PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Julius Schoonover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatsuya Kimura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Schoonover's entrance music is Daylight - Matt and Kim. A fine choice. Kimura is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Inner Light by Shocking Lemon. This should be a great matchup!

Schoonover
vs
Kimura

185 cm
20
195 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
196 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Julius Schoonover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tatsuya Kimura!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schoonover swings for the body but Kimura moves out of range.
Kimura fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Schoonover manages to avoid it.
Horrible takedown by Schoonover or perhaps it was just good defense by Kimura which made him look bad.
Kimura misses with a wild body shot.
Kimura with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Schoonover lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kimura circles away quickly and effectively.
Schoonover tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kimura swivels and escapes.
Schoonover checks the leg kick nicely there.
No luck for Schoonover with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julius Schoonover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schoonover takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kimura throws a leg kick which misses Schoonover's front leg but catches the back leg as Schoonover tries to avoid it.
Kimura swings for the body but Schoonover moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schoonover doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Schoonover fails with the takedown.
Kimura throws a low kick but Schoonover moves out of range easily.
Kimura scoring well with a low kick there.
Schoonover is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jab from Kimura.
Kimura attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kimura throws the kick towards the body but Schoonover avoids it.
Kimura is looking to clinch but Schoonover is avoiding it.
Kimura fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimura swings for the body but Schoonover moves out of range.
Schoonover blocks a low kick nicely.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kimura. Schoonover shrugs it off though.
Kimura turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kimura lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Good leg kick by Kimura there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kimura goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Schoonover closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kimura counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Schoonover tries for a takedown but Kimura circles away easily
and Kimura counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimura looks to score with a jab to the body but Schoonover is just out of range.
Kimura tries to score with a low kick but Schoonover moves his leg out of the way.
Schoonover tries for a takedown but Kimura circles away easily
letting Kimura counter with a right hand.
Kimura is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Schoonover rather than just go for the knockout.
Kimura throws a wild body kick that Schoonover sees coming a mile off.
A good leg kick by Kimura.
Schoonover avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kimura takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kimura throws the kick towards the body but Schoonover avoids it.
Schoonover takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kimura looks to score with a jab to the body but Schoonover is just out of range.
Schoonover checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimura tries to clinch

and Schoonover counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Schoonover drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kimura manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Schoonover has Kimura in his guard.
Schoonover keeping moving, preventing Kimura from controlling successfully.
Schoonover wants to sweep but no luck.
Kimura controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kimura trying to control but Schoonover is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatsuya Kimura dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Kimura. Schoonover does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kimura scoring well with a low kick there.
Schoonover checks the leg kick.
Kimura thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Schoonover if he has to take too many more of those.
Schoonover throws a lazy right hand but Kimura sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Schoonover drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Schoonover goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kimura rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Schoonover's guard! Nice work there by Kimura!
Schoonover is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schoonover will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Schoonover not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Schoonover working for a triangle but Kimura defends it easily.
Kimura stopping the sweep attempt from Schoonover.
Schoonover controls Kimura momentarily but Kimura frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Schoonover wants to sweep but no luck.
Kimura tries to free his leg and advance position but Schoonover is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Schoonover takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Schoonover moves out of range as Kimura throws a body kick.
Kimura throws a front kick aimed at Schoonover's knee but Schoonover avoids it well.
Kimura throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Schoonover stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Schoonover is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Schoonover lands with an uppercut that bounces Kimura off the ropes and back into rage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimura throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kimura lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Schoonover at a distance.
Kimura pivots, looking for a leg kick but Schoonover is out of range and Kimura settles back down.
Schoonover gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kimura counters with a nice low kick that buckles Schoonover's knee momentarily.
Tatsuya Kimura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Schoonover takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Schoonover rushes Kimura and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Schoonover jumps guard but Kimura stands there with Schoonover around his waist. Schoonover gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Kimura just misses with a elbow thrown towards Schoonover's brow.
A nice left hand lands by Kimura.

Schoonover drags the fight down to the ground.
Kimura stopping the sweep attempt from Schoonover.
Schoonover keeping moving, preventing Kimura from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kimura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Schoonover is keeping the position for now.

Schoonover working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kimura doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kimura manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kimura pushing down on Schoonover's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Julius Schoonover will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A chopping leg kick lands by Kimura.
Kimura wants to clinch up but Schoonover keeps it at a distance.
Kimura throws a right and a left that both miss.

Schoonover drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Schoonover thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Schoonover postures up in Kimura's guard and throws a big left but Kimura blocks it.
Schoonover wants to control from the top but Kimura keeps moving.
Kimura keeping full guard, as Schoonover tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schoonover trying to control the position from guard on top but Kimura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schoonover looking to sit in guard and control but Kimura gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Schoonover keeping moving, preventing Kimura from controlling successfully.
Schoonover bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kimura's guard.

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

Schoonover is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kimura is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kimura has escaped and now he's on top!
Kimura wants to control from the top but Schoonover keeps moving.
Schoonover is trying to control the position but Kimura postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schoonover has his foot on Kimura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kimura works his way back into a safe position though.
Kimura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Schoonover is keeping the position for now.
Kimura won't allow Schoonover to sweep him here.

Schoonover has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kimura can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kimura looking to pass the guard.

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.
Schoonover is trying to control the position but Kimura postures up.
Kimura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Schoonover swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Schoonover is trying to keep Kimura in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kimura throws a predictable looking body shot

and Schoonover counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Schoonover fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Schoonover drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Schoonover clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Schoonover moves out of range of the leg kick from Kimura.
Schoonover with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kimura counters with a body kick that stops Schoonover in his tracks momentarily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kimura.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Schoonover crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kimura - the referee stops the clock and Schoonover gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kimura. Schoonover manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kimura lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Schoonover circles away quickly and effectively.
Kimura tries to land a leg kick but Schoonover saw it coming and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab by Kimura.
Kimura with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Schoonover fails with the takedown
and Kimura counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schoonover clinches but Kimura breaks the clinch
and Kimura counters with a nice body kick.
Kimura fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Schoonover checks it well.
Kimura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kimura throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kimura misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kimura throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kimura scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kimura misses with a body shot.

Schoonover scores with a takedown into Kimura's guard.
Kimura keeping moving, preventing Schoonover from controlling successfully.
Tatsuya Kimura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover passes Kimura's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kimura won't allow Schoonover to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schoonover is working for a kimura but Kimura is defending it quite comfortably.
Kimura is trying to get back to full guard.
Kimura makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kimura.

Schoonover postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kimura is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Schoonover, into his guard.
Kimura really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Schoonover. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kimura is fighting to break Schoonover's control of his arms but Schoonover is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Schoonover looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Kimura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kimura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tatsuya Kimura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 38:38
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 38:39
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 38:38

The fight is ruled a majority draw!