PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Staal (ranked 876 p4p, 126 weight class) and Vertti Ekstrovertti (ranked 1090 p4p, 153 weight class). 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
Ekstrovertti

180 cm
35
192 lbs
27 - 12 - 2

190 cm
29
194 lbs
13 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 27 - 12 - 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 13 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Vertti Ekstrovertti!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ekstrovertti lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ekstrovertti shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ekstrovertti misses with a lunging right hand
and Staal counters with an inside leg kick.
Ekstrovertti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ekstrovertti scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ekstrovertti lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vertti Ekstrovertti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Staal misses with an uppercut
and Ekstrovertti counters with a good low kick that Staal was not able to check.
Ekstrovertti throws a big shot that misses.
Ekstrovertti connects with a body shot.
Staal fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ekstrovertti with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Staal to score with a decent uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ekstrovertti throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ekstrovertti's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ekstrovertti duly obliges.
Ekstrovertti looks to land a left hand but Staal moved out of range nicely.
Ekstrovertti misses the shot to the body.
Staal tried to counter with a leg kick but Ekstrovertti avoided it.
A slow jab from Ekstrovertti misses its intended target.
Staal throws a looping overhand right but Ekstrovertti ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekstrovertti misses with a hook. Staal ducked under it nicely.
Staal throws a low kick, looking for Ekstrovertti's leg but Ekstrovertti calmly moves out of range.
Staal scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ekstrovertti lands a slapping body shot.
Staal throws a jab when Ekstrovertti was well out of range.
Ekstrovertti throws a push kick but Staal slaps the foot to one side.
Nice defenses there by Staal.
A low kick from Staal is predictable there
and Staal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ekstrovertti throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ekstrovertti throws an overhand right that lands on Staal's shoulder, as Staal tries to avoid the shot.
Staal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ekstrovertti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ekstrovertti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Staal avoids the head kick by Ekstrovertti.
Ekstrovertti scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A jab lands there for Staal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staal throws a jab when Ekstrovertti was well out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Staal needs to keep his hands up - Ekstrovertti had a free shot at his head there.
Staal jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ekstrovertti misses with a low kick.
Ekstrovertti throws a wild body kick that Staal sees coming a mile off.
Ekstrovertti uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Staal.
Staal throws a lazy right hand but Ekstrovertti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vertti Ekstrovertti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ekstrovertti just misses with a punch to the body.
Ekstrovertti jabs Staal right on the nose. Staal blinks but takes it well.
Staal throws a big shot that misses.
Ekstrovertti is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Staal with a body shot.
Staal misses with a body punch
and Ekstrovertti counters with a right hand to the body.
Ekstrovertti tries to land a front kick but Staal steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Staal's corner calls for a 1-2. Staal obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ekstrovertti misses with a wild body shot.
Staal fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ekstrovertti just manages to avoid it.
A jab lands there for Staal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ekstrovertti.
Ekstrovertti throws the left hand but Staal avoids the punch easily.
Staal drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ekstrovertti sprawls and moves away.
Staal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ekstrovertti.
Staal slips under a jab.
Staal blocks a low kick nicely.
Staal lands a nice shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Staal misses the target.
Ekstrovertti scoring well with a low kick there.
Ekstrovertti throws a body kick that misses

