PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Valenzuela (ranked 24696 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tj Schultz (ranked 4966 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Valenzuela
vs
Schultz

151 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

182 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frankie Valenzuela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tj Schultz!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schultz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Valenzuela counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Schultz.

Schultz gets a clinch.

Schultz breaks the clinch.

Valenzuela clinches with his opponent.

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

Schultz instigates a clinch.

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

Schultz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Schultz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Schultz dives in for a single leg takedown but Valenzuela sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Schultz takes the fight into the clinch.

Schultz pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schultz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Valenzuela defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valenzuela stays in close to Schultz's body and controls the position.

Schultz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Valenzuela postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Valenzuela is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Valenzuela really is a fat lump.
Valenzuela wants to control from the top but Schultz keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Schultz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Schultz keeping moving, preventing Valenzuela from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Schultz closes the distance and clinches.
Schultz lands a nice uppercut.
Schultz with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Schultz wants to get back to striking at distance but Valenzuela won't allow it.

Schultz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Valenzuela dives in for a single leg takedown but Schultz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Schultz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schultz blocks the strikes from Valenzuela.
Schultz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Schultz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Valenzuela trying to hold on to Schultz's head to control him but Schultz postures up.
Valenzuela has his hands clasped together around Schultz's back. He's all about the action.

That's four 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Schultz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Let's hope that Schultz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Schultz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Valenzuela is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Frankie Valenzuela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tj Schultz.
Schultz shoots in for a takedown but Valenzuela shows good takedown defense.
Valenzuela tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Schultz manages to circle out of the way.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horrible takedown attempt by Schultz or perhaps it was just good defense by Valenzuela, which made it look bad.
Schultz looks winded!
Schultz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Valenzuela.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tj Schultz 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.

No luck for Valenzuela with that takedown attempt.
Valenzuela leaves Schultz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
No luck for Valenzuela with that takedown attempt.

Schultz has managed to clinch.
Valenzuela is pressed up against the cage. Schultz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Valenzuela down to the mat. Valenzuela avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schultz has his takedown stuffed

and Valenzuela counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Valenzuela.
Frankie Valenzuela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tj Schultz.
Valenzuela is pressed up against the cage. Schultz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Valenzuela down to the mat. Valenzuela avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Valenzuela misses with a takedown attempt - Schultz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Valenzuela.
Schultz fails with a takedown attempt.
Schultz is breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Valenzuela is defended easily by Schultz.
Schultz fails with the takedown

and Valenzuela counters by moving into the clinch.
Schultz connects with a knee to the head.
Schultz is working for takedown but Valenzuela is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valenzuela.
Valenzuela lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Schultz backwards.
Schultz lands a nice uppercut.
Valenzuela lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Schultz is looking to break free of the clinch but Valenzuela has double underhooks.
Schultz is leaning against Valenzuela and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Schultz lands a shoulder strike.
Schultz misses with a knee to the head.
Schultz stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valenzuela misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valenzuela just leaning against Schultz, taking a breather.
Valenzuela putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Schultz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Valenzuela's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Schultz lands with a right to the head.
Valenzuela lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Schultz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Valenzuela pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Schultz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Valenzuela gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A hook to the body from Valenzuela.
Valenzuela lands with a right to the head.
Schultz wants a takedown but no success here.
Schultz goes for a takedown attempt but Valenzuela pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valenzuela fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Valenzuela fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Valenzuela shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Schultz as he jumps to the side.

Valenzuela tries to keep at a distance but Schultz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tj Schultz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Schultz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A short uppercut from Valenzuela.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short left from Valenzuela.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tj Schultz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Schultz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Schultz fails with a takedown attempt.

Valenzuela moves into range and clinches up with Schultz.
Valenzuela with an attempt at a knee that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schultz tries to land knees in the clinch but Valenzuela avoids the damage to the body.
Valenzuela on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Valenzuela tries to throw a body punch but Schultz avoids it by throwing Valenzuela back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Valenzuela prevents it.
Frankie Valenzuela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tj Schultz.
Schultz avoids a wild elbow strike from Valenzuela.
Schultz is trying to break the clinch but Valenzuela has him pressed against the cage.
Valenzuela creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Schultz scores with a shot to the side of Valenzuela's head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Valenzuela fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valenzuela is trying to break free.
Schultz being controlled against the cage.

Schultz breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schultz moves into the clinch.
Schultz tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Schultz blocks an elbow strike.

Schultz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schultz shoots in but no luck this time.
Valenzuela shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Schultz defends it nicely.
Schultz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Valenzuela sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Schultz somewhat.
Schultz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schultz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice takedown defense from Valenzuela. No joy for Schultz on that attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Valenzuela is defended easily by Schultz.
Valenzuela fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Schultz unleashes a big counter combination but Valenzuela bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Tj Schultz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Schultz stuffs the takedown.
Valenzuela shoots in but no luck this time.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valenzuela is pressed up against the cage. Schultz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Valenzuela down to the mat. Valenzuela avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Valenzuela looks for a takedown but Schultz sprawls well.
Valenzuela has a takedown stuffed.
Schultz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Valenzuela circles away.
Valenzuela is looking to counter the offense by Schultz and move into the clinch.
Schultz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Valenzuela attempts a counter takedown but Schultz avoids it well and moves away.
No luck for Valenzuela with that takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Schultz with a poor takedown
and Valenzuela cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Frankie Valenzuela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tj Schultz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Valenzuela ducks under a wild hook from Schultz.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tj Schultz.
Well Schultz 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tj Schultz!