PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dieter Schaafs (ranked 3855 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Cox (ranked 7958 p4p, 634 weight class). Dieter Schaafs has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Schaafs
vs
Cox

180 cm
28
190 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

189 cm
27
183 lbs
4 - 6 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dieter Schaafs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, John Cox!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cox bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cox moves in looking to clinch but Schaafs pushes him off.
Schaafs appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cox moves in looking to clinch but Schaafs pushes him off.
Schaafs throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Schaafs takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Schaafs tries to bum rush Cox with a series of wild strikes but Cox uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Schaafs missing with a left hand there. Cox was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Schaafs shoots for a takedown but Cox saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A cross from Schaafs lands.
A punch combination from Schaafs misses.
Schaafs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cox as he jumps to the side.

Schaafs scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cox manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Schaafs on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Schaafs tries to get out of the position.
Cox wants to control but Schaafs is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox stops Schaafs from getting back to his feet.
Schaafs has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Schaafs avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cox.
Schaafs pushes Cox off but Cox dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cox throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Cox tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cox has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Cox decides to stand back up. Cox steps back and let's Schaafs get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cox throws a sloppy head kick and Schaafs moves out of range easily.
We've been informed that Cox has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Schaafs misses the jab.
Schaafs ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cox fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Cox. No joy for Schaafs on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dieter Schaafs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cox misses with a low kick.
A combination from Schaafs does no damage.
Schaafs goes for a double leg but Cox avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cox continues to drive forward.
Cox changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Schaafs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cox moves away.
Schaafs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cox as he jumps to the side.
Schaafs is breathing heavily.

Cox darts in and clinches Schaafs up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cox.

Cox breaks from the clinch.
Cox keeps Schaafs at a distance using the push kick.
Schaafs closes the distance and clinches up with Cox, looking for a takedown. Schaafs pushes Cox against the cage but Cox circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Schaafs scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox throws a series of punches but Schaafs moves out of range.
Schaafs misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cox slips a straight right by Schaafs.
Schaafs changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cox tries to avoid it but Schaafs manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cox to the ground. Cox escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cox misses with a series of wild punches.
John Cox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Schaafs misses with a hook. Cox ducked under it nicely.
Schaafs throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Schaafs!

Cox clinches.
Cox using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Schaafs has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Schaafs breaks the clinch.
Schaafs darts in looking for a takedown but Cox gets double underhooks and turns Schaafs into the cage.
Cox steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Schaafs.
Cox goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cox tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schaafs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dieter Schaafs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cox lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cox looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Schaafs misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Cox closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cox misses with a hook from the clinch.

Schaafs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Schaafs.

Schaafs shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Cox manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Schaafs breaks from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schaafs jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Schaafs swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Cox dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Schaafs fails to land with a series of punches.
Cox is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Cox clinches up with Schaafs and pushes him back against the cage.

Schaafs breaks from the clinch.
Cox feints and then cracks Schaafs's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Schaafs down.
Schaafs misses with a two punch combination.

Cox fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Schaafs, pushing him back against the cage.

Schaafs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cox walks into a stiff left hand from Schaafs.
Some wild striking there from Cox.
Schaafs is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cox sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cox feints the counter takedown.
Nice jab there from Schaafs.

Cox has Schaafs up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Schaafs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Schaafs shoots in and drives through. Cox sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cox does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schaafs tries to bum rush Cox with a series of wild strikes but Cox uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cox tries to close the distance and clinch but Schaafs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Schaafs avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cox wants to clinch up but Schaafs keeps it at a distance.
Schaafs is looking to counter punch.
Dieter Schaafs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cox wants to clinch up but Schaafs keeps it at a distance.
Schaafs misses with a jab, cross combination.
Schaafs moves out of range of the body kick.
Schaafs takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Schaafs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Schaafs throws a big shot that misses.
Cox displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Cox goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Schaafs dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Schaafs scores with a four punch combination!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cox misses with a body kick.
Schaafs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox tries to clinch up but Schaafs circles away and keeps his distance.
Schaafs throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cox.
Cox throws a wild body kick that Schaafs sees coming a mile off.
Schaafs throws out a loose jab but Cox uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cox has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Schaafs thuds a left hand into Cox's body.
Schaafs's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Schaafs duly obliges.
Cox walks into a left hand.
Schaafs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Schaafs swats away the attempt to clinch by Cox.
Schaafs throws a right and a left that Cox avoids nicely.
Schaafs throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cox misses with a two punch combination.

