PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Schmidt (ranked 2825 p4p, 2231 weight class) and Oharles Cliveira (ranked 374 p4p, 311 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Schmidt
vs
Cliveira

180 cm
29
175
9 - 4 - 0

180 cm
21
184
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xavier Schmidt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Oharles Cliveira!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Schmidt changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cliveira looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Schmidt misses with the ground and pound.
Cliveira has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Schmidt is trying to get an arm triangle but Cliveira is defending well.
Cliveira is looking for a sweep.

Schmidt goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cliveira rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Schmidt's guard! Nice work there by Cliveira!
Cliveira wants to control from the top but Schmidt keeps moving.

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

Schmidt had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cliveira defends it easily.
Cliveira trying to control the position from guard on top but Schmidt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cliveira is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Cliveira drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cliveira jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Schmidt throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Schmidt is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cliveira loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Cliveira drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cliveira jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Schmidt keeping moving, preventing Cliveira from controlling successfully.

Schmidt is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Schmidt working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cliveira doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cliveira manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schmidt working for a triangle but Cliveira defends it easily.

Schmidt had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cliveira defends it easily.
Cliveira wants to control from the top but Schmidt keeps moving.
Cliveira is in close to Schmidt's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cliveira scoring with some ground and pound.

Cliveira avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Schmidt is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cliveira 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schmidt looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Schmidt keeping moving, preventing Cliveira from controlling successfully.

Schmidt looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cliveira wants to control from the top but Schmidt keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Schmidt tries to strike from the bottom.

Schmidt working for a triangle but Cliveira defends it easily.

Schmidt is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cliveira drops back looking for a leg! Schmidt is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Schmidt manages to kick Cliveira off! Cliveira jumps back into Schmidt's guard.
Cliveira trying to control but Schmidt is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cliveira preventing the sweep.
Cliveira wants to control from the top but Schmidt keeps moving.

Cliveira is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Xavier Schmidt will probably get the nod.
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.

Cliveira throws a poor cross that misses

and Schmidt counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Schmidt has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cliveira avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Schmidt as Cliveira tries to tie him up.
Cliveira throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Schmidt blocks it with crossed arms.
Schmidt tries to score a body lock takedown but Cliveira shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Schmidt tries for a takedown but Cliveira manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Schmidt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cliveira prevents a takedown attempt there.

Cliveira gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Cliveira drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Schmidt manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cliveira has Schmidt in his guard.

Schmidt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schmidt throwing strikes from guard but Cliveira blocks nicely.
Schmidt stops Cliveira from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmidt postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Schmidt wants to control from the top but Cliveira keeps moving.
Cliveira avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Cliveira looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Schmidt passes into half guard.

Schmidt is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cliveira sees it coming and defends easily.

Schmidt seems to be looking for submissions.
Cliveira has hold of Schmidt's hands but Schmidt slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Schmidt stops Cliveira from getting back to his feet.
Schmidt working Cliveira over with strikes.
Cliveira regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Schmidt.
Schmidt trying to control but Cliveira is working from the bottom.
Cliveira not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Schmidt stopping the sweep attempt from Cliveira.
Schmidt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cliveira works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Schmidt stops Cliveira from standing up.
Schmidt won't allow Cliveira to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Schmidt throws a big elbow that misses.
Schmidt landing some decent shots from guard.
Schmidt content to stall in guard here.
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.
Cliveira is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Schmidt is controlling him.
Schmidt throws a big elbow that misses.
Schmidt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cliveira keeping moving, preventing Schmidt from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Schmidt fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cliveira sprawls well initially but Schmidt persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cliveira is trying to stand.

Schmidt is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cliveira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cliveira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cliveira on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cliveira is controlling Schmidt's trapped leg to prevent Schmidt from advancing to side control.
Schmidt prevents Cliveira from improving his position.
Schmidt slips a nice elbow through Cliveira's hands, connecting with Cliveira's forehead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schmidt lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Schmidt prevents Cliveira from standing back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Schmidt dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Schmidt drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Xavier Schmidt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Schmidt prevents Cliveira from escaping the position.
Schmidt wants to control but Cliveira is keeping him busy.

Schmidt is trying to get an arm triangle but Cliveira is defending well.
Cliveira parries the strikes from Schmidt easily there. Schmidt is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cliveira to escape.
Cliveira regains half guard, as Schmidt was trying to land strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schmidt missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cliveira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cliveira wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schmidt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Schmidt is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Schmidt prevents Cliveira from standing back up.

Schmidt is looking for a kimura but Cliveira is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Schmidt to get the leverage.
Cliveira is trying to stand.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cliveira tries to move to mount but Schmidt blocks the move with his legs.
Schmidt is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cliveira can do to turn this around?
Cliveira looks up at the clock and then as Schmidt takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Cliveira smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Schmidt tries to bench press Cliveira off him but Cliveira keeps the position.
Schmidt manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Schmidt makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Schmidt.
Cliveira trying to control the position from guard on top but Schmidt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schmidt thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cliveira's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Schmidt looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Schmidt 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.
Cliveira postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cliveira postures up in Schmidt's guard and throws a big left but Schmidt blocks it.
Cliveira wants to control from the top but Schmidt keeps moving.

Schmidt had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cliveira defends it easily.

Schmidt is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cliveira defends well.

Cliveira avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four 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.
Cliveira showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cliveira makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Schmidt is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cliveira is aware though and is defending well.

Schmidt has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cliveira can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cliveira working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Oharles Cliveira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xavier Schmidt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Schmidt looking for a guillotine here but Cliveira defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Schmidt keeping moving, preventing Cliveira from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Oharles Cliveira.
I think Schmidt has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Xavier Schmidt!
After winning the bout, Xavier Schmidt thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.