PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manfred Schmidt (ranked 2517 p4p, 324 weight class) and Eddie Alpha (ranked 3467 p4p, 408 weight class). Schmidt comes into the arena with Riders High blaring out of the sound system. Manfred Schmidt could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Eddie Alpha's chin.

Schmidt
vs
Alpha

190 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

186 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manfred Schmidt !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Eddie Alpha!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Schmidt throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Alpha was covering up waiting for the punch and Schmidt finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Alpha has control of Schmidt 's left arm, preventing Schmidt from doing any damage.
Schmidt stands and throws Alpha's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Schmidt wants to control but Alpha is keeping him busy.
Alpha looks to move to half guard but instead Schmidt has passed into mount! Damn!
Alpha really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Schmidt . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alpha is wriggling around trying to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alpha is bucking up trying to escape but Schmidt cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Schmidt wants to control the pace but Alpha is squirming around nicely.
Alpha tries to hold on but Schmidt postures up.
Alpha is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmidt can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alpha is looking to escape.
Schmidt punching from mount but Alpha doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Alpha is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Alpha felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Schmidt looking to control and managing it successfully.
Schmidt fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Schmidt takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Schmidt trying to control but Alpha is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt landing shots from mount.
Alpha is wriggling around trying to escape.

Schmidt is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Alpha has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Alpha!
Alpha in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Alpha got a little sloppy there for a moment and Schmidt has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Alpha has managed to get both his arms back between Schmidt 's legs - danger averted.
Alpha trying to control the position from guard on top but Schmidt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Alpha stands and steps away. Schmidt gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt misses with a takedown attempt - Alpha sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
As Schmidt backs off Alpha throws a huge counter combo but Schmidt manages to avoid it all.
Schmidt dives in and grabs Alpha's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alpha pushes down on Schmidt 's head and hops out.
Schmidt misses with a takedown attempt
and Alpha counters with a left and a right that stings Schmidt .
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manfred Schmidt . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alpha stuffs the takedown.
Alpha appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Schmidt feints and then cracks Alpha's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Alpha down.

Schmidt gets a clinch.
Schmidt is trying to pull guard but Alpha has him pressed against the cage.
Schmidt can't get the takedown.
Alpha prevents a takedown attempt there.
Alpha gets underhooks to prevent Schmidt 's takedown attempt.
Schmidt is breathing heavily.
Alpha is trying to break the clinch but Schmidt has him pressed against the cage.
Schmidt has Alpha pressed against the cage, preventing Alpha from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alpha'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 fails to pull guard.
Alpha prevents a takedown attempt there.
Alpha lands with a short shot to the head.
Schmidt jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alpha walks away with a smile on his face. Schmidt gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Schmidt avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Schmidt uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Alpha.
Schmidt tries for a takedown but Alpha circles away easily
and Alpha counters with a left and a right that stings Schmidt .
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alpha loads up on a big right hand but Schmidt slips the punch.
Schmidt fails to land the takedown.
Alpha is looking for the big counter here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eddie Alpha will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Schmidt swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Alpha counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Schmidt swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Schmidt 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.
Schmidt 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.
Alpha pulls Schmidt in close to his closed guard and prevents Schmidt from doing any damage or advancing position.
Schmidt wants to pass the guard but Alpha is keeping the position.
Schmidt stopping the sweep attempt from Alpha.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alpha is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Alpha has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Schmidt has passed into side control.
Schmidt looks up at the clock and then as Alpha takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Schmidt smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Schmidt tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alpha is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schmidt controls the position.
Alpha taking a bit of punishment here - Schmidt scoring with strikes.
Alpha tries to buck Schmidt off but Schmidt is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Alpha's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Manfred Schmidt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Schmidt is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Alpha will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schmidt is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Alpha is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Alpha wants to control but Schmidt postures up.
Alpha is looking to regain half guard here but Schmidt keeps moving and retains side control.
Alpha is not content to let Schmidt control the position.
Schmidt slows the pace down.

Schmidt is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Alpha knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Alpha's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Alpha stops Schmidt from passing to mount.
Alpha struggling a bit here.
Schmidt trying to control the position but Alpha is working away.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alpha stops Schmidt from passing to mount.
Alpha is trying to improve his position.

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.
Alpha is pushing Schmidt 's head away, looking to escape. Schmidt manages to hold on to the position though.
Alpha is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Schmidt landing a few strikes.
Alpha tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Schmidt presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Schmidt landing punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Schmidt content just to control the position here.
Schmidt trying to control but Alpha is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manfred Schmidt dominated that second round.
That's time! Schmidt 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Schmidt shoots in for a takedown but Alpha shows good takedown defense.
Schmidt fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alpha is looking for the big counter here.
Manfred Schmidt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Schmidt with a poor takedown
and Alpha counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Schmidt thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manfred Schmidt . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Schmidt is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Alpha's half guard.

Alpha manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Schmidt keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Alpha tries to circle away but Schmidt has him pinned against the cage.
Schmidt changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Alpha fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Alpha misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice sprawl there from Alpha as Schmidt shoots in.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Schmidt throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Alpha was covering up waiting for the punch and Schmidt finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Alpha wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Schmidt manages to pass to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schmidt slips a nice elbow through Alpha's hands, connecting with Alpha's forehead.
Schmidt trying to control from half guard but Alpha is working away.
Alpha tries to get to full guard but Schmidt has control of the leg.
Alpha keeps trying to improve his position.
Alpha won't allow Schmidt to pass to mount.
Alpha is looking for a sweep. Schmidt is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alpha wants to control but Schmidt is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schmidt is working for a submission of some sort.

Schmidt is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alpha has managed to free his arm - good work.
Alpha trying to control from the bottom.
Alpha is doing well to control the position and prevent Schmidt from advancing to side control.
Schmidt wants to take a breather but Alpha is having none of it.
Alpha is looking for a sweep. Schmidt is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alpha moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Alpha looking to hit a scissor sweep but Schmidt is one step ahead there.
Schmidt sitting in guard here, content to control.
Alpha trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alpha looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Schmidt shoots and misses
letting Alpha counter with a right hand.
Schmidt doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Alpha counters with a stiff right hand.
We've been told by Schmidt 's head coaches at IFA: Performance Institute that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Alpha defends well and Schmidt ends up having to push Alpha into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Schmidt fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alpha avoids it really well and circles away.
Alpha is looking for the big counter here.
Schmidt shoots for a double leg takedown but Alpha sprawls well. He's pushed Schmidt 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Schmidt doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Schmidt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Alpha closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Schmidt 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Alpha tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Alpha has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddie Alpha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alpha 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddie Alpha!