PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antony Bernard (ranked 4885 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tj Schultz (ranked 4895 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bernard
vs
Schultz

222 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antony Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tj Schultz!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Schultz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

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

Schultz moves into range and clinches up with Bernard.
Bernard takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Antony Bernard has been cut.

Schultz jumps guard and drags Bernard to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Schultz has his hands on Bernard's head, controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernard wanted to stand there but Schultz had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz wants to sweep here but Bernard controlling him for the moment.

Bernard stands and steps away. Schultz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bernard shoots in but no luck this time.

Schultz rushes Bernard and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Bernard is fighting off a takedown attempt but Schultz is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bernard to the mat. Bernard regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Schultz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Schultz is stalling in the full guard.

Bernard working for a triangle but Schultz defends it easily.
Bernard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Schultz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Bernard shoots in looking for a takedown. Schultz tries to sprawl out of it but Bernard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Schultz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schultz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Schultz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Schultz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Schultz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Schultz 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 fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Schultz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Bernard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Schultz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Schultz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schultz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bernard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Schultz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Schultz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bernard is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Schultz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tj Schultz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antony Bernard's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Schultz moves into the clinch.
Bernard creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Schultz lands a takedown into guard.
Bernard trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Schultz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Schultz tries to free his leg and advance position but Bernard is retaining full guard.
Tj Schultz has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schultz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz is looking to work some ground and pound but Bernard has wrist control.
Bernard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Schultz 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.
Schultz 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.
Schultz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schultz throwing strikes from guard but Bernard blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schultz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Schultz controls from within his opponent's guard.
Schultz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schultz connects with a right hand. Bernard shakes it off.
Tj Schultz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bernard takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Bernard is rocked!

Schultz dives in and gets a big takedown. He lands in full mount and immediately unloads a series of heavy strikes! Bernard has had enough and taps out.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Tj Schultz!