PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Octavio Paixao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pierre St Georges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paixao comes to the cage accompanied by "Death by Blonde" by Devotchka. St Georges has chosen PSG theme song as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Paixao
vs
St Georges

177 cm
21
180 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

183 cm
25
180 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Octavio Paixao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pierre St Georges!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paixao tries to clinch there but St Georges circles away.
Paixao throws a leg kick but St Georges moved away.
Octavio Paixao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paixao swinging wilding here.
Paixao uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by St Georges.

Paixao moves into range and clinches up with St Georges.
St Georges is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Paixao displaying some good clinch control by pressing St Georges up against the cage.
Paixao missing with knees to the body.
Paixao prevents a takedown attempt there.
St Georges takes an elbow to the temple.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St Georges looking for a takedown.
Octavio Paixao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pierre St Georges.
Paixao is trying to break free.
St Georges changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Paixao fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Paixao feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to St Georges's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paixao defends well against a solid takedown attempt from St Georges.
Paixao misses with a hook to the body

and St Georges counters with a shoot takedown. Paixao fights it but they end up in guard.
St Georges trying to control the position from guard on top but Paixao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paixao working a defensive guard here.
Paixao doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
St Georges looking to sit in guard and control but Paixao gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Paixao trying to control the position from guard on top but St Georges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paixao tries to free his leg and advance position but St Georges is retaining full guard.

St Georges has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Paixao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Georges wants to get back to his feet but Paixao is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Some wild striking there from Paixao.
St Georges tries for a takedown but Paixao sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Paixao takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Paixao.

Paixao clinches with his opponent.
Paixao lands a body punch in the clinch.
St Georges wants to break free but Paixao has control.
The referee is keeping an eye on St Georges - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
St Georges avoiding damage as Paixao throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paixao lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Pierre St Georges has been cut.

St Georges turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and St Georges manages to end up in side control.
Paixao holds on to St Georges's head and controls the position momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
St Georges wants to control but Paixao is keeping him busy.

St Georges is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Paixao is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paixao manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Paixao trying to hold on to St Georges's head to control him but St Georges postures up.
St Georges wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paixao keeps working.
Paixao wants to control but St Georges is keeping busy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Paixao tries to clinch up.
Paixao throws out a powerful jab.
Paixao attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Paixao tries to bum rush St Georges with a series of wild strikes but St Georges uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Octavio Paixao dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pierre St Georges's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

St Georges shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. St Georges showed some decent athleticism there.
Paixao is looking to improve his position.
Paixao is pressing down on St Georges's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
St Georges wants to pass the guard but Paixao is keeping the position.
St Georges postures up.
Paixao pulls St Georges in close to prevent any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells St Georges's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Paixao wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paixao seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Paixao keeping moving, preventing St Georges from controlling successfully.
Paixao is trying to control the position but St Georges postures up.
St Georges throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Paixao works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Paixao is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst St Georges is controlling him.

Paixao pushes St Georges off and gets back to his feet.
Paixao misses with a double jab

so St Georges counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Georges throws a strike but Paixao rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Paixao wants to pass the guard but St Georges is keeping the position.
St Georges keeping moving, preventing Paixao from controlling successfully.
St Georges being controlled here, momentarily.
Paixao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. St Georges is keeping the position for now.
Paixao is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

St Georges is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Paixao defends well.
St Georges is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

St Georges has his foot on Paixao's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Paixao works his way back into a safe position though.

St Georges is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
St Georges is breathing heavily.
Paixao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. St Georges is keeping the position for now.

St Georges looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
St Georges looking to control.
St Georges thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Paixao trying to control but St Georges is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Paixao displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from St Georges.
Octavio Paixao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A combination from Paixao does no damage.
St Georges tries to clinch but Paixao moves out of range.
Octavio Paixao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
St Georges avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Paixao misses with a body shot

and St Georges counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre St Georges showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pierre St Georges's cut.
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!

St Georges looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Paixao tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Paixao is trying to control the position from the bottom.
St Georges trying to control the position from guard on top but Paixao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paixao preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Paixao trying to keep a closed guard but St Georges is proving a slippery customer.
Paixao keeping moving, preventing St Georges from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paixao looking to control but St Georges passes into half guard.
Pierre St Georges has got the better of the ground game so far.
Paixao trying to control from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
St Georges chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Paixao can pounce on him.
St Georges changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Paixao tries to avoid it but St Georges manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Paixao to the ground. Paixao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Paixao throws an uppercut from half a mile away. St Georges sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Paixao misses with a wild combination.
St Georges tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

St Georges changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Paixao looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
St Georges trying to control the position but Paixao is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Georges tries to advance to mount but can't.
St Georges takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
St Georges tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
St Georges trying to control the position but Paixao is working away.

St Georges is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Paixao knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Paixao tries to improve position but can't.
St Georges wants to control but Paixao is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Georges working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Paixao has managed to clinch.
Paixao trying to control the position but instead, St Georges has worked for underhooks and has pushed Paixao into the cage.
Paixao softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
St Georges tries for a takedown. No joy.
St Georges tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Octavio Paixao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pierre St Georges.
St Georges dodges an elbow strike from Paixao.
Paixao gets through St Georges's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Paixao looking to stall.
Paixao lands a nice shot to the body.
Paixao lands an elbow inside.

Paixao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Paixao circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
St Georges fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Paixao misses with a combination

and St Georges counters with a takedown into side control.
St Georges happy to just control the position for now.
Paixao gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Paixao is looking to control St Georges's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Paixao avoid being mounted?
St Georges is stalling here. Paixao is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! St Georges seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Paixao has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
St Georges wants to control but Paixao postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pierre St Georges comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think St Georges has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pierre St Georges!