PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Steamboat (ranked 670 p4p, 95 weight class) and Eric Staal (ranked 299 p4p, 49 weight class). Steamboat comes to the cage accompanied by Migos- Bad and Bouje . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Steamboat
vs
Staal

180 cm
36
198 lbs
23 - 15 - 0

180 cm
28
192 lbs
11 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Red Light Coffeeshop

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricky Steamboat!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Eric Staal!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, David Schapiro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steamboat staying out of range there.

Steamboat manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Staal on his heels. He'll look to pass Staal's guard now, I'm sure.
Steamboat wants to pass the guard but Staal is keeping the position.
Staal can't keep his opponent in guard - Steamboat advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Steamboat thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Staal's head.
Staal blocking the ground and pound attempt from Steamboat.
Staal blocking the ground and pound attempt from Steamboat.
Staal blocking the ground and pound attempt from Steamboat.
We've been hearing that Steamboat has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Steamboat throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Staal avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Steamboat.
Steamboat is looking to pass Staal's guard but actually Staal recovers to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Staal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Steamboat with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Staal avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Steamboat works over Staal with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steamboat stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Staal swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Staal wants to sweep here but Steamboat controlling him for the moment.
Steamboat has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Staal seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Staal is on top in guard.

Staal stands up over Steamboat, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Staal landing with the ground and pound.

Steamboat throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Staal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Staal pushing down on Steamboat's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Steamboat looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steamboat looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Staal scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Staal seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Staal moves nicely into side control.
Staal controls the position.
Steamboat looks to move to half guard but instead Staal has passed into mount! Damn!
Steamboat is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Staal with the ground and pound from mount.
A nice elbow there by Staal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Staal tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Steamboat gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Steamboat is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Staal pulls his head out easily.
Still in half guard, Staal seems content to control.
Staal wants to pass the guard but Steamboat is defending well.
Staal is nestled in close to Steamboat, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Staal not doing much here.

Steamboat actively working from the bottom here.
Staal is trying to control. Steamboat wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Staal working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Steamboat is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Staal's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Staal's back!
Staal tries to escape but Steamboat has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Steamboat misses with punches from the back.
Steamboat missing with punches from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steamboat doesn't have the hooks in and Staal manages to turn into his guard.
Staal is in close to Steamboat's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Staal works over Steamboat with some ground and pound from guard.
Staal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Steamboat is keeping the position for now.
Staal landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steamboat keeping moving, preventing Staal from controlling successfully.

Steamboat is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Staal is aware though and is defending well.
Staal lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Steamboat is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Staal is aware though and is defending well.

Steamboat working for submissions but it's allowed Staal to get to half guard.
Staal looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Staal is nestled in close to Steamboat, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Staal dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Steamboat shoots in for a takedown but Staal shows good takedown defense.
Steamboat takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Steamboat moves out of range as Staal throws a body kick.
Staal connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Staal, as that shot connected.
Steamboat shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Staal counters with a stiff right hand.
Staal scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Staal throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Steamboat tries for a takedown but Staal circles away easily
and Staal counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Steamboat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Staal scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Staal! Steamboat is out on his feet! Staal rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Steamboat is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Steamboat is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Eric Staal! Eric Staal retains his middleweight title!
Ricky Steamboat spoke after the fight, saying 'Good win to for my opponent will be back'.