PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric St Croix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Eleosida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

St Croix
vs
Eleosida

179 cm
21
215 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

189 cm
27
217 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eric St Croix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nate Eleosida!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Croix has a takedown stuffed.
St Croix shoots for a takedown but Eleosida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Eleosida drives through with a takedown into guard.
St Croix working a defensive guard here.
St Croix is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Eleosida trying to control the position from guard on top but St Croix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eleosida might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control St Croix kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Eleosida accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
St Croix controls Eleosida momentarily but Eleosida frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eleosida trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Croix is trying to control the position but Eleosida postures up.

St Croix throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
St Croix is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Eleosida loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Eleosida throwing strikes from guard but St Croix blocks nicely.
St Croix is trying to keep Eleosida in close.
St Croix keeping moving, preventing Eleosida from controlling successfully.

St Croix throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eleosida throws an elbow that misses. St Croix uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Eleosida's guard. Nice move by St Croix!
Eleosida wants to stand but St Croix is controlling the position.
St Croix with a flurry of punches that miss.
St Croix wants to control from the top but Eleosida keeps moving.
Eleosida is looking to stand up but St Croix isn't so interested in that idea.
Eleosida wants to sweep but no luck.
This has been an exciting period of action!
St Croix stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Eleosida swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Eleosida is looking for a triangle here but St Croix uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eleosida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Eleosida gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

St Croix seems to be working for a kimura but Eleosida defends the submission attempt.
Eleosida moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
St Croix trying to control the position from guard on top but Eleosida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Croix stopping the sweep attempt from Eleosida.
St Croix sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Eleosida's guard.
Eleosida is looking to improve his position.
St Croix is keen to just control but Eleosida is a slippery customer.
Eleosida tries to get to full guard but St Croix has control of the leg.
St Croix tries to pass the half guard into mount. Eleosida knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Eleosida throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

St Croix is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Eleosida is just riding it out for now. St Croix eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Eleosida looking for submissions off his back.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Eleosida actively working from the bottom here.

Eleosida actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eleosida is trying to stand back up but St Croix is controlling him
Eleosida looks gassed!
St Croix is trying to control. Eleosida wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
St Croix wants to pass to mount but Eleosida is defending the position.
St Croix content to control rather than advance.

Eleosida looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
St Croix wants to lay and pray for a moment but Eleosida keeps working.
St Croix throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with St Croix in particular looking to stall.
Eleosida is trying to get back to full guard.
St Croix seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Eric St Croix just wasn't active enough.
St Croix shoots for a takedown but Eleosida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric St Croix. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
St Croix fails with the takedown.
St Croix tries for a takedown but Eleosida sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
St Croix has his takedown stuffed

and Eleosida counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Eleosida slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Eleosida throws a big right hand that misses.
Eleosida stopping the sweep attempt from St Croix.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Eleosida accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Eleosida working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

St Croix throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
St Croix working a defensive guard here.
St Croix preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
St Croix utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Eleosida trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
St Croix manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Eleosida manages to get himself to full guard.
St Croix stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Eleosida swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Eleosida is looking for a triangle here but St Croix uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
A lull in the action here as St Croix stalls from top position.
Eleosida is trying to get back to his feet.
Eleosida prevents St Croix from moving into mount.
Eleosida is looking for a sweep.
Eleosida pushes St Croix away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, St Croix gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
St Croix wants to lay and pray for a moment but Eleosida keeps working.
Eleosida is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Eric St Croix will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

St Croix shoots in looking for a takedown. Eleosida tries to sprawl out of it but St Croix keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Eleosida manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
St Croix throws a series of punches but Eleosida avoids them all with ease.
St Croix throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Eleosida lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Eric St Croix has been cut.
St Croix is looking to clinch but Eleosida is avoiding it.

St Croix shoots in and bounces Eleosida off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
St Croix looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eleosida is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Eleosida looking to control.
St Croix trying to control but Eleosida is working from the bottom.
Eleosida trying to control the position.
St Croix trying to control but Eleosida is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Eleosida scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
St Croix is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
St Croix gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Croix is pulling down on Eleosida's head to control his posture.
Eleosida lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Eleosida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with St Croix. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Eleosida in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
St Croix utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

St Croix has his foot on Eleosida's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Eleosida works his way back into a safe position though.
Eleosida must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
St Croix trying to keep a closed guard but Eleosida is proving a slippery customer.
Eric St Croix overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Eleosida preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

St Croix looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Eleosida accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Eleosida works over St Croix with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eleosida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
St Croix looking to control.
St Croix looking for a sweep. Not yet St Croix, not yet.
Eleosida lands a couple of elbows.
Eleosida wants to control from the top but St Croix keeps moving.
St Croix is trying to keep Eleosida in close.
Eleosida postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Eleosida with a nice head shot there.
Eleosida looking to pass the guard.
St Croix looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Croix looking to control.
St Croix working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Eleosida.
Eleosida stopping the sweep attempt from St Croix.
Eleosida trying to control but St Croix is working from the bottom.
St Croix tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Eleosida trying to control the position from guard on top but St Croix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Eleosida is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Eleosida throwing strikes from guard but St Croix blocks nicely.
St Croix is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Eleosida postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Eleosida slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
St Croix wants to sweep but no luck.
St Croix is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Eleosida working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Eleosida throws a big elbow that misses.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Eleosida pushing down on St Croix's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Eleosida working the head and body with strikes.
St Croix avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Eleosida.
St Croix trying to hold on to Eleosida's head to control him but Eleosida postures up.
St Croix is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Eleosida prevents St Croix from improving his position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Eleosida thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed St Croix's head.
St Croix taking some punishment here, with Eleosida in his half guard.
Eleosida trying to control from St Croix's half guard. St Croix has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Eleosida throwing strikes but missing.
St Croix avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Eleosida postures up.
Eleosida is working St Croix over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Eleosida passes St Croix's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Eleosida is thwarting St Croix's attempts to control the position.
Eleosida not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Eleosida throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Eleosida looks to land a strike but St Croix avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Eleosida avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
St Croix keeping moving, preventing Eleosida from controlling successfully.
Eleosida is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
St Croix looking to control.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Eleosida throws an elbow that misses. St Croix uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Eleosida's guard. Nice move by St Croix!
St Croix trying to control but Eleosida is working from the bottom.
St Croix is really struggling to control Eleosida but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Eleosida looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Eleosida keeping moving, preventing St Croix from controlling successfully.
Eleosida throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
St Croix wants to pass the guard but Eleosida is keeping the position.
St Croix stopping the sweep attempt from Eleosida.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Eleosida 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Nate Eleosida!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Nate Eleosida!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Nate Eleosida!

Nate Eleosida wins by unanimous decision!
Nate Eleosida got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'