PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ernesto Schmidt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leslie Zheng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leslie Zheng will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Schmidt
vs
Zheng

223 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ernesto Schmidt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Leslie Zheng!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schmidt fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zheng raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Zheng shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Schmidt really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Zheng shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Schmidt being controlled here, momentarily.
Schmidt striking off his back but it's not causing Zheng any problems.
Schmidt is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schmidt trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Zheng missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zheng would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Zheng drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Schmidt dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmidt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Schmidt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Schmidt with a nice head shot there.
Zheng 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.
Schmidt content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zheng is trying to keep Schmidt in close.
Zheng wants to sweep but no luck.
Schmidt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Schmidt landing some decent shots from guard.
Zheng has momentary wrist control but Schmidt slips an elbow through the middle.
Zheng wants to sweep here but Schmidt controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt connects with a couple of short punches.
Schmidt postures up and lands a big shot to Zheng's brow.
Schmidt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Schmidt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Schmidt is in close to Zheng's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zheng looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Schmidt throws an elbow that misses. Zheng uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Schmidt's guard. Nice move by Zheng!

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.
Schmidt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zheng is controlling him.
Zheng stays in close to Schmidt's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zheng trying to control but Schmidt is working from the bottom.

Zheng drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zheng jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zheng must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zheng accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zheng prevents Schmidt from getting back to his feet.
Schmidt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zheng manages to get himself to full guard.

Schmidt postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zheng utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Schmidt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Schmidt lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt postures up in Zheng's guard and throws a big left but Zheng blocks it.

Zheng throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zheng looks winded!
Schmidt postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zheng is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Zheng is trying to control the action in half guard but Schmidt is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zheng thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Schmidt looks like he's trying to stand up.

Schmidt is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Zheng pulls his head out easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zheng looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Schmidt with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Schmidt dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Schmidt changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Zheng looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Schmidt working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Schmidt lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Zheng managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Schmidt.
Zheng is trying to control Schmidt's posture but Schmidt avoids it.
Schmidt creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Schmidt in side control, throwing shots but Zheng defends.
Schmidt scores with punches from side control.
Schmidt is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zheng can do to turn this around?
Zheng on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Zheng can't do much from the bottom here.
Schmidt working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Zheng is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zheng managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Schmidt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zheng is trying to get back to half guard.
Zheng takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Schmidt in side control lands a decent elbow.
Zheng is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
An elbow from Schmidt crashes against the mat.
Schmidt working the head and body with strikes.
Schmidt working away.
Schmidt lands some shots froms side control.
Schmidt misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Zheng tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Schmidt wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zheng is breathing heavily.
Schmidt scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Zheng to see if he's OK.
Schmidt postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt cracks Zheng with a big elbow.
Schmidt is chipping away with strikes.
Schmidt is putting a hurting on Zheng here, landing some big shots from side control.
Schmidt lands some shots froms side control.
Schmidt landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Zheng is looking for a sweep.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zheng dodges the ground and pound from Schmidt.
Schmidt grinds an elbow into Zheng's temple.
Schmidt fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Zheng taking punishment in the form of punches.
Schmidt working the ground and pound.
Zheng dodges the ground and pound from Schmidt.
Schmidt in side control, throwing shots but Zheng defends.
Schmidt cracks Zheng with a big elbow.
Schmidt creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Zheng wants to get back to his feet but Schmidt drags him back down.
Schmidt tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Ernesto Schmidt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Schmidt grinds an elbow into Zheng's temple.
Zheng dodges the ground and pound from Schmidt.
You can see the frustration on Zheng's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Schmidt scoring with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zheng defending against the ground and pound.
Zheng can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zheng is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Schmidt working the ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zheng is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Zheng struggling a bit here.
Schmidt working the ground and pound.
Schmidt throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Schmidt misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Schmidt throws a strike aimed at the side of Zheng's head but Zheng avoids it well.
Zheng is trying to improve his position.
Zheng taking punishment in the form of punches.
Schmidt landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Schmidt lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Zheng down.
Schmidt lands a decent elbow from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Schmidt dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zheng fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Schmidt avoids it really well and circles away.
Zheng tries to close the distance and clinch up but Schmidt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Schmidt thinks about countering with a head kick.

Zheng shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Schmidt manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Schmidt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zheng stops Schmidt from standing up.
Zheng landing with the ground and pound.
Zheng stops Schmidt from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schmidt looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zheng passes into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zheng looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zheng lands strikes from half guard.
Schmidt is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Schmidt is trying to control but can't.

Zheng is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Schmidt has managed to free his arm - good work.
Schmidt is trying to stand back up but Zheng is controlling him
Zheng wants to lay and pray for a moment but Schmidt keeps working.
Zheng wants to get back to his feet.

Schmidt pushes Zheng off and gets back to his feet.
Schmidt stuffs the takedown attempt from Zheng. Zheng gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schmidt looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Zheng has one foot on Schmidt's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Zheng throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Schmidt has his takedown stuffed

and Zheng counters with a nice double leg into side control. Schmidt won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Schmidt tries to escape but Zheng is in control.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Schmidt is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zheng is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt holding on.

Zheng thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Schmidt is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schmidt is not content to let Zheng control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Leslie Zheng has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ernesto Schmidt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Schmidt is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zheng is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leslie Zheng comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Schmidt has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ernesto Schmidt!