PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yaniv Schulmann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Waldo Claudiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Waldo Claudiano struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Schulmann
vs
Claudiano

181 cm
32
145 lbs
22 - 11 - 0

160 cm
27
149 lbs
8 - 8 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yaniv Schulmann!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Waldo Claudiano!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Claudiano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Schulmann moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Claudiano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Claudiano has Schulmann up against the cage in a clinch.

Claudiano gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Schulmann tries to get to full guard but Claudiano has control of the leg.
Schulmann is trying is best to control the position here.
Schulmann tries to roll over but Claudiano keeps him under control.
Ground and pound from Claudiano.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Claudiano is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Schulmann is just riding it out for now. Claudiano eventually gives up the hold.
Claudiano is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano stalling.
Claudiano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Schulmann wants to control but Claudiano passes into side.
Schulmann is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Claudiano's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Schulmann trying to control from the bottom.
Schulmann really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Claudiano looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Claudiano is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Schulmann doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Claudiano.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Schulmann tries to get to full guard but Claudiano has control of the leg.
Claudiano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Schulmann keeps working.
Claudiano is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schulmann manages to get to full guard.
Claudiano passes into half guard.

Claudiano wants to work for an arm triangle but Schulmann is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Schulmann trying to hold on to Claudiano's head to control him but Claudiano postures up.
Schulmann works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Claudiano landing with the ground and pound.
Schulmann looking for a sweep. Not yet Schulmann, not yet.
Claudiano stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Schulmann swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Schulmann wants to sweep here but Claudiano controlling him for the moment.
Claudiano postures up and lands a big shot to Schulmann's brow.
Claudiano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Schulmann tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Schulmann working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Claudiano has passed into half guard!
Claudiano scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waldo Claudiano 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.

A slapping leg kick lands for Schulmann.
Schulmann's jab looks to have found its range, popping Claudiano under the eye.
Claudiano throws out a loose jab but Schulmann uses good head movement to avoid it.
Claudiano wants to clinch
and Schulmann makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Schulmann misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Claudiano.

Claudiano closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Schulmann throws a punch but it's blocked by Claudiano.
Claudiano misses with a punch to the body.

Claudiano gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Schulmann is looking to improve his position.
Schulmann is pressing down on Claudiano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schulmann has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Claudiano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Claudiano looking to pass the guard.
Claudiano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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

That's two 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.
Claudiano slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Claudiano scoring with some ground and pound.
Schulmann looking for a sweep. Not yet Schulmann, not yet.
Claudiano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Claudiano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Claudiano controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Claudiano scores with a nice body kick.
Schulmann circles away from the clinch attempt.
Schulmann scores with a kick to the midsection.
Schulmann chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Claudiano can pounce on him.

Claudiano scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schulmann is looking to improve his position.
Claudiano looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Schulmann slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Schulmann escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Claudiano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Schulmann looking for a guillotine here but Claudiano defends easily.
Schulmann keeping moving, preventing Claudiano from controlling successfully.
Schulmann will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Claudiano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Claudiano postures up in Schulmann's guard and throws a big left but Schulmann blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Claudiano lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waldo Claudiano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Schulmann fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Claudiano avoids it really well and circles away.
Claudiano throws the kick towards the body but Schulmann avoids it.
Schulmann avoids the body shot from Claudiano.
Claudiano throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Schulmann throws a body shot but no joy.
Claudiano scores with a jab to the head.
Schulmann tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Claudiano defends well and Schulmann ends up having to push Claudiano into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Claudiano gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Claudiano is trying to trip Schulmann. He has hold of a leg but Schulmann is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Claudiano persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Claudiano throws a big right hand that misses.
Claudiano postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Claudiano with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano controls from within his opponent's guard.

