PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Staal (ranked 559 p4p, 73 weight class) and Cheik Imbula (ranked 421 p4p, 57 weight class). Imbula comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Bongo Massive kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Staal
vs
Imbula

180 cm
37
192 lbs
33 - 14 - 2

185 cm
34
185 lbs
29 - 17 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter
Dark Knight Nutrition

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 33 - 14 - 2, fighting out of New York, Eric Staal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cheik Imbula!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Staal loads up on a big right hand but Imbula slips the punch.
A jab from Staal misses.
Imbula flicks out a counter leg kick but Staal steps away.
An inside leg kick from Staal misses.
Imbula misses with an uppercut. Staal saw that one coming.
A shot to the liver by Imbula. Beautiful body shot.
Staal lands a nice shot that snaps Imbula's head back.
Imbula misses with a body kick.
Staal lands with a shot to the body.
Staal moves out of range of the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Imbula.
Jab, jab by Staal - just one landing.
Staal ducks under a wild hook from Imbula.
Nice jab there from Imbula.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imbula misses with a lunging right hand
and Staal counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Imbula looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Staal attempts a counter takedown but Imbula avoids it well and moves away.
Staal missing with a left hand there. Imbula was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Staal misses with a hook to the body
and Imbula counters with a nice uppercut.
Imbula tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Staal counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Imbula looks to score with a jab to the body but Staal is just out of range.
Imbula takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cheik Imbula is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Staal misses.
Imbula thinks about the counter body kick.
Staal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Staal misses the shot to the body.
Imbula throws a solid leg kick but Staal takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Imbula.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staal misses with a looping right.
A nice side step and Imbula releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Imbula looks to land a body kick but Staal moved away.
Staal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Staal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Staal slips a jab from Imbula.
Staal was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Imbula looks to land a left hand but Staal moved out of range nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Staal on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Imbula listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Imbula misses with a wild body shot.
Staal misses with a body punch
and Imbula counters with a thumping low kick.
Imbula slips a jab from Staal.
Imbula tries to counter with a clinch but Staal shakes him off and moves away.
Staal throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Staal catches Imbula right on the button with a cross.
Imbula pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Eric Staal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Imbula fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Staal, pushing him back against the cage.
Imbula lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Staal.
Staal blocks an uppercut.
Imbula misses with a punch to the body.
Imbula doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The referee is keeping an eye on Staal - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Imbula misses with a short punch on the inside.
Imbula lands a body punch.
Staal tries a body shot but Imbula blocks it.

Staal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Staal loads up on a big right hand but Imbula slips the punch.
Imbula connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Imbula.
Staal avoids the body shot from Imbula.
Staal ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Staal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Imbula.
Staal blocks the body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Imbula's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Staal connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Imbula scrambles back to his feet.
That kick from Imbula tenderised Staal's leg. Staal is trying to keep his angry face on.
Staal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Imbula swivels and escapes.
Staal throws out a loose jab but Imbula uses good head movement to avoid it.
Staal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Imbula manages to avoid it.
Staal is looking to chop away at Imbula's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cheik Imbula will probably get the nod.
That's time! Staal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Imbula scores with a jab to the jaw.
Staal throws a big shot that misses.
Staal defending well as Imbula loads up on a big left hand.
Imbula tries to work over Staal's front leg with a kick but Staal checks it.
Staal takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Staal on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Staal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Imbula throws an overhand right that lands on Staal's shoulder, as Staal tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Staal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Imbula steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Staal.
Staal misses with a straight left.
A solid leg kick lands there for Staal.
Staal connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Staal moves out of range as Imbula throws a body kick.
Staal throws a lazy uppercut
and Imbula counters with an outside leg kick.
A big right from Imbula misses.
Staal lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Imbula slips under a jab.
Staal takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Imbula sizes up Staal with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Imbula misses with a kick to the body.
Staal throws a quick counter head kick but Imbula was just out of range.
Staal takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Imbula throws out a loose jab but Staal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Staal needs to keep his hands up - Imbula had a free shot at his head there.

Staal is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staal is holding his hands too far apart here. Imbula throws a hard, straight punch right down the pipe and BOOM! Staal is out! That punch landed square on the jaw - what a shot!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Cheik Imbula!
Our winner, Cheik Imbula, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.