and Staal counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Staal throwing strikes but missing.
Staal is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Staal wants to pass the guard but Ekstrovertti is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staal postures up.
Staal wants to control from the top but Ekstrovertti keeps moving.
Staal wants to pass the guard but Ekstrovertti is keeping the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Staal is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ekstrovertti.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vertti Ekstrovertti will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ekstrovertti slips a straight right by Staal.
Ekstrovertti tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ekstrovertti with a nice cross.
Staal moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ekstrovertti throws a solid leg kick but Staal takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ekstrovertti.
Staal misses the shot to the body.
Staal swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ekstrovertti connects with a solid leg kick.
Ekstrovertti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Staal shoots in and gets a takedown into Ekstrovertti's guard.
Staal tries to free his leg and advance position but Ekstrovertti is retaining full guard.
Ekstrovertti not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ekstrovertti keeping full guard, as Staal tries to pass.
Staal wants to control from the top but Ekstrovertti keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekstrovertti controlling Staal's posture.
Ekstrovertti looking to hit a scissor sweep but Staal is one step ahead there.
Ekstrovertti keeping full guard, as Staal tries to pass.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Staal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ekstrovertti.
Staal looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ekstrovertti throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ekstrovertti cracks the inside of Staal's front leg.
Ekstrovertti misses the shot to the body.
Ekstrovertti throws an overhand right that lands on Staal's shoulder, as Staal tries to avoid the shot.
Staal moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ekstrovertti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vertti Ekstrovertti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Staal wants to land a leg kick but Ekstrovertti is out of range.
Ekstrovertti misses with a hook.
It looked like Staal wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Staal shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ekstrovertti pinned against the cage. Ekstrovertti gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ekstrovertti, right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekstrovertti lands a leg kick that knocks Staal off balance momentarily.
Staal slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Staal is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A big right from Ekstrovertti misses.
Staal moves out of range as Ekstrovertti strikes.
Ekstrovertti throws a right hand that Staal ducks under and follows up with a left that Staal also avoids with ease.
Staal missing with a left hand there. Ekstrovertti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ekstrovertti lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Staal takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ekstrovertti catches Staal with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ekstrovertti swings widly with a right hand
and Staal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ekstrovertti throws a poor cross that misses
and Staal makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ekstrovertti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Staal.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crunch! Ekstrovertti slams his shin into Staal's torso.
Ekstrovertti misses with a body shot.
Ekstrovertti throws a leg kick
and Staal counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekstrovertti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Staal throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ekstrovertti.
Staal misses with a body shot.
Ekstrovertti takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Staal uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ekstrovertti.
Ekstrovertti throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ekstrovertti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Staal was well out of range. Poor timing from Ekstrovertti.
Staal bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ekstrovertti walks into a left hand.
Staal throws a hook but Ekstrovertti avoids it easily.
Staal checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Staal shoots in and drives through. Ekstrovertti sprawls well.

Staal drives through with a takedown into guard.
Staal passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vertti Ekstrovertti will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Staal on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Staal throws a solid leg kick but Ekstrovertti takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Staal.
Ekstrovertti throws out a counter right but Staal avoids it with no problem.
Ekstrovertti moves out of range as Staal strikes.
Ekstrovertti looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ekstrovertti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ekstrovertti throws a jab but it's blocked by Staal.
Staal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ekstrovertti.
Ekstrovertti throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ekstrovertti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Staal was well out of range. Poor timing from Ekstrovertti.
Ekstrovertti lands a nice looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Staal throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ekstrovertti stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ekstrovertti avoids the body shot from Staal.
Ekstrovertti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ekstrovertti moves out of range of the strikes.
Ekstrovertti shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Staal eats them both and turns towards Ekstrovertti to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staal avoids the body shot from Ekstrovertti.
Staal swings for the body but Ekstrovertti moves out of range.
Staal lands with a thumping leg kick.
Staal throws a low kick but Ekstrovertti moves out of range easily.
Staal looks for a takedown but Ekstrovertti sprawls well.
Staal uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ekstrovertti.
Staal fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ekstrovertti.
Ekstrovertti swings widly with a right hand
and Staal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Staal on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Ekstrovertti throws a head kick that misses.
Staal half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ekstrovertti misses the shot to the body.
No joy there for Staal, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ekstrovertti takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Eric Staal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staal staying out of range there.
Ekstrovertti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ekstrovertti lands with a straight right. Staal didn't see that one coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Staal throws a head kick but Ekstrovertti moves out of range.
Ekstrovertti lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Staal at a distance.
Ekstrovertti scores with a shot to the body.
Staal blocks a leg kick.
Staal feinted with a counter takedown.
Staal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Staal throwing a counter right hand but Ekstrovertti manages to avoid it.
Ekstrovertti attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ekstrovertti throws a hook to the side of Staal's head but Staal sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
It appears Staal was looking to counter with a kick there.
Ekstrovertti clobbers Staal with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ekstrovertti misses with a head kick.

Staal cracks Ekstrovertti with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Ekstrovertti looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Staal finish him?

Ekstrovertti is rocked!
Nice shot lands for Ekstrovertti.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staal throws a front kick that sends Ekstrovertti stumbling back into the cage.
Ekstrovertti takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Staal thuds his right hand into Ekstrovertti's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ekstrovertti is still on wobbly legs! Can Staal finish him?
Ekstrovertti throws a poor cross that misses
and Staal counters with a powerful cross that connects right on the chin and the lights go out! A massive one punch knock out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Eric Staal!