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

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox fails in his attempt to clinch.
Schaafs fails to land with a series of punches.
Cox stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dieter Schaafs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cox doesn't manage to clinch there - Schaafs circles away.
Schaafs takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Schaafs circles away from the clinch attempt.
It looked like Schaafs wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cox fails with an attempt to clinch.
Schaafs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cox fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dieter Schaafs is winning the standup battle so far.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Schaafs keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cox's efforts to push away.
Cox fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Cox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cox moves into the clinch.

Cox manages to break the clinch.
Schaafs takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Cox leaves Schaafs with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Cox fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Schaafs, pushing him back against the cage.
Cox throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Schaafss head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Schaafs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schaafs shoots in but no luck this time.
Cox is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Cox clinches with his opponent.
Schaafs prevents Cox from breaking the clinch.
Cox working hard to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dieter Schaafs will probably get the nod.
That's time! Schaafs's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Schaafs avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cox is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Schaafs scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cox doesn't seem bothered though.
Schaafs misses with a few strikes there.
Cox changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Schaafs drops Cox with a beautiful combination! Cox stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Schaafs is looking for the KO!

Cox is rocked!

It looks like John Cox has been cut.
Schaafs shoots for a takedown but Cox saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cox is still on wobbly legs! Can Schaafs finish him?
Cox tries to close the distance and clinch up but Schaafs swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cox doesn't manage to clinch there - Schaafs circles away.
Cox seems to have recovered his senses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Schaafs.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cox misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Schaafs throws a body punch but Cox moves out of range.
Schaafs lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cox misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox wants to clinch.
Schaafs keeps the fight on the outside.
Cox tries to clinch there but Schaafs circles away.
Schaafs dives in for a single leg takedown but Cox sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dieter Schaafs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schaafs scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cox doesn't seem bothered though.
Cox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cox looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Schaafs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Schaafs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cox as he avoids it easily.
Schaafs will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Schaafs just misses with a punch to the body.

Cox moves into the clinch.
Cox tries to circle away but Schaafs has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cox tries to land knees in the clinch but Schaafs avoids the damage to the body.

Cox pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cox slaps away a takedown attempt from Schaafs, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cox is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Cox tries to close the distance and clinch up but Schaafs swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cox lands with a nice combination. Schaafs backs away looking to recover.
Schaafs checks a leg kick.
Cox doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A combination from Cox does no damage.
Schaafs fails to land the takedown.

Cox clinches with his opponent.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schaafs tries to keep at a distance but Cox has taken the fight into the clinch.

Schaafs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schaafs changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cox tries to avoid it but Schaafs manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cox to the ground. Cox escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cox throws a nice looking combination but Schaafs bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Schaafs looks to score with a jab to the body but Cox is just out of range.
Cox throws a nice inside leg kick.

Cox clinches up against the cage.

Schaafs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Schaafs shoots in but Cox avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Cox forces Schaafs back against the cage and clinches.

Schaafs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cox tries to clinch but Schaafs is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox misses with a few strikes there.
Cox misses with a hook.
Schaafs scores with a nice head shot.
Schaafs connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cox momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schaafs stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cox lunges at Schaafs with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Schaafs's hand.
Cox tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Schaafs manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Schaafs throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Schaafs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cox moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Schaafs shoots in but Cox avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cox tries to clinch up.
Cox tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schaafs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cox lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Schaafs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cox as he avoids it easily.

Cox has closed the distance and engaged Schaafs in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Cox.
I think Cox has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:30

The fight is ruled a majority draw!