PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Albert Abdullayev (ranked 2704 p4p, 3081 weight class) and Mike Schultz (ranked 285 p4p, 317 weight class). Abdullayev comes to the cage accompanied by 50 Cent - In Da Club (Caucasian Remix). Albert Abdullayev had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Abdullayev
vs
Schultz

178 cm
25
155
4 - 1 - 0

164 cm
25
150
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Albert Abdullayev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mike Schultz!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdullayev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Schultz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Abdullayev somewhat.
Abdullayev darts in looking for a takedown but Schultz gets double underhooks and turns Abdullayev into the cage.
Schultz is trying to break free.

Schultz is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Abdullayev can't fight it off and eventually Schultz manages to take the fight to the floor. Abdullayev looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Schultz trying to control the position from guard on top but Abdullayev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schultz stands and throws Abdullayev's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Abdullayev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee asks Schultz politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Schultz prefers to stall for the moment though.
Abdullayev tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz lands a decent elbow from side control.
Schultz slows the pace down.
Abdullayev avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Schultz.
Schultz working the ground and pound.

Schultz is trying to get an arm triangle but Abdullayev is defending well.
Abdullayev seems a little lost for a moment, as Schultz dominates the positioning.
Abdullayev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Schultz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Schultz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Schultz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Schultz moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Schultz lands an elbow.
Schultz staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdullayev sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Schultz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Schultz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Schultz not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Abdullayev wants to improve his position but Schultz is controlling well.
Still in half guard, Schultz seems content to control.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Schultz.
Schultz slips a nice elbow through Abdullayev's hands, connecting with Abdullayev's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Schultz wants to take a breather but Abdullayev is having none of it.

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

Schultz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Schultz trying to control but Abdullayev is working from the bottom.

Schultz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
My spies in HB Training center inform me that Schultz has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Schultz wants to control from the top but Abdullayev keeps moving.

Abdullayev looking for subs off his back but Schultz has passed one foot through into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Schultz seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Schultz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Schultz scores with a takedown into Abdullayev's guard.
Schultz is stalling in the full guard.
Schultz tries to free his leg and advance position but Abdullayev is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Abdullayev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Schultz is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Schultz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz stopping the sweep attempt from Abdullayev.
Abdullayev can't keep his opponent in guard - Schultz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Abdullayev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abdullayev gets back to full guard.
Abdullayev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Schultz.
Schultz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Schultz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Schultz scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schultz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Schultz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Schultz stays in close to Abdullayev's body and controls the position.
Schultz tries to free his leg and advance position but Abdullayev is retaining full guard.
Schultz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Schultz scoring with punches to the head and body.

Schultz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Schultz content to stall in guard here.
Schultz trying to control the position from guard on top but Abdullayev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schultz is stalling in the full guard.

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

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

Abdullayev actively working from the bottom here.
Schultz passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Abdullayev!
Schultz raining down hammerfists from mount.
Schultz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Abdullayev is looking to escape.
Schultz prevents Abdullayev from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdullayev tries to hold on but Schultz postures up.
Schultz trying to control but Abdullayev is having none of it.
Schultz lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Abdullayev hang on?
Abdullayev is in a horrible position here. Schultz smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Schultz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Schultz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Abdullayev gets caught flat footed, as Schultz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Schultz cracks Abdullayev with a solid left hand.
Schultz postures up and lands a big shot to Abdullayev's brow.
Abdullayev keeping moving, preventing Schultz from controlling successfully.
Schultz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schultz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Abdullayev is looking for a sweep.
Abdullayev takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Schultz trying to control the action but Abdullayev is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz lands an elbow.
Schultz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Schultz grinds an elbow into Abdullayev's temple.
Schultz controlling the position from side mount.
Schultz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Schultz is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Abdullayev will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Yet more stalling tactics from Schultz.

Schultz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Abdullayev has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two 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.
Schultz trying to control the position but Abdullayev is working away.
Schultz working away.
Abdullayev is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Abdullayev is trying to get back to half guard.
Schultz scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Abdullayev to see if he's OK.
Schultz trying to control the position but Abdullayev is working away.
Schultz happy to just control the position for now.
Abdullayev on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdullayev taking a bit of punishment here - Schultz scoring with strikes.
Schultz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Abdullayev keeps working.
Mike Schultz has got the better of the ground game so far.

Schultz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Albert Abdullayev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Schultz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Schultz controls the position from side control.
Abdullayev is not content to let Schultz control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Schultz happy to just control the position for now.
Abdullayev is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Schultz taking a breather here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Schultz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 26:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 26:30

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