PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raymundo Talley (ranked 6248 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tj Schultz (ranked 5079 p4p, 0 weight class). Tj Schultz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Talley
vs
Schultz

179 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
175 lbs
2 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Raymundo Talley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tj Schultz!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Talley fails with a takedown attempt.
Schultz darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Schultz drives through and clinches with Talley against the cage.
Schultz tries for a takedown but Talley manages to get underhooks.

Schultz jumps guard and drags Talley to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Schultz is on top in guard.

Schultz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Talley wants to stand up but Schultz is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz wants to control from the top but Talley keeps moving.
Schultz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Talley throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Talley throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Talley throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Schultz trying to control the position from guard on top but Talley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schultz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Talley's guard.
Schultz wants to control from the top but Talley keeps moving.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Talley is trying hard to land a takedown here. Schultz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Talley shoots for a double leg takedown but Schultz sprawls well. He's pushed Talley's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raymundo Talley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schultz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Talley is looking for a counter combo.

Talley 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.

Talley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schultz looks winded!
Talley is fighting to break Schultz's control of his arms but Schultz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schultz wants to stand and escape but Talley is having none of it.
Schultz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Schultz controls Talley momentarily but Talley frees himself.
Talley stops Schultz from standing up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Talley throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Schultz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Talley.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Talley fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Schultz avoids it really well and circles away.
Schultz fails with the takedown.
Talley wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Talley shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Schultz defends it nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Schultz forces Talley back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tj Schultz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Schultz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Talley is looking to counter the offense by Schultz and move into the clinch.

Talley clinches with his opponent.
Talley missing with knees to the body.
Schultz is looking for a takedown.
Talley working aggressively here.
Talley tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Schultz throws an elbow but it misses.

Schultz pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Talley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Schultz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Schultz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz pulls Talley in close to prevent any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Schultz is on top in guard.

Schultz is breathing heavily.
Schultz won't allow Talley to get back to his feet.
Talley is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Talley throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Talley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Schultz is one step ahead there.
Schultz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Talley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Talley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Schultz is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Schultz has Talley up against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Talley throws an elbow but misses.
Talley goes for a takedown in the clinch but Schultz prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talley is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Schultz is keeping busy.
Schultz tries to pull guard but Talley holds him up against the cage and eventually Schultz drops back down to his feet.
Schultz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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

Schultz scores with a takedown into Talley's guard.
Schultz wants to control from the top but Talley keeps moving.
Schultz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Talley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schultz stands up from Talley's guard - Schultz perhaps looking for a knockout.
Talley stuffs the takedown.
Talley half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Raymundo Talley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tj Schultz.

Talley drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Schultz throws Talley to one side and escapes!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Talley shoots in looking for a takedown but Schultz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Talley's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schultz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Talley defends well and Schultz ends up having to push Talley into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Schultz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tj Schultz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Talley looks for a takedown but Schultz sprawls well.
Schultz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Talley shoots in but Schultz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Schultz throws a body shot but no joy.
Talley seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schultz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Talley throws a big counter combination but Schultz scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Talley shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Talley showed some decent athleticism there.
Schultz is looking to get back to is feet but Talley passes into side control.
Schultz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz is trying to improve his position.
Talley postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Talley stands up and beckons Schultz to his feet.
Schultz dives in and grabs Talley's left leg, looking for a takedown. Talley pushes down on Schultz's head and hops out.
Talley drops down looking for a counter takedown but Schultz sprawls and moves away.
Schultz misses with a wild body shot.
Talley tries to counter with a takedown but Schultz is quick to defend against it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schultz gets a clinch.

Talley manages to break the clinch.
Talley fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raymundo Talley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schultz shoots in and drives through. Talley sprawls well.

Schultz moves into the clinch.
Schultz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Talley walks away with a smile on his face. Schultz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tj Schultz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Talley shoots for a double leg takedown but Schultz sprawls well. He's pushed Talley's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Schultz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Talley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Schultz's waist but Schultz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Talley off to one side.

Schultz rushes Talley and presses him up against the cage.
Schultz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Talley gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Talley manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Schultz looking to sit in guard and control but Talley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Talley gets to his feet - Schultz follows without any prompting.
Tj Schultz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Schultz shoots for a double leg takedown but Talley sprawls well. He's pushed Schultz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Talley is looking to counter the offense by Schultz and move into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Talley. No joy for Schultz on that attempt.
Talley shoots in for a takedown but Schultz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Schultz clinches with his opponent.
Schultz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Talley.
Schultz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Talley pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Talley ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Talley no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Talley scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Talley 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.
Talley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Schultz.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schultz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Schultz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Talley swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Raymundo Talley.
Well Schultz 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tj Schultz!