PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bull Mfer (ranked 1339 p4p, 170 weight class) and Bryan Schaub (ranked 890 p4p, 109 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mfer
vs
Schaub

189 cm
22
220 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

179 cm
23
219 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Bull Mfer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bryan Schaub!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schaub fails with a takedown attempt.
Schaub misses with a wild body shot.
Schaub throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mfer's waist but Mfer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Schaub off to one side.
Schaub scores with a sloppy right hand. Mfer should have avoided that one.
We've been told by Mfer's head coaches at Gymi that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Schaub fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mfer to the ground. Schaub is now in Mfer's guard.
Schaub forces his way into half guard.
Mfer holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Schaub wants to pass the guard but Mfer is defending well.
Schaub passes to full mount!
Schaub wants to get back to his feet but Mfer is holding on tight.
Mfer is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schaub jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Mfer manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Schaub stands up.
Bull Mfer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Schaub fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mfer to the ground. Schaub is now in Mfer's guard.
Mfer looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mfer trying to control the position.
Schaub tries to free his leg and advance position but Mfer is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Schaub wants to get up but he can't break Mfer's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Schaub trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Schaub tries to stand but Mfer is controlling from the bottom.

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

Schaub shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mfer napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Mfer throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mfer throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Schaub moves out of range as Mfer strikes.
Mfer lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mfer jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schaub is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mfer sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bull Mfer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Schaub.
Mfer throws the left hand but Schaub avoids the punch easily.
Schaub fails with the takedown.
Mfer is looking to counter with head kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Schaub. Mfer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Schaub misses with a straight right.
Mfer throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Schaub stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Mfer on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mfer is looking to score with low kicks.
Schaub dives in for a single leg takedown but Mfer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Mfer thuds a left hand into Schaub's body.
Schaub looks to score with a jab to the body but Mfer is just out of range.
Schaub fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mfer throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mfer feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Schaub's calf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mfer throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Bryan Schaub has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mfer fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Schaub on the side of the head.
A leg kick checked by Schaub.
Schaub tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mfer was well out of range. Poor timing from Schaub.
Schaub looks for a takedown but Mfer sprawls well.
Mfer lands a lovely overhand right.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Schaub takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mfer enables Schaub to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mfer manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mfer wants to sweep here but Schaub controlling him for the moment.
Mfer pulls Schaub in to control the position.
Schaub won't allow Mfer to sweep him here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Schaub trying to move into half guard but instead Mfer has managed to sweep!

Schaub trying to keep a closed guard but Mfer is proving a slippery customer.
Schaub 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.
Mfer tries to free his leg and advance position but Schaub is retaining full guard.
Schaub has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mfer has passed into side control.
Schaub tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Mfer prevents Schaub from getting the reversal.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Schaub tries to lock up and control but Mfer gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mfer tries to control but Schaub wriggling away.
Schaub sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Schaub is trying to get back to full guard.
Mfer blocks the strikes from Schaub.
Schaub tries to get to full guard but Mfer has control of the leg.
Mfer is pressing down on Schaub's thigh, looking to free his foot. Schaub is holding on for now.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Mfer is trying to control. Schaub wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Schaub moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Schaub looking for a sweep. Not yet Schaub, not yet.
Schaub wants to hit a switch here but Mfer passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Schaub there!
Schaub manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mfer is keen to just control but Schaub is a slippery customer.
Schaub is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Mfer jumps into side control!
Schaub dodges the ground and pound from Mfer.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Schaub is looking to regain half guard here but Mfer keeps moving and retains side control.
Schaub tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Mfer presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Schaub is looking to improve his position but Mfer isn't that keen on the idea.
Schaub is still trying to improve position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Mfer takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Schaub bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bull Mfer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bryan Schaub's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Schaub looks to score with a jab to the body but Mfer is just out of range.
Mfer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Schaub misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mfer.

Schaub shoots in and bounces Mfer off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Schaub wants to pass the guard but Mfer is keeping the position.
Schaub trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Mfer manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schaub 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.
Schaub wants to improve his position but instead Mfer has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mfer with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Schaub wants to improve his position but Mfer is controlling well.
Schaub is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mfer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mfer's back!

Mfer showing good submission defense here.
Mfer wants to control his opponent's hands but Schaub gets his hands free.

Schaub patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Schaub is looking for the choke from the back position but Mfer is controlling his hands well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schaub gets his hands free as Mfer looks to control.

Schaub is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Mfer knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Mfer for a finish.
Schaub avoiding Mfer 's attempts to control his hands.

Mfer defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Schaub's arms.
Mfer is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Schaub is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Mfer is defending well though. Schaub let's go of the attempt for now.

Schaub patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schaub not allowing Mfer to control his hands.
Mfer wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
Mfer manages to reverse the position and now he's in Schaub's guard. Nice work there by Mfer.
Schaub looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Mfer puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Mfer blocks the strikes from Schaub.
Schaub tries to get to full guard but Mfer has control of the leg.
Schaub is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schaub is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Mfer jumps into side control!
Schaub is trying to buck Mfer off.
Schaub is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Mfer is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Mfer trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mfer prevents Schaub from getting the reversal.
Mfer looking to control but Schaub is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Schaub working to try and regain half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Mfer controlling from the full mount.
Schaub is looking to improve his position but Mfer isn't that keen on the idea.
Schaub sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Schaub tries to roll over but Mfer keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Schaub manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Schaub tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Schaub is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Schaub is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mfer sees it coming and defends easily.
Schaub is breathing heavily.
Mfer is looking for a sweep. Schaub is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Schaub moves into full mount! Mfer won't be happy about that!
Mfer holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Schaub tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mfer can't escape the position.
Schaub wants to get back to his feet but Mfer is holding on tight.
Schaub tries to control but Mfer wriggling away.
Schaub seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Mfer is holding on tight.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Schaub looking for a guillotine from mount but Mfer is having none of it.
Mfer is controlling an arm, preventing Schaub from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

Schaub goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Mfer is on top in guard.
Schaub striking off his back but it's not causing Mfer any problems.
Schaub wants to sweep here but Mfer controlling him for the moment.
Mfer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Schaub keeps trying to improve his position.
Schaub controls Mfer momentarily but Mfer frees himself.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Mfer won't allow Schaub to sweep him here.
Mfer postures up.
Schaub has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mfer has passed into side control.
Schaub manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Schaub is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mfer is trying to control but can't.
Schaub is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Mfer!
Schaub is looking to stand but Mfer has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

Schaub goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Mfer turns into him and now he's in Schaub's guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Schaub looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Mfer puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Schaub tries to get to full guard but Mfer has control of the leg.
Schaub is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Mfer jumps into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
You can see the frustration on Schaub's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Schaub is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Schaub comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!