PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sandayu Momochi (ranked 612 p4p, 84 weight class) and Eric Staal (ranked 805 p4p, 112 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Momochi
vs
Staal

184 cm
30
194 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

180 cm
30
192 lbs
14 - 5 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fanatic Inc.

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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sandayu Momochi !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Eric Staal!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Eddie Farnsworth and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Staal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Momochi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Momochi misses with a takedown attempt
letting Staal counter with a right hand.
Momochi throws a series of punches but Staal avoids them all with ease.
It seemed like Staal was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Momochi connects with a right hand. Staal shakes it off.
We've been hearing reports that Momochi has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Momochi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Momochi lands in his opponent's guard.
Staal managing to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Staal looking for a sweep. Not yet Staal, not yet.
Staal keeps trying to improve his position.
Staal is pulling down on Momochi 's head to control his posture.
Staal is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Staal lands strikes from half guard.
Momochi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Staal seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Momochi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Staal is aware though and is defending well.
Staal controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Staal connects with a couple of short punches.
Momochi has control of Staal's left arm, preventing Staal from doing any damage.

Momochi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Staal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staal slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Momochi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Momochi working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Staal has passed into half guard!
Momochi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Staal connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Momochi is looking for a triangle but Staal pushes his legs off easily.
Staal is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Staal trying to control but Momochi is working from the bottom.

Momochi is looking for a triangle here but Staal uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Staal lands some shots froms side control.
Staal lands a few punches from side control.
Momochi is trying to work for a sweep but Staal has mounted him!
Momochi regains half guard.
Momochi taking some punishment here, with Staal in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Momochi 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 looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Staal defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Momochi lands an elbow to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Despite being in a bad position, Staal is controlling the hands, preventing any submission attempts.

Momochi is looking for the choke from the back position but Staal is controlling his hands well.
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 Sandayu Momochi will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The crowd cheers as Staal lands an impressive looking overhand right. Momochi doesn't seem phased though.
Momochi moves into range and connects with a jab.
An inside leg kick from Staal misses.
Nice sprawl there from Staal as Momochi shoots in.
A clash of legs there as Momochi blocks the low kick.
Staal takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Momochi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Momochi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Staal's guard.
Staal looking for a sweep. Not yet Staal, not yet.
Momochi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Staal is keeping the position for now.
Staal tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Staal trying to keep a closed guard but Momochi is proving a slippery customer.
Staal lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Staal works over Momochi with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Momochi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Staal trying to control the position from guard on top but Momochi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Staal cracks Momochi with a solid left hand.

Momochi working for submissions but it's allowed Staal to get to half guard.
Momochi is looking for a sweep. Staal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Staal scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Still in half guard, Staal seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Momochi wants to improve his position but Staal is controlling well.
Staal working the head and body with strikes.
Momochi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Momochi actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Momochi tries to get to full guard but Staal has control of the leg.
Momochi is working hard here to advance position.
Staal keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Staal lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Staal lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Momochi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Staal postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Momochi is looking for a triangle but Staal pushes his legs off easily.

Momochi working for a triangle but Staal defends it easily.
Staal trying to control but Momochi is working from the bottom.
Staal is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Momochi is trying to control the position but Staal postures up.

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 lands a couple of elbows.
Staal wants to pass the guard but Momochi is keeping the position.
Momochi wants to sweep but no luck.
Staal wants to control from the top but Momochi keeps moving.

Momochi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Staal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Momochi looking for a guillotine here but Staal defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Momochi is trying to control the position but Staal postures up.
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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Momochi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sandayu Momochi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Staal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Staal wants it to stay on the feet.
Staal cracks Momochi with a good jab.
No luck for Momochi with that takedown attempt.
Staal scores with a jab.
Staal stuffs the takedown attempt from Momochi . Momochi gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sandayu Momochi . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Momochi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Staals jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Momochi goes for a double leg but Staal avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Staal continues to drive forward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Momochi shoots in looking for a takedown but Staal manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Momochi 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Momochi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Momochi has a takedown stuffed.
Staal keeps Momochi at a distance using the push kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal throws a right and a left that both miss.
Staal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Momochi .
Staal turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Momochi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Staal.
Staal bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Momochi 's head backwards.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Momochi crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Staal - the referee stops the clock and Momochi gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Staal. Momochi manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A lazy left from Staal finds it's target.
Momochi moves out of range of the strikes.
A slapping leg kick lands for Staal.
Momochi misses with an uppercut. Staal saw that one coming.
Staal connects with a nice looking jab.
Staal throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Staal.
Staal scores with a three punch combo!
Staal stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Momochi is rocked!
Staal drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Momochi right on the button. Momochi goes down! Staal follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Staal gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Eric Staal!