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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Staal (ranked 331 p4p, 42 weight class) and Mario Puzo (ranked 341 p4p, 45 weight class). Puzo has chosen Speak Softly Love as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!
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| 180 cm
34
192 lbs
25 - 10 - 1 |
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185 cm
35
187 lbs
26 - 16 - 2 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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
25 - 10 - 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
26 - 16 - 2, fighting out of New York, Mario Puzo!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Staal scores with a jab to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Staal. Puzo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Staal cracks Puzo with a good jab.
Eric Staal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A cross from Staal lands.
Puzo lands a leg kick that knocks Staal off balance momentarily.
Staal throws a good cross that connects.
Puzo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Staal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Puzo lands a jab to Staal's midsection.
Staal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Puzo moves away from the strike by Staal.
Puzo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Staal fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Puzo to the ground. Staal is now in Puzo's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Puzo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Staal sitting in guard, not really doing much.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Puzo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Staal trying to control the position from guard on top but Puzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Staal engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Staal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Staal stopping the sweep attempt from Puzo.
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.
Staal is stalling in the full guard.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Staal takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Puzo lands with a shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Puzo misses the target.
Staal throws a leg kick but Puzo sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Puzo feints and then cracks Staal's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Staal down.
Staal connects with a jab.
Puzo connects with a solid leg kick.
Puzo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Staal wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Staal throws a combination. Puzo tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Staal misses with a body shot.
Puzo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Staal misses with a kick to the body.
Staal looks to score with a jab to the body but Puzo is just out of range.
Puzo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Staal blocks a jab.
Staal's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Puzo connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Staal scrambles back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Puzo. Staal does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Staal was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Puzo.
Staal throws a leg kick that is checked
and Puzo counters with a one-two to the body.
A head kick misses from Puzo.
Staal dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puzo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mario Puzo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Puzo scoring well with a low kick there.
Puzo avoids the body shot from Staal.
Staal falls off balance throwing a combination
and Puzo counters with a left to the body.
Puzo takes a swing at Staal's ribcage but misses.
Puzo cracks Staal with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Staal shoots in but Puzo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Staal misses with a wild combination.
Puzo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Staal's calf.
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!
A slow jab from Staal misses its intended target.
Puzo tries a head kick but it misses.
Staal lands a jab to the nose.
Good work by Staal as he checks the leg kick.
Staal feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Staal fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Puzo checks it well.
It seemed like Puzo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Puzo throws a lazy right hand but Staal sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Staal throws a right hand that misses
and Puzo counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Staal stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Puzo.
Nice body punch from Staal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Staal throws a leg kick but Puzo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Puzo digs a good body shot into Staal's ribs.
A clash of legs there as Puzo blocks the low kick.
Puzo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal moves out of range of the body kick from Puzo.
Staal connects with a solid leg kick.
A combination from Puzo does no damage.
Puzo takes a swing at Staal's ribcage but misses.
Staal throws a front kick aimed at Puzo's knee but Puzo avoids it well.
Puzo misses the body punch
and Staal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Staal scores with a nice right hand.
Staal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Staal moves out of range of the body kick.
Staal is trying hard to land a takedown here. Puzo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Puzo swings for the body but Staal moves out of range.
Puzo throws a head kick that misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staal swings for the body but Puzo moves out of range.
Puzo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Puzo throws a head kick that half lands.
Puzo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Staal rather than just go for the knockout.
Staal fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Puzo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Staal walks forward, straight into a front kick from Puzo.
A telegraphed right hand from Staal misses the target.
Puzo is trying to counter with his kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Staal. Puzo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Staal lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Staal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Eric Staal is winning the standup battle so far.
Staal throws a quick inside leg kick.
Puzo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Puzo takes one on the chin but seems OK.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Staal takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Puzo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Puzo misses with the body kick
and Staal counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Staal.
Puzo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Puzo trying to keep a closed guard but Staal is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Staal looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Staal wants to control from the top but Puzo keeps moving.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puzo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Staal controls the pace.
Puzo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Staal postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Puzo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Staal has passed into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Eric Staal dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!
Puzo throws a front kick that sends Staal stumbling back into the cage.
Puzo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Staal throws an overhand right that lands on Puzo's shoulder, as Puzo tries to avoid the shot.
Puzo lands a body shot.
Staal misses with a straight right.
Staal throws an overhand right that lands on Puzo's shoulder, as Puzo tries to avoid the shot.
Puzo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Staal.
Staal tried to score with a low kick but Puzo checks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Staal misses with a hook to the body
and Puzo counters with an inside leg kick.
Puzo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Puzo unleashes a big counter combination but Staal bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Staal misses with a right hand
and Puzo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Puzo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Puzo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Staal eats them both and turns towards Puzo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Puzo just misses with a punch to the body.
Puzo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Staal.
Staal slips under a jab from Puzo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Staal. Puzo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Staal bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Puzo's head backwards.
A chopping leg kick lands by Staal.
Puzo throws a chopping leg kick but Staal manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Staal attempts a counter takedown but Puzo avoids it well and moves away.
Staal is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Staal blocks a head kick by Puzo.
Puzo scores with the left hand. Staal knows he should have avoided that one.
Puzo tried to score with a low kick but Staal checks it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staal misses with a looping left.
Both fighters circling a little - Staal finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Puzo scores with a kick to the body.
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 throws a big shot that misses.
Staal takes a swing at Puzo's ribcage but misses.
Staal moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromPuzo.
Staal tried to score with a low kick but Puzo checks it.
Staal tries a low kick but Puzo avoids it.
Staal shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Staal lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Puzo has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Puzo and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Puzo throws out a counter right but Staal avoids it with no problem.
A solid leg kick lands there for Staal.
Mario Puzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Staal thuds a left hand into Puzo's body.
Puzo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal throws a sloppy head kick and Puzo moves out of range easily.
Puzo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Donk. Puzo catches Staal right on the button with a cross.
Puzo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Puzo throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Staal smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Staal is looking to chop away at Puzo's legs.
Puzo tries a quick counter leg kick but Staal is wise to it.
Puzo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Staal checks the leg kick.
Staal gets a double leg takedown into Puzo's guard.
Staal trying to control but Puzo is working from the bottom.
Staal postures up.
Eric Staal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staal showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Puzo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Puzo wants to improve his position but instead Staal has moved into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Puzo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Staal looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
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 Eric Staal.
Well Staal has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Staal!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
53% |
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