PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evan Better (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Staal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Better kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Mother by Danzig. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Better
vs
Staal

188 cm
35
181 lbs
25 - 20 - 0

180 cm
28
192 lbs
9 - 3 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

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 25 - 20 - 0, fighting out of London, Evan Better!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Eric Staal!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Joseph Jones and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Staal uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

It looks like Evan Better has been cut.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Staal, right into the meat.
Staal takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Staal doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Staal lands a nice hook to Better's body. Better takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Better throws a chopping leg kick but Staal manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Staal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Better.
Better tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Staal was well out of range. Poor timing from Better.
Better lands a leg kick that knocks Staal off balance momentarily.
Better lands a jab to the head.
Staal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Better half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Better throws a lazy uppercut
and Staal counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Better misses with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Better is out of range.
Better throws a leg kick but Staal moved away.
Staal follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Better misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Staal.
Better throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Staal throws out a counter right but Better avoids it with no problem.
Better throws a body shot but no joy.
Staal looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Better shoots in for a takedown but Staal shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Staal replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Better blocks it well.
Better throws an off balance right hand
and Staal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Better moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Staal misses with a straight left.
Better ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Better throws a leg kick but Staal moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Better misses with a body shot.

Better throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Staal tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Better is in Staal's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Better stopping the sweep attempt from Staal.
Staal pulls Better in close to prevent any damage.
Staal has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Hunter MMA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Staal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Better is one step ahead there.
Staal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Better's guard.

Staal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Better works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Better looking to hit a scissor sweep but Staal is one step ahead there.
Staal content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Staal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Better works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Better looking for a sweep. Not yet Better, not yet.
Staal is stalling in the full guard.
Staal wants to control from the top but Better keeps moving.

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.
Better looking for a sweep. Not yet Better, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Staal wants to control from the top but Better keeps moving.

Better is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Staal is aware though and is defending well.
Staal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Staal is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Better keeping moving, preventing Staal from controlling successfully.
Better looking for a sweep. Not yet Better, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eric Staal will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Evan Better's cut.
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.

Staal misses with a wild body shot.
Staal takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Better scoring well with a low kick there.
Better throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Better misses with a body punch
letting Staal counter with a right hand.
Better misses the shot to the body.
Better shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Staal eats them both and turns towards Better to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Staal throws a jab but it's blocked by Better.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Staal checks a leg kick.
Staal avoids a kick to the body.
Better fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Better doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better scores with a hook.
Better looks to land a combination but Staal avoids it well.
Better lands the left hand.
Better lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A chopping leg kick lands by Better.
Evan Better is winning the standup battle so far.
Better misses the shot to the body.
Jab from Staal.
Staal is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Better.
Better throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Staal takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Better is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Staal can do to turn this around?
Better lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Staal at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Better lands a body shot.
Better is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A slapping leg kick lands for Staal.
Staal scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Better tries to close the distance and clinch but Staal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Staal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Better misses with a head kick.
Better blocks a jab.
Better throws a one two combo.
Evan Better seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Staal fails with the takedown.
Better with a poor takedown
and Staal counters with a thumping low kick.
Better is looking to wear down Staal with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Better misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Staal counters with a head kick that drops Better to the mat! Better scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Better is rocked!
Crack! Staal connects with the perfect overhand right and Better falls face first to the canvas. Timbeeeeeeeer! Beautiful knockout for Staal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Eric Staal!
Evan Better was interviewed post fight and said 'Lucky, lucky, lucky.'.