PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darius Witt (ranked 23978 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tj Schultz (ranked 5144 p4p, 0 weight class). Tj Schultz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Witt
vs
Schultz

186 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

182 cm
18
175 lbs
3 - 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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Darius Witt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tj Schultz!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schultz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Witt scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Schultz pushes Witt off but Witt dives into side control.
Schultz tries to buck Witt off but Witt is having none of it.
Witt cracks Schultz with a big right hand but Schultz just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Witt is trying to get an arm triangle but Schultz is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Schultz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee asks Witt politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Witt prefers to stall for the moment though.

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

Witt is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Schultz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Schultz pushes Witt away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Witt gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
An elbow from Witt crashes against the mat.
Schultz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Witt wants to work for an arm triangle but Schultz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Witt is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schultz is looking to control Witt's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Schultz avoid being mounted?

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

Witt pushes Schultz up against the cage in a clinch.
Witt fails to pull guard.
Witt gets underhooks to prevent Schultz's takedown attempt.
Schultz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Witt fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Schultz throws a low kick but Witt moves out of range easily.
Witt wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Witt tries to clinch there but Schultz circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Witt will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Witt drives through and clinches with Schultz against the cage.

Schultz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Schultz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Witt.
Schultz tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Schultz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Witt defends it nicely.
Darius Witt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tj Schultz.
Schultz looks winded!
Schultz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Witt sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Schultz somewhat.
Witt throws a quick counter head kick but Schultz was just out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Witt rushes Schultz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Schultz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Witt defends it nicely.
Schultz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Witt tries to sprawl but Schultz drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Schultz is trying to control the action in half guard but Witt is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Witt kicks off Schultz and gets to his feet.
Schultz is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Schultz moves into the clinch successfully.
Schultz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice elbow from Schultz.

Witt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witt shoots for a takedown but Schultz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Schultz rushes Witt and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Schultz is trying to drag Witt to the mat but Witt just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Schultz prevents the takedown attempt.
Witt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Witt tries to break the clinch but Schultz is controlling the position.
Schultz tries to score a body lock takedown but Witt shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Darius Witt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tj Schultz.
Witt has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Schultz after a bit of a struggle.
Schultz wants to take the fight to the mat but Witt manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Schultz jumps guard but Witt stands there with Schultz around his waist. Schultz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Witt pulls guard successfully.
Witt tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schultz wants to control from the top but Witt keeps moving.
Witt is pulling down on Schultz's head. It's preventing any offense from Schultz, at least for the moment.
Schultz trying to control the position from guard on top but Witt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schultz wants to get up but he can't break Witt's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Schultz is looking to advance position but Witt has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Witt controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Witt looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Witt controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Witt stands up from mount. Strange move.
Schultz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Witt tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Schultz manages to circle out of the way.
Schultz closes the distance and clinches up with Witt, looking for a takedown. Schultz pushes Witt against the cage but Witt circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Witt fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Schultz.
Witt misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schultz goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Schultz closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darius Witt dominated that second round.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

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

Witt shoots in and gets a takedown into Schultz's guard.
Witt is stalling in the full guard.
Schultz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schultz is pulling down on Witt's head. It's preventing any offense from Witt, at least for the moment.
Schultz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Witt won't allow Schultz to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Witt looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Witt keeping moving, preventing Schultz from controlling successfully.
Schultz throws an elbow that misses. Witt uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Schultz's guard. Nice move by Witt!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Witt drops back looking for a leg! Schultz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Schultz manages to kick Witt off! Witt jumps back into Schultz's guard.

Witt drops back looking for a leg! Schultz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Schultz manages to kick Witt off! Witt jumps back into Schultz's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Witt controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Schultz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Witt preventing the sweep.
Witt is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Schultz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Schultz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Witt pinned against the cage. Witt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tj Schultz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Witt is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Schultz misses with a wild combination.
Darius Witt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Schultz throws an off balance right hand

and Witt holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darius Witt showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Witt, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darius Witt!