PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manfred Schmidt (ranked 4189 p4p, 375 weight class) and Vitaliy Nekrasov (ranked 4029 p4p, 363 weight class). Schmidt comes to the cage accompanied by Riders High. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Schmidt
vs
Nekrasov

190 cm
27
185 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

178 cm
25
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manfred Schmidt !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vitaliy Nekrasov!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schmidt fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Schmidt tries to clinch
and Nekrasov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nekrasov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Schmidt counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd cheers as Nekrasov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Schmidt doesn't seem phased though.
Nekrasov misses with a straight right.

Schmidt is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nekrasov's half guard.
Nekrasov scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Schmidt manages to mount him!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Schmidt lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nekrasov wants to try and get back to his feet.
Schmidt misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Nekrasov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Schmidt .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmidt content just to control the position here.
Schmidt seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Nekrasov for as long as he can get away with.

Schmidt looking to secure an arm triangle but Nekrasov defends it well.
Schmidt looking to control but Nekrasov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Schmidt won't let Nekrasov get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Schmidt looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt throws some wild stikes that Nekrasov manages to avoid easily.
Nekrasov is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Nekrasov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Schmidt . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Schmidt in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Schmidt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Schmidt controlling his opponent.
Schmidt 's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Schmidt looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt tries to control but Nekrasov wriggling away.

Schmidt looking for a guillotine from mount but Nekrasov is having none of it.

Schmidt goes for an armbar but Nekrasov turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Nekrasov.
Schmidt controlling Nekrasov's posture.

Schmidt has his foot on Nekrasov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nekrasov works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Schmidt looking for a guillotine here but Nekrasov defends easily.
Schmidt has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Nekrasov stops Schmidt from standing up.
Schmidt pulls Nekrasov in to control the position.
Nekrasov throws a strike but Schmidt rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Schmidt stands and steps away. Nekrasov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manfred Schmidt dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Schmidt shoots and misses
enabling Nekrasov to counter with a crisp jab.
Nekrasov misses with a two punch combination.
Schmidt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nekrasov.
Schmidt is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nekrasov can do to turn this around?
Nekrasov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Schmidt .
Nekrasov throws out a counter right but Schmidt avoids it with no problem.
Nekrasov throws a head kick that misses.
Nekrasov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Nekrasov gets caught flat footed, as Schmidt shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nekrasov keeping moving, preventing Schmidt from controlling successfully.
Schmidt throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nekrasov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Schmidt breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Nekrasov misses the target.
Schmidt half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Schmidt tries to clinch up.
Schmidt shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nekrasov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manfred Schmidt . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nekrasov throws a body shot but no joy.
Nekrasov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Schmidt has his takedown stuffed
and Nekrasov counters with a stiff right hand.

Schmidt shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Schmidt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nekrasov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schmidt tries to advance to mount but Nekrasov denies him.

Schmidt looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nekrasov stops Schmidt from passing to mount.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt taking a breather here.

Schmidt thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Schmidt works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Nekrasov seems a little lost for a moment, as Schmidt dominates the positioning.

That's four 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.

Schmidt is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nekrasov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Schmidt goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Nekrasov rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Schmidt 's guard! Nice work there by Nekrasov!
Schmidt is trying to keep Nekrasov in close.
Schmidt pulls Nekrasov in close to prevent any damage.
Schmidt has a closed guard, preventing Nekrasov from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitaliy Nekrasov 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Schmidt clinches.
Schmidt with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Schmidt throws a knee to the head but misses.

Schmidt 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schmidt tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nekrasov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Schmidt somewhat.
Nekrasov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schmidt shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nekrasov as he jumps to the side.
Schmidt tries for a takedown but Nekrasov circles away easily
and Nekrasov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manfred Schmidt . That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmidt misses with a takedown attempt
and Nekrasov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vitaliy Nekrasov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nekrasov connects with a jab.
Nekrasov lands with a cross.
Nekrasov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Schmidt staying out of range there.
Nekrasov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Schmidt appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Schmidt has his takedown stuffed
and Nekrasov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Schmidt misses with a takedown
and Nekrasov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nekrasov's corner calls for a 1-2. Nekrasov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Schmidt moves in looking to clinch but Nekrasov pushes him off.
Some wild striking there from Nekrasov.
Schmidt seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt defending well as Nekrasov loads up on a big left hand.
Schmidt appears to be looking for a big counter.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schmidt will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Schmidt tries for a takedown but Nekrasov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Schmidt fails in his attempt to clinch.
Schmidt looks to clinch
and Schmidt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Nekrasov tries to keep at a distance but Schmidt has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nekrasov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Schmidt .
Schmidt tries to pull guard but Nekrasov holds him up against the cage and eventually Schmidt drops back down to his feet.
Nekrasov working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Schmidt is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nekrasov to keep the fight standing.
Nekrasov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Schmidt prevents Nekrasov from breaking the clinch.
Nekrasov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nekrasov is trying to push Schmidt away but Schmidt has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Schmidt breaks the clinch.

Schmidt clinches.
Schmidt misses with a knee to the head.
Schmidt tries to land knees in the clinch but Nekrasov avoids the damage to the body.
Nekrasov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt wants a takedown but no success here.

Schmidt breaks the clinch.

Schmidt has taken the fight to the clinch.
Schmidt throws a punch but it's blocked by Nekrasov.

Nekrasov breaks the clinch.

Schmidt closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nekrasov quickly recovers to half guard.

Nekrasov has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Schmidt is on him like a limpet, forcing Nekrasov back against the cage.
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!
Schmidt wants a takedown.
Schmidt jumps guard but Nekrasov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nekrasov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Nekrasov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schmidt tries for a takedown but Nekrasov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Schmidt moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromNekrasov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitaliy Nekrasov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nekrasov 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vitaliy Nekrasov!