PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Staal (ranked 470 p4p, 58 weight class) and Lip Ton (ranked 895 p4p, 118 weight class). Ton is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Snap - Rythm is a Dancing. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Lip Ton enters the cage!

Staal
vs
Ton

180 cm
31
192 lbs
17 - 6 - 1

200 cm
33
201 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

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 17 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Eric Staal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lip Ton!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Franklyn Lucas and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Staal connects with a leg kick. Ton looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Ton drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ton trying to control the position from guard on top but Staal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Staal controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Staal keeping full guard, as Ton tries to pass.
Ton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ton is looking to work some ground and pound but Staal has wrist control.
Ton looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ton stopping the sweep attempt from Staal.
Staal keeping moving, preventing Ton from controlling successfully.
Staal wants to sweep here but Ton controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Staal is keeping the position for now.
Ton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ton wants to control from the top but Staal keeps moving.
Ton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Staal is trying to keep Ton in close.
Ton stopping the sweep attempt from Staal.
Staal lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Staal's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ton 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.
Ton keeping moving, preventing Staal from controlling successfully.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ton 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.
Staal trying to control but Ton is working from the bottom.
Staal postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Ton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Staal defends well.

Staal got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ton has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Staal has managed to get both his arms back between Ton's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal stopping the sweep attempt from Ton.
Staal with a nice head shot there.

Ton looking for subs off his back but Staal has passed one foot through into half guard.
Ton wants to improve his position but Staal is controlling well.
Ton trying to control here.
Staal looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ton is looking for a sweep. Staal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Staal takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Staal lands strikes from half guard.
Staal working the head and body with strikes.
Ton is looking to improve his position.

Ton looking for a kimura from the bottom but Staal passes into side control!
Ton sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
We've been hearing that Staal has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Ton looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Staal seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
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 Eric Staal will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Staal takes one to the chin there.
Staal scores with a push kick.
Ton moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Staal throws a push kick but Ton slaps the foot to one side.
Staal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Staal looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ton doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Staal moves away from the strike by Ton.
Staal displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ton throws out the jab.
Staal lands a leg kick that knocks Ton off balance momentarily.
Ton misses the jab.
Staal moves away from the strike by Ton.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Staal scores with a shot to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ton.
Staal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ton missing with a left hand there. Staal was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Staal changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal throws a leg kick but Ton sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ton swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Staal throws a head kick that misses.
Staal connects with a crisp jab.
Ton scores with a nice head shot.
Ton throws a lazy uppercut
and Staal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lip Ton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ton shoots in and drives through. Staal sprawls well.
Staal throws a chopping leg kick but Ton manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ton looks to land a left hand but Staal moved out of range nicely.
Ton avoids a kick to the body.
Staal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Staal gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Staal looks to land a right hand but Ton moved out of range.
Staal fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A jab from Ton misses.
Staal lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Staal misses with a low kick.
Ton defending well as Staal loads up on a big left hand.
Staal moves away from the strike by Ton.
Staal looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Staal throws a nice outside leg kick.
Staal throws a hook but Ton blocks it.
Ton throws a looping overhand right but Staal ducks down to avoid it.
Ton misses with a straight left.
Ton connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Staal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ton was well out of range. Poor timing from Staal.
Eric Staal is winning the standup battle so far.
Ton scores with a nice head shot.
Ton misses with a hook. Staal ducked under it nicely.
Staal throwing a counter right hand but Ton manages to avoid it.
Staal catches Ton with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ton on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Staal. Staal obviously looking to wear him down.
A jab from Ton misses.
A jab from Ton misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ton lands a jab.
Staal throws an overhand right that lands on Ton's shoulder, as Ton tries to avoid the shot.
Ton misses with a takedown
enabling Staal to counter with a crisp jab.
Eric Staal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lip Ton.
Staal shoots in but no luck this time.
A solid leg kick lands there for Staal.
Staal throws a leg kick but Ton moved away.
Staal lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Staal as he avoids it easily.
Staal throws a low kick but Ton avoids it.
Ton throws the left hand but Staal avoids the punch easily.
Ton uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Staal.
Ton lands the left hand.
Staal slips a jab from Ton.
Ton is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Staal fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ton has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ton scores with a punch to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Staal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Staal keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ton throws out a loose jab but Staal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Staal on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Staal motions for Ton to come forward. Staal throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Staal doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Ton takes a swing at Staal's ribcage but misses.
Staal leaves Ton with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Staal scores with a jab to the head.
The fighters circling - Ton throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Staal tried to counter with a leg kick but Ton avoided it.
Staal misses with a low kick as Ton jumps back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Staal dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Staal lands with a nice body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Staal. No joy for Ton on that attempt.

Ton throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Staal was covering up waiting for the punch and Ton finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Staal is pulling down on Ton's head to control his posture.
Staal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Staal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ton.
Staal tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ton is looking to work some ground and pound but Staal has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Staal manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ton manages to get himself to full guard.

Staal trying to control the position from guard on top but Ton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ton wants to sweep but no luck.
Staal working some strikes from top position.

Ton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ton looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Staal passes into side control.
Ton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Staal wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Staal scoring with punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staal landing strikes.
Ton wants to control but Staal postures up.
Staal wants to control but Ton is keeping him busy.
Eric Staal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ton tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Staal presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Ton is trying to escape the mount.
Staal looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Lip Ton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ton is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal lands a nice shot to the head.
Staal looking to finish Ton with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ton!

Ton is rocked!
Staal postures up and throws a big right hand. BOOM! Right on the button! Ton is out cold - huge knockout for Staal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Eric Staal!
Lip Ton was interviewed post fight and said 'Congrats to my opponent. He was the better man tonight and I have to give credit, where credits due. I will go back to training and will come back stronger than ever. Thanks for the promotion for the opportunity and the fans for coming out tonight.'.