PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Morgan Schwartz (ranked 25189 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aslan Smagulov (ranked 7943 p4p, 670 weight class). Aslan Smagulov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Schwartz
vs
Smagulov

188 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Morgan Schwartz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aslan Smagulov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smagulov forces Schwartz back against the cage and clinches.

Smagulov breaks from the clinch.

Smagulov drives through and clinches with Schwartz against the cage.

Smagulov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smagulov slaps away a takedown attempt from Schwartz, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Smagulov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Schwartz is looking to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smagulov working over Schwartz with some ground and pound. Schwartz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Schwartz wants to improve his position but Smagulov is controlling well.
Smagulov controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smagulov wants to stand up but Schwartz has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Smagulov controlling the pace.
Schwartz is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smagulov controlling the pace.

Smagulov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Schwartz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Smagulov.

That's two 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.
Smagulov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Schwartz pushes Smagulov off looking to stand but Smagulov dives back in and keeps control.
Schwartz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smagulov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Schwartz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smagulov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Smagulov preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smagulov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Smagulov stands and throws Schwartz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Schwartz is trying to get back to half guard.
Smagulov controls the position.
Schwartz struggling a bit here.
Smagulov taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Schwartz is trying to get back to his feet.

Smagulov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Schwartz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Smagulov happy to just control the position for now.
Schwartz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smagulov staying calm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aslan Smagulov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Schwartz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smagulov tries to avoid it but Schwartz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smagulov to the ground. Smagulov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Smagulov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Schwartz trying to keep a closed guard but Smagulov is proving a slippery customer.
Schwartz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smagulov controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Let's hope that Smagulov 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.

Schwartz pushes Smagulov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smagulov takes the fight into the clinch.

Smagulov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Schwartz is trying to keep an underhook but Smagulov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smagulov in particular looking to stall.
Smagulov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Schwartz is trying to stand up here but Smagulov is controlling him well.
Smagulov trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schwartz trying to control here.

Smagulov is looking for a kimura here.
Smagulov controlling the action here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Schwartz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smagulov but Smagulov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Schwartz tries to sprawl but Smagulov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Schwartz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smagulov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Smagulov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Schwartz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schwartz wants to stand but Smagulov is controlling the position.
Smagulov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Schwartz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Schwartz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smagulov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smagulov is continuing to stall.
The adventures of Smagulov the control monster continue. Boring.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aslan Smagulov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Smagulov shoots in and gets a takedown into Schwartz's guard.
Schwartz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smagulov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Smagulov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Schwartz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smagulov controls the pace.
Smagulov postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smagulov tries to stand but Schwartz is controlling from the bottom.
Smagulov works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smagulov controlling the action here.
Smagulov prevents Schwartz from standing back up.
Smagulov is taking a breather. Schwartz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
It looks like Smagulov is going to stand back up.
Aslan Smagulov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smagulov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Smagulov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Smagulov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smagulov stopping the sweep attempt from Schwartz.
Smagulov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smagulov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smagulov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Schwartz gets caught flat footed, as Smagulov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Schwartz pushes Smagulov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Schwartz is looking to clinch but Smagulov is avoiding it.

Smagulov scores with a takedown into Schwartz's guard.

Schwartz manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Smagulov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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!

Smagulov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Smagulov working away.
Smagulov slows the pace down.
Smagulov working the ground and pound.
Smagulov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Schwartz gets back to half guard.
Morgan Schwartz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aslan Smagulov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Still in half guard, Smagulov seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aslan Smagulov.
Well Smagulov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aslan Smagulov!