PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Sturd Jr (ranked 563 p4p, 77 weight class) and Andre Haack (ranked 1064 p4p, 142 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sturd Jr might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Waka Flocka Flame - 50K (Neon Dreams Remix). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sturd Jr
vs
Haack

181 cm
35
191 lbs
31 - 12 - 1

183 cm
34
183 lbs
26 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 31 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Sturd Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Andre Haack!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Dean Styles and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sturd Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Sturd Jr moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromHaack.
Sturd Jr thows a body kick. Haack tries to catch it but that hurt him.
We've been hearing reports that Sturd Jr has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
No luck for Sturd Jr with that takedown attempt.
Haack cracks the inside of Sturd Jr's front leg.
Sturd Jr dodges the punch combination from Haack.
Haack misses with a hook. Sturd Jr ducked under it nicely.
We've been informed that Haack has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Sturd Jr is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Haack's half guard.
Sturd Jr seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Haack does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sturd Jr trying to control the pace.
Haack keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haack is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sturd Jr is trying to control. Haack wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sturd Jr working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sturd Jr tries to pass the half guard into mount. Haack knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sturd Jr is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sturd Jr missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sturd Jr trying to pass the guard but Haack defending well.
Haack is looking to improve his position.
Sturd Jr has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Haack avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr stalling.
Haack avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr working the head and body with strikes.
Sturd Jr performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sturd Jr missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haack blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Haack is doing well to control the position and prevent Sturd Jr from advancing to side control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sturd Jr steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Haack. That one must have hurt.
Haack blocks the body kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Haack misses.
Haack throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Haack swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sturd Jr tried to counter with a leg kick but Haack avoided it.
Haack misses with a low kick.
Haack gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Haack takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sturd Jr defending well as Haack loads up on a big left hand.

Sturd Jr looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Haack!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturd Jr is staying tight to Haack's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Haack tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sturd Jr wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sturd Jr trying to control the position but Haack is working away.
Haack is pushing Sturd Jr's head away, looking to escape. Sturd Jr manages to hold on to the position though.
A lull in the action here.
Haack dodges the ground and pound from Sturd Jr.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haack is not content to let Sturd Jr control the position.
Haack struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Sturd Jr dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Haack uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Haack lands a high kick!

It looks like Jason Sturd Jr has been cut.
Haack takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sturd Jr throws a leg kick but Haack sees it coming and moves out of range.
Haack throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sturd Jr checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sturd Jr misses with a hook.
Sturd Jr tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Haack misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sturd Jr.
Haack lands a lovely overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haack on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sturd Jr tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Haack defends well and Sturd Jr ends up having to push Haack into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Haack steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Sturd Jr finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Haack misses with a leg kick

and Sturd Jr counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sturd Jr missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturd Jr controlling the pace.
Haack avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sturd Jr.
Sturd Jr controlling the pace.
Sturd Jr's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Sturd Jr not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Haack is not content to let Sturd Jr control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sturd Jr trying to control from Haack's half guard. Haack has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Haack not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sturd Jr is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Haack avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Haack works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Sturd Jr shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Haack napping and manages to drive through into side control!
You can see the frustration on Haack's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Haack is trying to escape the position but Sturd Jr is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haack is not content to let Sturd Jr control the position.
Sturd Jr in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sturd Jr moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Sturd Jr has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Haack manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Haack wants to take a breather but Sturd Jr is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturd Jr tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Haack has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Haack avoids the attempt from Sturd Jr to control.
Jason Sturd Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sturd Jr tries to reverse the position but Haack maintains control.
Sturd Jr is trying to stand.
Haack controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andre Haack will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jason Sturd Jr's cut.
That's time! Sturd Jr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Haack needs to keep his hands up - Sturd Jr had a free shot at his head there.
Haack stuns Sturd Jr with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Andre Haack seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sturd Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sturd Jr takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sturd Jr chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Haack can pounce on him.
Sturd Jr with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Haack pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sturd Jr is out of range and Haack settles back down.
Sturd Jr lands a nice leg kick that just misses Haack's sensitive parts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haack tries a low kick but Sturd Jr avoids it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Haack.
Sturd Jr moves out of range of the leg kick from Haack.
That kick from Sturd Jr tenderised Haack's leg. Haack is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sturd Jr takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haack lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sturd Jr's sensitive parts.
Haack cracks Sturd Jr with a good jab.
Haack chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Haack rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Sturd Jr counter with a right hand.
Andre Haack seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sturd Jr misses with an uppercut
and Haack counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sturd Jr thinking.
Haack throws a leg kick

and Sturd Jr decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Haack's guard.
Sturd Jr trying to control but Haack is working from the bottom.
Sturd Jr controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Haack keeping moving, preventing Sturd Jr from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sturd Jr slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturd Jr won't allow Haack to sweep him here.
Sturd Jr is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sturd Jr stopping the sweep attempt from Haack.
Haack has his hands on Sturd Jr's head, controlling the position.
Sturd Jr sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Haack throws a body punch but Sturd Jr moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haack lands a slapping body shot.
Sturd Jr shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Haack pinned against the cage. Haack gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturd Jr lands with a cross.
A low kick from Haack misses

and Sturd Jr counters with a shoot takedown. Haack fights it but they end up in guard.
Haack keeping moving, preventing Sturd Jr from controlling successfully.
Sturd Jr controlling from the top position.
Sturd Jr wants to control from the top but Haack keeps moving.
Sturd Jr throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haack tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Haack is still trying to improve position.
Sturd Jr looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Further stalling from Sturd Jr.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sturd Jr throws a leg kick but Haack sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sturd Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Haack flicks out a counter leg kick but Sturd Jr steps away.
Haack misses with the combination.
A clash of legs there as Haack blocks the low kick.
Sturd Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jason Sturd Jr.
I think Sturd Jr has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!