PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thufir Hawat (ranked 1809 p4p, 1877 weight class) and Dag Schotel (ranked 241 p4p, 251 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Hawat
vs
Schotel

185 cm
27
178
14 - 15 - 0

181 cm
29
177
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Leiko Leaf Clothing

Stoner's Killer Apparel

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 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thufir Hawat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dag Schotel!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawat wants to clinch up but Schotel keeps it at a distance.
Dag Schotel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schotel scores with a jab to the jaw.
Schotel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hawat moves away.
Hawat is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hawat throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Schotel darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Schotel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hawat was well out of range. Poor timing from Schotel.
Schotel lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hawat misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Schotel.
Hawat misses with a lunging right hand
and Schotel counters with a left to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schotel scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Schotel throws a jab when Hawat was well out of range.
Hawat lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Hawat has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Schotel needs to keep his hands up - Hawat had a free shot at his head there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hawat tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schotel misses with a takedown attempt
and Hawat counters with a stiff right hand.
Schotel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hawat.
Hawat takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Schotel's corner calls for a 1-2. Schotel obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Schotel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Schotel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hawat.
Schotel misses with a hook to the body
and Hawat makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Schotel really felt that one!
Schotel scores with a jab to the body.
Schotel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hawat.
Schotel looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawat is just out of range.
Hawat is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Schotel misses with a hook. Hawat ducked under it nicely.
Thufir Hawat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Schotel ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawat steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Schotel.
Hawat throwing a counter right hand but Schotel manages to avoid it.
Schotel scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hawat doesn't seem bothered though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Schotel uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Schotel shoots in for a takedown but Hawat shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thufir Hawat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dag Schotel.
Schotel scores with a jab. Hawat acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Schotel misses with a looping right.
Hawat misses with a low kick.
Schotel lands a lovely overhand right.
Schotel tests Hawat's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Schotel dips to his left and cracks Hawat with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawat loads up on a big right hand but Schotel slips the punch.
Hawat takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Schotel scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hawat doesn't seem bothered though.
Schotel shoots in for a takedown but Hawat shows good takedown defense.
A telegraphed right hand from Hawat misses the target.
Hawat misses with a body kick.
Nice uppercut there from Schotel.
Schotel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hawat moves away.
Hawat throws a quick counter head kick but Schotel was just out of range.
Schotel fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hawat on the side of the head.
Hawat takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Schotel avoids the head kick by Hawat.
A swing and a miss from Hawat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schotel stuns Hawat with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Schotel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schotel lands a body shot.
Schotel avoids the head kick by Hawat.
Schotel is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hawat rather than just go for the knockout.
Schotel fails with a takedown attempt.
Hawat walks into a left hand.

Schotel shoots in and bounces Hawat off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Schotel with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dag Schotel dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Schotel cracks Hawat with a good jab.
Schotel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hawat takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hawat chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A swing and a miss from Schotel.
Hawat gets cracked there but stands up to it.

It looks like Thufir Hawat has been cut.
Schotel connects with a jab.
Hawat misses with a hook.
Schotel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And Hawat counters with a quick kick to the body but Schotel blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawat misses with an uppercut. Schotel saw that one coming.
Hawat keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hawat is looking to counter punch.
Schotel cracks Hawat with a good jab.
Schotel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hawat sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schotel tests Hawat's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Schotel. That snapped Hawat's head back.
Hawat throws a head kick but Schotel moves out of range.
Schotel scores with a jab to the body.
Hawat displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Schotel throws out the jab.
Hawat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Schotel throws out a counter right but Hawat avoids it with no problem.
Hawat takes one to the side of the head.
Schotel misses the jab.
Hawat pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hawat looks to throw the jab but Schotel is out of range.
Schotel scores with a decent looking hook.
Hawat looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Hawat.
Schotel tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hawat defends well and Schotel ends up having to push Hawat into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Schotel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hawat fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Schotel manages to avoid it.
Schotel changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hawat moves out of range as Schotel strikes.
Schotel looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thufir Hawat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dag Schotel.
Schotel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hawat at a distance.
Schotel with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hawat counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Schotel.
Hawat takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hawat pivots, looking for a leg kick but Schotel is out of range and Hawat settles back down.
Nice shot by Schotel.
Schotel scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hawat. Schotel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Schotel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Schotel lands a right hook to the body.
Hawat takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hawat takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd cheers as Schotel lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hawat doesn't seem phased though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Schotel feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hawat is pulling down on Schotel's head. It's preventing any offense from Schotel, at least for the moment.
Schotel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Schotel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Schotel cracks Hawat with a solid left hand.
Schotel scoring with punches to the head and body.
Schotel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hawat not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Schotel makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Schotel landing with the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dag Schotel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thufir Hawat's cut.
That's time! Hawat's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Schotel drives through with a takedown into guard.
Schotel trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Schotel working his ground and pound in the gym.
Schotel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hawat's head.
Schotel stopping the sweep attempt from Hawat.
Hawat seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schotel looking to pass the guard.
Schotel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schotel wants to control from the top but Hawat keeps moving.
Hawat working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Schotel.
Hawat is trying to keep Schotel in close.
Hawat is pulling down on Schotel's head. It's preventing any offense from Schotel, at least for the moment.
Schotel stands and throws Hawat's legs to the side, diving into side control.

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

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.
Hawat tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hawat is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Hawat is not content to let Schotel control the position.
Schotel in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Thufir Hawat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schotel is putting a hurting on Hawat here, landing some big shots from side control.
Schotel working the ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Hawat's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hawat is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Schotel postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Schotel lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Hawat tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dag Schotel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawat manages to work his way to half guard, despite Schotel's best efforts.
Schotel is looking to pass Hawat's guard but actually Hawat recovers to full guard.
Schotel scoring with punches to the head and body.
Schotel trying to control but Hawat is working from the bottom.
Hawat wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Schotel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Dag Schotel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Schotel 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dag Schotel!
Our winner, Dag Schotel, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.