PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andre Haack (ranked 299 p4p, 49 weight class) and Eric Staal (ranked 255 p4p, 38 weight class). Eric Staal has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Haack
vs
Staal

183 cm
35
183 lbs
29 - 14 - 3

180 cm
33
192 lbs
23 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 14 - 3, fighting out of New York, Andre Haack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Eric Staal!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Atkins and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Staal misses with a hook.
Staal shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Haack defends it nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Staal.
A low kick from Staal misses
and Haack counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Haack throws a body kick that misses
and Staal counters with a nice uppercut.
A low kick from Haack misses

and Staal counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Haack looking for a sweep. Not yet Haack, not yet.
Staal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Haack is keeping the position for now.
Staal postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Haack looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Staal content to stall in guard here.
Haack is trying to hold Staal in close to prevent damage but Staal has managed to pass into half guard.
Haack trying to control from the bottom.
Staal throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Staal connects with a nice short shot to Haack's temple.
Staal wants to take a breather but Haack is having none of it.
Haack trying to hold on to Staal's head to control him but Staal postures up.
Staal not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Staal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Haack defending well though.
Haack works his way to full guard. Good work.
Staal is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Staal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Staal throwing strikes from guard but Haack blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Haack misses with a low kick.
Staal cracks the inside of Haack's front leg.
Staal takes a jab right on the kisser.
Haack looks for the body kick but Staal saw that one coming.
Staal scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Haack misses the jab.
Staal takes a swing at Haack's ribcage but misses.
Haack scores with a nice head shot.
Staal slips a jab from Haack.
Staal feints the counter takedown.
Some bone on bone action there as Staal checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Staal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Haack as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Staal, as that shot connected.
Staal checks a leg kick.
Staal counters with a body kick.
Haack throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Staal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Haack is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haack lands a head kick!
Haack attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Staal gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Haack.
We've been told by Haack's head coaches at Lovelair Muay Thai/MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Haack throws the left hand but Staal avoids the punch easily.
Staal tries a quick counter leg kick but Haack is wise to it.

Staal feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Haack sprawling to the canvas! Haack rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Staal finish him?!
Oh Haack is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Staal looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Haack throws an overhand right that lands on Staal's shoulder, as Staal tries to avoid the shot.
Staal with the counter takedown but Haack avoids it easily.
Haack seems to have got his legs back now.
Haack thows a body kick. Staal tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Haack throws a leg kick that is checked

and Staal decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Haack's guard.
Haack looking for a sweep. Not yet Haack, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick from Haack lands but Staal takes it in his stride.
A solid leg kick lands there for Haack.
Staal staying out of range there.
Haack lands a slapping body shot.
Haack misses with an uppercut

and Staal counters with a nice right hand that sends Haack toppling to the canvas! Haack scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Staal finish him?!
Andre Haack seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Staal walks forward, straight into a front kick from Haack.
Haack throws a leg kick
and Staal counters with an inside leg kick.
Haack throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A slapping body kick lands there for Haack.
A shot to the liver by Haack. Beautiful body shot.
Haack slips a jab from Staal.
Haack tries a head kick but it misses.
Haack misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haack throws a shot from downtown. Staal moves away and avoids it.
Andre Haack is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Haack throws out a loose jab but Staal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Staal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Haack uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Staal.
Haack lands a front kick.
Haack moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Haack swinging wildly here.
Haack jabs at Staal's body.
A low kick from Haack is predictable there

and Staal decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Haack's guard.
Staal throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haack seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Haack working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Staal.

Staal gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Staal takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
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!
Haack attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Staal wants to clinch but Haack slips to the side
and Haack counters with a stiff right hand.
Haack connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Haack misses with a straight right.
Haack takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Haack fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Staal looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Staal shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Haack is trying to defend but Staal finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haack regains full guard. Nicely done.
Haack has his hands on Staal's head, controlling the position.
Eric Staal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Staal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Staal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Haack is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Staal is controlling him.
Staal postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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.
Staal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Haack working a defensive guard here.
Staal's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Staal dives in and grabs Haack's left leg, looking for a takedown. Haack pushes down on Staal's head and hops out.
Staal scores with a jab to the head.
Haack connects with a solid leg kick.
Jab from Staal.
Staal's corner calls for a 1-2. Staal obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Haack is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Staal.
Haack chopping away at his opponent's legs.
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 Andre Haack 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. This is the final round!

Haack looks to throw the jab but Staal is out of range.
Haack clobbers Staal with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Staal lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A swing and a miss from Haack.

Oooooh!!! Staal has knocked Haack down with a huge combo! Staal steps away and waves a wobbly Haack back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Haack scores with a push kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Staal takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A low kick from Haack misses

and Staal counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Staal has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Haack makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Haack.
Staal is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haack wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Haack working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Staal.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Staal wants to control from the top but Haack keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Haack misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Staal takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Haack throws a low kick but Staal moves out of range easily.
Staal thinks about the counter body kick.
Haack walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Staal checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Staal throws out a loose jab but Haack uses good head movement to avoid it.
Haack misses with a right hand
and Staal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big left from Haack misses.
Staal tries to clinch but Haack moves out of range.
Haack thinks about countering with a body kick.
Haack throws a poor cross that misses
and Staal counters with a stiff right hand.
Haack throws a lazy head kick
and Staal counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big left from Staal misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haack motions for Staal to come forward. Haack throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Staal ducks right into an uppercut from Haack.
Haack tries to land a body kick
and Staal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Haack throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Staal's head.
A head kick misses from Haack.
Staal drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Haack defends it well.
Haack connects with a single shot there.
Haack on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Staal darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Haack is staying active underneath Staal, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Haack blocking the ground and pound attempt from Staal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Staal controlling the pace.
Haack is trying to stand up here but Staal is controlling him well.
Staal takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Staal is trying to control. Haack wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Staal stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haack makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Haack.
Staal controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Staal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Staal has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Staal!