoso drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Cardoso there.
Cardoso not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cardoso thows a huge punch but Schoots dodges it nicely.
Cardoso is thwarting Schoots's attempts to control the position.
Schoots is refusing to be controlled, as Cardoso sits in half guard.
Schoots taking some punishment here, with Cardoso in his half guard.
Cardoso thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schoots preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Cardoso sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Schoots defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cardoso wants to pass the guard but Schoots is defending well.
Cardoso throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Schoots avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cardoso.
Cardoso passes to full mount!
Schoots is in all sorts of trouble here.
Cardoso unloads with some shots from mount but Schoots bucks and avoids them well.
Schoots takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Cardoso looking to finish with strikes here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cardoso cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Schoots really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cardoso throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Schoots really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Schoots avoids a series of strikes thrown by Cardoso.
Schoots is squirming around, avoiding Cardoso's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schoots is looking to improve his position but Cardoso isn't that keen on the idea.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cardoso throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso looking to ground and pound but Schoots is blocking nicely.
Schoots tries to hold on but Cardoso pushes him away.
Cardoso throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Schoots in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Cardoso lands a heavy elbow.

It looks like Romano Schoots has been cut.

Cardoso is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Schoots has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Schoots!
Schoots missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Schoots controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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.
Schoots passes Cardoso's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cardoso 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.
Cardoso tries to roll over but Schoots keeps him under control.
Schoots is thwarting Cardoso's attempts to control the position.

Cardoso looking for a kimura from the bottom but Schoots passes into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Cardoso dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Romano Schoots's cut.
That's time! Cardoso's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Schoots blocks a head kick by Cardoso.
Cardoso with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cardoso throws a predictable looking body shot
and Schoots counters with a nice uppercut.
Cardoso wants to clinch up but Schoots keeps it at a distance.
Schoots throws a quick inside leg kick.

Schoots closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cardoso did well to prevent Schoots getting side control.
Cardoso is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schoots is keen to just control but Cardoso is a slippery customer.
My spies in Montreal Fighter's Gym (4.5* Sparring) inform me that Schoots has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso is trying is best to control the position here.
Schoots wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cardoso keeps working.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Schoots thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Schoots moves into full mount! Cardoso won't be happy about that!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Schoots cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Cardoso is working to get back to half guard.
Cardoso takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schoots prevents Cardoso from getting the reversal.
Schoots lands a couple of good shots and Cardoso has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Cardoso is really stuck here.
Schoots controlling from the back.
Schoots lands a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is taking a good look at Cardoso as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Schoots!
Cardoso is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Schoots.
Cardoso wants to escape the position.
Schoots loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Cardoso hold on?
Cardoso is trying to break free.
Cardoso is trying to remain composed but Schoots is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Schoots has the hooks in. Cardoso is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Schoots's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schoots is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Schoots punishes Cardoso with strikes from the back mount.
Schoots biding his time, looking for the opening.
Cardoso is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Cardoso is working hard here to advance position.
Cardoso is keeping busy.
Cardoso wants to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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.
The cut man is working on Romano Schoots's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Schoots lands a two punch combo.
Cardoso misses the shot to the body.
Schoots tries to score with a low kick but Cardoso moves his leg out of the way.
Cardoso throws a sloppy head kick and Schoots moves out of range easily.
Cardoso is looking to clinch but Schoots is avoiding it.
Cardoso thuds a left hand into Schoots's body.
A good leg kick by Cardoso.
Cardoso misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardoso connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Schoots lands a leg kick that knocks Cardoso off balance momentarily.
Schoots throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso misses with a leg kick
and Schoots counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Schoots scores with a spinning back kick!
Cardoso tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Schoots was well out of range. Poor timing from Cardoso.
Cardoso takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cardoso moves away from the strike by Schoots.
Cardoso tries to counter with a takedown but Schoots is quick to defend against it.
Schoots throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cardoso.
Renato Cardoso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schoots lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cardoso throws the left hand but Schoots avoids the punch easily.
Schoots misses with a looping right.
Schoots ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schoots looks to score with a jab to the body but Cardoso is just out of range.
Schoots takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Schoots looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cardoso is looking to wear down Schoots with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cardoso swings widly with a right hand
and Schoots connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cardoso throws a leg kick that is checked
and Schoots cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Schoots keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Schoots sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cardoso throws a leg kick
and Schoots makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Romano Schoots seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cardoso.
Schoots lands with a nice body punch.
Cardoso avoids the body shot from Schoots.
Cardoso drops down looking for a counter takedown but Schoots sprawls and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso takes a swing at Schoots's ribcage but misses.
Cardoso lands a jab to the head.
Schoots throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Schoots swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cardoso throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cardoso avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A shot to the body from Cardoso misses
and Schoots cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Schoots gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cardoso to score an easy takedown into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cardoso accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso throws a strike but Schoots rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Schoots trying to control but Cardoso is working from the bottom.
Schoots postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cardoso has control of Schoots's left arm, preventing Schoots from doing any damage.
Cardoso keeping moving, preventing Schoots from controlling successfully.
Renato Cardoso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Schoots is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Schoots is continuing to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Romano Schoots comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romano Schoots!
Romano Schoots seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.