Schulmann escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Claudiano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Claudiano wants to control from the top but Schulmann keeps moving.
Claudiano is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Schulmann looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Claudiano passes into half guard.
Claudiano is looking to advance position but Schulmann won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Claudiano slips a nice elbow through Schulmann's hands, connecting with Schulmann's forehead.
Schulmann is staying active underneath Claudiano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Schulmann is looking to improve his position.
Schulmann taking some punishment here, with Claudiano in his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Claudiano connects with a nice short shot to Schulmann's temple.
Schulmann has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Claudiano is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schulmann is looking to improve his position.
Claudiano working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Claudiano looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Schulmann with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Schulmann wants to improve his position but Claudiano is controlling well.
Schulmann is looking to control Claudiano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Schulmann avoid being mounted?
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Claudiano is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Schulmann tries to roll over but Claudiano keeps him under control.
Schulmann is working hard here to advance position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Schulmann's corner calls for a 1-2. Schulmann obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Claudiano scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Schulmann looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schulmann won't allow Claudiano to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waldo Claudiano really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Claudiano rushes Schulmann and presses him up against the cage.
Schulmann misses with a punch on the inside.
Claudiano lands with a right to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Claudiano.
Claudiano cracks Schulmann with a nice body shot.
Schulmann misses with a punch to the body.
Claudiano working aggressively here.
Schulmann is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Claudiano is keeping busy.
Schulmann lands a shoulder strike.
Schulmann misses with a punch to the body.
Schulmann tries to work over Claudiano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schulmann tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Claudiano works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Schulmann misses with a hook from the clinch.
Claudiano digs a right hand into Schulmann's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Schulmann's gas tank.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Schulmann tries to throw a body punch but Claudiano avoids it by throwing Schulmann back against the cage.
Schulmann tries to work over Claudiano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Claudiano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Claudiano gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Schulmann is trying to control but can't.
Claudiano is nestled in close to Schulmann, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Schulmann is not content to let Claudiano control the position.
Claudiano scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Claudiano is keen to just control but Schulmann is a slippery customer.
Claudiano trying to control the pace.
Claudiano is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schulmann has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Claudiano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Schulmann working a defensive guard but Claudiano passes into half guard.
Schulmann taking some punishment here, with Claudiano in his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Claudiano connects with a nice short shot to Schulmann's temple.
Claudiano controlling the action here.

Claudiano is working for a kimura but Schulmann is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Schulmann does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Claudiano is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Claudiano lands a nice short elbow.
Schulmann is pressing down on Claudiano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Schulmann keeping moving, preventing Claudiano from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Schulmann looking for subs off his back but Claudiano has passed one foot through into half guard.
Claudiano content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Schulmann wants to control but Claudiano is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Schulmann has hold of Claudiano's hands but Claudiano slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waldo Claudiano dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Claudiano has taken the fight to the clinch.
Claudiano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Claudiano.

Claudiano has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Schulmann is trying to keep an underhook but Claudiano manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Schulmann is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Claudiano's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Claudiano's back!
Claudiano trying to control the position but Schulmann manages to sink in the hooks.
Claudiano is really stuck here.
Schulmann scores with punches to the body.
Schulmann thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Schulmann struggling to keep hold of the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Schulmann gets his hands free as Claudiano looks to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schulmann throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Claudiano tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Claudiano wants to hold on but Schulmann pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schulmann 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.
Claudiano manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Schulmann not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Claudiano is looking for a sweep. Schulmann is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Schulmann trying to control from half guard but Claudiano is working away.
Schulmann prevents Claudiano from improving his position.
Yaniv Schulmann has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schulmann throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Schulmann throwing shots but Claudiano is blocking nicely.
Claudiano trying to control from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Yaniv Schulmann is winning the standup battle so far.
Schulmann takes a swing at Claudiano's ribcage but misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Claudiano.
Claudiano stuns Schulmann with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Claudiano pushes Schulmann up against the cage in a clinch.
Schulmann lands with a left to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Schulmann creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Claudiano scores with a nice hook to the head.
Schulmann throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Claudianos head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Schulmann.
Schulmann lands a right hand that snaps the head of Claudiano backwards.
Schulmann throws a punch but it's blocked by Claudiano.
Claudiano scores with a shoulder strike.
Schulmann tries to pull guard but Claudiano won't allow it.
Schulmann can't find room to land a body shot as Claudiano controls the action.
Claudiano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Claudiano has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Schulmann regains guard immediately.
Claudiano cracks Schulmann with a solid left hand.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schulmann throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Schulmann is on top in guard.

Schulmann loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Claudiano looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Schulmann throwing strikes from guard but Claudiano blocks nicely.
Claudiano pulls Schulmann in close to prevent any damage.
Schulmann working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yaniv Schulmann.
Well Claudiano 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 46:49
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 45:50
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Waldo Claudiano!
Waldo Claudiano is the new bantamweight champion!
The defeated Yaniv Schulmann had this to say: 'Upon completing this tournament, which ends after one more fight, Im cutting ties with my current manager.'.