PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Merrill Schneider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Ashkazih (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Schneider
vs
Ashkazih

209 cm
22
151 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Merrill Schneider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joshua Ashkazih!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Ashkazih misses.
Ashkazih shoots in but Schneider avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Schneider displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ashkazih throws out the jab.

Ashkazih moves into range and clinches up with Schneider.
Schneider avoiding damage as Ashkazih throws knees to the body.

Schneider breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Schneider has taken the fight to the clinch.

Schneider breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Schneider gets tackled into the cage by Ashkazih. Ashkazih maintains the clinch.
Ashkazih is trying to break free.
Ashkazih can't get the takedown.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Schneider.
Schneider looking for a takedown.
Ashkazih with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ashkazih wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashkazih is trying to break free.
Ashkazih is working for takedown but Schneider is calmly controlling the position for now.
Merrill Schneider has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Ashkazih.

Schneider is trying to trip Ashkazih. He has hold of a leg but Ashkazih is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Schneider persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Schneider connects with a couple of short punches.
Schneider working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schneider stands up over Ashkazih, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Schneider keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ashkazih's head.
Schneider scoring with some ground and pound.
Schneider content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Schneider cracks Ashkazih with a solid left hand.
Ashkazih wants to stand and escape but Schneider is having none of it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schneider keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ashkazih's head.
Schneider scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Schneider is in close to Ashkazih's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ashkazih looks winded!

Schneider decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schneider rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ashkazih moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ashkazih shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Schneider as he avoids it easily.
Schneider really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Schneider throws a head kick that misses.
Ashkazih tries to land a front kick but Schneider steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Schneider misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Schneider looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Schneider tries a head kick but it misses.

Schneider closes the distance and clinches.
Schneider stalling in the clinch.

Schneider decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schneider looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ashkazih is one step ahead there.
Ashkazih trying to control the position from guard on top but Schneider is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schneider will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Schneider seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Schneider working for a triangle but Ashkazih defends it easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Schneider is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schneider lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Schneider lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Schneider postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Schneider lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Schneider scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schneider stays in close to Ashkazih's body and controls the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schneider landing with the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Schneider working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Schneider moves into the clinch successfully.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Schneider.

Schneider pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ashkazih clinches with his opponent.

Schneider breaks from the clinch.

Ashkazih moves into range and clinches up with Schneider.
Ashkazih is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Schneider keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ashkazih's efforts to push away.

Schneider escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Schneider connects with a leg kick. Ashkazih looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ashkazih goes for a double leg but Schneider avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Schneider continues to drive forward.

Schneider jumps into guard, dragging Ashkazih to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schneider lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ashkazih!
Ashkazih is breathing heavily.
Schneider raining down hammerfists from mount.
Ashkazih tries to hold on but Schneider pushes him away.
Schneider is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ashkazih can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Schneider controlling the pace for now.
Schneider postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ashkazih looks a forlorn figure.
Ashkazih tries to hold on but Schneider postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schneider lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Schneider lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ashkazih wants to control but Schneider is having none of it.
Schneider is landing with some decent strikes but Ashkazih is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Schneider lands with some strikes.
Schneider controlling from the full mount.

Schneider throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Ashkazih has his hands clasped together but Schneider breaks the hold and Ashkazih is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Schneider!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Merrill Schneider!