ESPN+ Sans Limite: Jean-Thenistor Pascal vs. Michael Eifert & Mathieu Germain vs. Steven Wilcox RBR

Commentators eating crow, saying when this was announced they expected Pascal to blow this kid outta the water.

A statement is definitely being made here. Now, it may be as much that "Pascal is old and shot" as "Eifert is actually pretty skilled" - but it's a non-zero amount the latter, for sure.

 

Round 8

Eifert is leading Pascal around the ring, dusting him with the 1-2 up top. Pascal chugging after him, smacking out at the body or throwing a couple of heavy windmills at once. A decent chin shown by the German as Pascal does scrape him with a stray hook. Eifert mostly covering up well. outmaneuvering Pascal, and punishing him for his artless straightforward (and jab-less) pressure.

10-9 Eifert

80-72 Eifert

 

Round 9

Eifert is drilling Pascal with the 1-2, still able to crisscross his legs and smoothly navigate the center of the ring without ever drifting near the perimeter nor getting into Pascal's ideal hooking range. The commentators start pondering what might happen if Eifert opens up with several power shots in a row and Pascal doesn't answer back, could the ref actually stop this? Eifert slips on a wet spot on the canvas and Pascal jumps on him, throwing a power flurry. Eifert seems a little alarmed and annoyed at the unsporting move, but is able to circle away and block. Pascal hears the clap and again goes into berserk mode, throwing a ton of powerful body hooks while charging in with his head down. Half of them land, but Eifert had plenty of points in the bank, too many for Pascal to steal the frame.

10-9 Eifert

90-81 Eifert