PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Schwarzeneg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Charleston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Charleston acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Schwarzeneg
vs
Charleston

181 cm
46
190 lbs
31 - 56 - 0

187 cm
28
195 lbs
10 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 56 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Roger Schwarzeneg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 21 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Charleston!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schwarzeneg shoots in looking for a takedown but Charleston manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Schwarzeneg's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Schwarzeneg looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Charleston!

Charleston throws Schwarzeneg to one side and escapes!
Schwarzeneg doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Charleston moves into the clinch.
Charleston throws an elbow but it misses.
Schwarzeneg letting Charleston take a breather here.
Charleston is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Schwarzeneg has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Charleston is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Schwarzeneg is defending well for now.
Charleston can't break the clinch.
Charleston is looking to break free of the clinch but Schwarzeneg has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Charleston is fighting off a takedown attempt but Schwarzeneg is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Charleston to the mat. Charleston regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Schwarzeneg trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Charleston manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Charleston throws a big right hand that misses.
Charleston throws an elbow that misses. Schwarzeneg uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Charleston's guard. Nice move by Schwarzeneg!

Charleston wants to stand up but Schwarzeneg is controlling him.
Schwarzeneg tries to free his leg and advance position but Charleston is retaining full guard.
Schwarzeneg slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Charleston really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Schwarzeneg. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Schwarzeneg postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Schwarzeneg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schwarzeneg slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Charleston avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Schwarzeneg engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Schwarzeneg postures up in Charleston's guard and throws a big left but Charleston blocks it.

Charleston is working an open guard so Schwarzeneg takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Charleston tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schwarzeneg paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Schwarzeneg blocks a head kick by Charleston.
Charleston tries to clinch up

and Schwarzeneg counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Schwarzeneg stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Schwarzeneg shoots in and drives through. Charleston sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Schwarzeneg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Charleston tries a head kick but it misses.
Charleston tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schwarzeneg paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Schwarzeneg is trying hard to land a takedown here. Charleston sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Schwarzeneg gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Charleston tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Schwarzeneg avoids it.
Charleston tries to land a knee to the head but Schwarzeneg blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charleston landing knees to the body.
Charleston avoiding damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Schwarzeneg as Charleston tries to tie him up.
Charleston's coach down at Barbell Brigade was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Charleston's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Charleston manages to break the clinch.
Charleston wants to clinch.
Schwarzeneg shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Charleston pinned against the cage. Charleston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Schwarzeneg manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Charleston on his heels. He'll look to pass Charleston's guard now, I'm sure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Charleston will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Charleston lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Schwarzeneg.
Schwarzeneg shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Charleston pinned against the cage. Charleston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Charleston is looking for the big counter here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Schwarzeneg.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roger Schwarzeneg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schwarzeneg lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Schwarzeneg fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Charleston avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Charleston.
Schwarzeneg moves to clinch but Charleston breaks away
and Charleston counters with a series of strikes. Schwarzeneg will be more careful next time no doubt.
Schwarzeneg tries for a takedown but Charleston sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Charleston fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Schwarzeneg, pushing him back against the cage.
Charleston tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Charleston throws an elbow that misses.
Charleston is trying to stall.
Charleston missing with knees to the body.
Charleston fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Charleston looking to throw knees to the head but Schwarzeneg is blocking nicely.
Schwarzeneg jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Charleston walks away with a smile on his face. Schwarzeneg gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Schwarzeneg closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Charleston did well to prevent Schwarzeneg getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schwarzeneg not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Schwarzeneg seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Charleston does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Schwarzeneg is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Schwarzeneg working the head and body with strikes.

Schwarzeneg is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Charleston doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Schwarzeneg.
Schwarzeneg content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg is keen to just control but Charleston is a slippery customer.
Schwarzeneg seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Charleston blocking the ground and pound attempt from Schwarzeneg.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Charleston can do anything to dispel that myth.
Charleston wants to get back to his feet.
Schwarzeneg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Charleston's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Charleston wants to get back to his feet.
Schwarzeneg takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Schwarzeneg shoots in and bounces Charleston off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Schwarzeneg controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Schwarzeneg is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Schwarzeneg gets to his feet - Charleston follows without any prompting.
Schwarzeneg will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Charleston throws a head kick that misses.
Schwarzeneg tries to clinch up but Charleston circles away and keeps his distance.
Schwarzeneg circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roger Schwarzeneg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schwarzeneg avoids the head kick by Charleston.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Charleston will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Charleston leaves Schwarzeneg with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Schwarzeneg rushes Charleston and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Charleston wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Schwarzeneg has him pressed against the cage.
Charleston tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Charleston breaks the clinch.
Charleston tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schwarzeneg paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Schwarzeneg gets a takedown into half guard.

Charleston kicks off Schwarzeneg and gets to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Charleston pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Schwarzeneg feints and as Charleston raises his hands in defense, Schwarzeneg changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg controls from within his opponent's guard.
Schwarzeneg prevents Charleston from getting back to his feet.
Schwarzeneg passes Charleston's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Schwarzeneg with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Charleston pushes Schwarzeneg off looking to stand but Schwarzeneg dives back in and keeps control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Schwarzeneg lands a nice short elbow.

Charleston is defending against the submission attempts here by Schwarzeneg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg throwing shots but Charleston is blocking nicely.
Well, if Schwarzeneg is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Schwarzeneg passes to full mount!
Charleston's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Roger Schwarzeneg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schwarzeneg dominating with strikes here.
Schwarzeneg with a couple of short strikes.

It looks like James Charleston has been cut.
Schwarzeneg punching from mount but Charleston doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Schwarzeneg has hold of Charleston's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Charleston manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Schwarzeneg controlling from the full mount.
Schwarzeneg with the ground and pound from mount.
Schwarzeneg fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Schwarzeneg takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Charleston that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Charleston is rocked!
Oooooh, big shot lands for Schwarzeneg! Charleston is hurt baaadly! Schwarzeneg is firing away with more strikes - Charleston is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Roger Schwarzeneg!