PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evan Payton (ranked 1429 p4p, 179 weight class) and Eric Staal (ranked 741 p4p, 95 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Payton
vs
Staal

180 cm
36
192 lbs
21 - 19 - 0

180 cm
36
192 lbs
28 - 12 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 21 - 19 - 0, fighting out of New York, Evan Payton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 12 - 2, fighting out of New York, Eric Staal!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Payton connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Staal's hands.
We've been hearing reports that Payton has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Payton bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Payton scores with a nice strike.
Payton tests Staal's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Payton throws a looping overhand right but Staal ducks down to avoid it.
Staal doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Payton throws a big shot that misses.
Staal tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Evan Payton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Staal moves out of range of the strikes.

Payton closes the distance and clinches.
Payton gets through Staal's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Staal lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Staal.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Payton.
Staal drops down looking for an ankle pick but Payton pulls his leg out and moves away.

Payton moves into range and clinches up with Staal.
Staal blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payton is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Staal is defending well.
Staal blocks a body shot from Payton.
Payton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Staal taking a breather.
Payton is pressed up against the cage. Staal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Payton down to the mat. Payton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Payton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Staal manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Staal tried to score with a low kick but Payton checks it.
Payton looks to score with a jab to the body but Staal is just out of range.
Staal scores with a shot to the body.
Staal gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Payton misses with a combination
and Staal counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Staal scores with a four punch combination!
Nice defenses there by Staal.
Staal looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Payton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staal has Payton pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Payton manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Evan Payton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Staal.
Staal lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Payton backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Staal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Decent striking displayed by Payton there.
Payton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Staal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Staal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Payton.
Payton lands with a shot to the body.
Payton jabs at Staal's body.
Payton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Staal throws out the jab.
Payton drops down looking for a counter takedown but Staal sprawls and moves away.
Payton throws a shot from downtown. Staal moves away and avoids it.
A countering left hand to the body from Staal misses.
Staal misses with a low kick.
Payton misses with an uppercut.
Evan Payton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Payton throws a lazy uppercut
and Staal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Payton throws a shot from downtown. Staal moves away and avoids it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Payton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Staal.
Payton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Staal fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Staal moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Payton slips under a jab.
Staal feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Payton's calf.
Payton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Staal shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Payton throws a big shot that misses.
Staal bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Staal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Payton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Staal slips under a jab from Payton.
Staal now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Payton scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Payton throws a hook but Staal blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payton lands a nice shot that snaps Staal's head back.
Payton avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Payton tries to clinch up but Staal circles away and keeps his distance.
Payton misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Staal counters with a stiff right hand.
Payton is looking to clinch but Staal is avoiding it.
Payton blocks a leg kick.
Staal throws a hook but Payton blocks it.
Payton misses with a lunging right hand
and Staal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Staal misses with an uppercut.

Payton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Payton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Staal misses with some punches.
Staal lands with a short shot to the head.
Payton tries to work over Staal's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
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 Evan Payton will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Payton throws a hook but Staal avoids it easily.
That kick from Staal tenderised Payton's leg. Payton is trying to keep his angry face on.
Staal throws a quick inside leg kick.
Staal misses with a hook. Payton ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Payton misses.
Payton gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Staal.
Danga de danga de dang - Staal scores with a four punch combination!
Staal throws a head kick that misses.
Payton drops down looking for a counter takedown but Staal sprawls and moves away.
Payton throws a shot from downtown. Staal moves away and avoids it.
Staal lands a jab to the nose.

Payton is rocked!
Payton connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Staal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Payton stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Staal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Staal as he connects with a hook.
Oh Payton is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Payton misses with a hook. Staal ducked under it nicely.
Payton seems to have got his legs back now.
Payton is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Payton throws a big shot that misses.
Payton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Staal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Payton rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Staal counters with a stiff right hand.

Payton rushes Staal and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Staal misses with a punch on the inside.
Payton tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Staal's elbow.
Staal prevents a body shot from Payton.
Payton working aggressively here.
Payton stops a takedown attempt from Staal.
Payton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Staal creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Payton letting Staal take a breather here.
Payton misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staal has Payton pressed against the cage.
Payton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Payton misses with a hook to the ribs.
Staal misses with a punch to the body.
Payton tries to work over Staal's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Payton misses with a punch to the body.
Staal is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Staal stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Staal doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Payton lands a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Payton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Payton tries a body shot but Staal blocks it.
Staal scores with a shoulder strike.
Payton goes for a takedown in the clinch but Staal prevents it.
Evan Payton has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Staal throws a punch but it's blocked by Payton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Staal gets the underhooks and prevents it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Payton.
Payton tries to work over Staal's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Staal misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Staal.
Staal has a couple of punches blocked by Payton.
Payton can't find room to land a body shot as Staal controls the action.
Payton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Staal lands a left hand that snaps the head of Payton backwards.
Staal misses with a punch on the inside.
Staal softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Payton stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A right hand to the body from Payton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staal effectively controlling the action here.
Staal stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Payton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Staal backwards.
Staal works on Payton's body with a couple of short punches.
Staal lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Staal blocks a body shot from Payton.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Staal stalling.
Staal throws a head punch that misses.
Staal lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Staal breaks the clinch.
Payton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Staal moves away.
Staal follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
The crowd cheers as Staal lands an impressive looking overhand right. Payton doesn't seem phased though.
Staal misses with a hook to the body

and Payton counters with a nice double leg into side control. Staal won't be happy with that.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Payton tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Staal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Payton tries to clinch
and Staal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Payton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Payton misses with a jab to the body
and Staal counters with a leg kick.
Payton looks to clinch
and Staal counters with a straight right hand.

Payton has closed the distance and engaged Staal in a clinch.
Staal displaying some good clinch control by pressing Payton up against the cage.
Payton doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Payton is trying to drag Staal to the mat but Staal just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Payton as Staal tries to tie him up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Staal.
Payton can't find room to land a body shot as Staal controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Staal misses with the head strike.
Staal is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Payton is keeping busy.
Payton gets underhooks to prevent Staal's takedown attempt.
Payton tries a body shot but Staal blocks it.
Staal scores with a hook to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Staal - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Staal is fighting off a takedown attempt but Payton is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Staal to the mat. Staal regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Staal is adopting a defensive guard.
Payton stopping the sweep attempt from Staal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Staal swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Staal looking for a sweep. Not yet Staal, not yet.
Staal pulls Payton in to control the position.
Staal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Payton's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Payton being controlled here, momentarily.
Payton controls Staal momentarily but Staal frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Staal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Payton trying to keep a closed guard but Staal is proving a slippery customer.

Payton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Staal got a little sloppy there for a moment and Payton has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Staal has managed to get both his arms back between Payton's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Payton has his foot on Staal's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Staal works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four 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 advances to half guard.
Still in half guard, Staal seems content to control.
Payton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Staal passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Payton!
Staal is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Staal putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Payton tries to hold on but Staal pushes him away.

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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

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