PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bob Elder (ranked 5162 p4p, 521 weight class) and Manfred Schmidt (ranked 2934 p4p, 357 weight class). Schmidt comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Riders High kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Manfred Schmidt will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Elder
vs
Schmidt

178 cm
25
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bob Elder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manfred Schmidt !
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Darius Henderson and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elder avoids the head kick by Schmidt .
Elder fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Elder 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.
Elder is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Schmidt 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.
Schmidt is looking to stand up but Elder isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elder trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schmidt controls Elder momentarily but Elder frees himself.
Schmidt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elder with a nice head shot there.

Schmidt uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Elder shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Schmidt as he jumps to the side.
Schmidt cracks Elder with a right hand to the side of the head.

Elder has closed the distance and engaged Schmidt in a clinch.
Schmidt throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Schmidt working aggressively here.
Schmidt working hard to break the clinch.
Elder's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Schmidt gets underhooks to prevent Elder's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bob Elder. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schmidt breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Schmidt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Schmidt looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Schmidt 's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Schmidt won't allow Elder to sweep him here.
Elder keeping moving, preventing Schmidt from controlling successfully.
Schmidt is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Elder looking for a guillotine here but Schmidt defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt wants to control from the top but Elder keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Schmidt seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Schmidt dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Elder. That did some damage!
Jab by Schmidt .
Elder keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Schmidt .
Schmidt with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elder takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Elder circles away from the clinch attempt

and Elder counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Schmidt looking to control.
Our spies down at at Power Wrestling Academy inform us that Schmidt has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Schmidt wants to sweep here but Elder controlling him for the moment.
Schmidt wants to stand but Elder is controlling the position.

Schmidt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schmidt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Elder is controlling him.
Schmidt has Elder pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manfred Schmidt dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A solid body kick from Schmidt .
Schmidt throws a left and a right that both miss

and Elder counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Elder.
A head punch on the inside from Schmidt fails to land.
Schmidt throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Elder takes an elbow to the temple.
Elder tries for a takedown. No joy.

Schmidt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Schmidt throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Elder.
Schmidt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Schmidt tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Elder defends well and Schmidt ends up having to push Elder into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Elder throws a big counter combination but Schmidt scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elder stuffs the takedown.
Schmidt changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Elder tries to avoid it but Schmidt manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Elder to the ground. Elder escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bob Elder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manfred Schmidt .

Schmidt closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Elder tries to pull guard but Schmidt won't allow it.

Elder pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elder looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Elder gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Elder escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Elder gets a takedown into half guard.
Schmidt is trying to escape back to his feet but Elder uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Schmidt is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Schmidt is not content to let Elder control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Elder is trying to get an arm triangle but Schmidt is defending well.
Schmidt manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schmidt passes to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schmidt misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt working away.
Schmidt wants to lay and pray for a moment but Elder keeps working.

Schmidt decides to stand back up.
Schmidt shoots in for a takedown but Elder shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Manfred Schmidt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Schmidt has Elder up against the cage in a clinch.

Schmidt 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schmidt misses with a head kick.
Schmidt throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Elder's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Schmidt throws a head kick that half lands.

Schmidt clinches with his opponent.
Elder has Schmidt pressed against the cage, preventing Schmidt from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Elder tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Schmidt just stands there and leans against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Elder.

Elder ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Elder no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Schmidt lands a couple of digs.
Elder working a defensive guard here.
Schmidt is looking to stand up but Elder won't let him.

Schmidt postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Elder is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Schmidt , into his guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manfred Schmidt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Schmidt clinches with his opponent.
Schmidt wants to get back to striking at distance but Elder won't allow it.
Elder stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Elder breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Schmidt clinches.

Schmidt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schmidt just misses with a punch to the body.
A head kick misses from Schmidt .
Schmidt scores with the left hand. Elder knows he should have avoided that one.
Schmidt works Elder's body with a nice hook.

Schmidt clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schmidt 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Elder fails with a takedown attempt.

Schmidt moves into the clinch.
Elder jumps guard but Schmidt stands there with Elder around his waist. Elder gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Elder pulls guard successfully.
Schmidt lands a couple of elbows.
Elder is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Elder keeping moving, preventing Schmidt from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schmidt decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Schmidt scoring well with a low kick there.
Elder gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Schmidt fails with a takedown attempt.
Elder tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Schmidt manages to circle out of the way.
Schmidt throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Elder's waist but Elder gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Schmidt off to one side.
Elder is looking for a counter combo.

Schmidt fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Elder, pushing him back against the cage.
Elder stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Elder blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elder on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Manfred Schmidt seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Elder has Schmidt pressed against the cage, preventing Schmidt from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Elder is trying to trip Schmidt . He has hold of a leg but Schmidt is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Elder persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Schmidt looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Schmidt is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Elder trying to control the position from guard on top but Schmidt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schmidt looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elder wants to control from the top but Schmidt keeps moving.
Elder's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Elder got a little sloppy there for a moment and Schmidt has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Elder has managed to get both his arms back between Schmidt 's legs - danger averted.

Elder decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Schmidt fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Elder avoids the head kick by Schmidt .

Schmidt drives through and clinches with Elder against the cage.
Bob Elder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manfred Schmidt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Elder tries a body shot but Schmidt blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manfred Schmidt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Schmidt winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manfred Schmidt !
In his post fight interview, Manfred Schmidt gave a big smile as he said 'Baka Gaijin Ichiban~!'.