PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Quer Tajik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saint Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pierre is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Where is My Mind. Quer Tajik has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tajik
vs
Pierre

180 cm
21
180 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
179 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Quer Tajik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Saint Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pierre uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tajik.
Tajik throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pierre.

Pierre shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tajik napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Tajik is looking for a sweep.
Tajik can't do much from the bottom here.
Pierre fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Tajik is looking to reverse the position.
Pierre misses with the ground and pound.
Pierre throwing strikes but Tajik manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Tajik swings around for an armbar but Pierre sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tajik's guard.
Tajik wants to sweep here but Pierre controlling him for the moment.
Tajik tries to strike from the bottom.
Tajik working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pierre.
Tajik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pierre slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Check out the look on Pierre's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Pierre tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sloppy strikes there by Pierre.
Tajik defending against the ground and pound.
Tajik is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Pierre is controlling him well.
Pierre misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Tajik tries to bench press Pierre off him but Pierre keeps the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tajik throws a series of punches but Pierre moves out of range.
Tajik circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pierre dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tajik. That did some damage!
Pierre scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Pierre scores with a four punch combination!
Tajik throws a jab but it's blocked by Pierre.
Tajik throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Pierre counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Tajik escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pierre tries to clinch up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tajik, as that shot connected.

It looks like Saint Pierre has been cut.
Tajik misses with a shot to the body
and Pierre counters with a right hand to the body.
Tajik throws a combination that misses

and Pierre counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tajik!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tajik wants to control but Pierre is having none of it.
Tajik is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Pierre connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The referee warns Tajik that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Pierre punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre raining down shots from the mount!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tajik wants to hold on but Pierre pushes him away.
Pierre landing strikes, looking to finish!
Pierre throwing strikes here but Tajik is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Tajik tries to hold on but Pierre pushes him away.
Tajik is in a horrible position here. Pierre smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Tajik tries to hold on but Pierre pushes him away.
Pierre unloading with bombs!
Pierre with the ground and pound from mount.
Pierre is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Pierre breaks from Tajik's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tajik is bucking up trying to escape but Pierre cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Tajik is working to get back to half guard.
Tajik wants to hold on but Pierre pushes him away.
Pierre unloading with bombs!
Tajik flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pierre with a couple of short strikes.
Pierre with a couple of short strikes.
Tajik keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Pierre goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Tajik is on top in guard.
Pierre looks gassed!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tajik slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Pierre dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Saint Pierre's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tajik swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pierre.
Pierre tries to clinch up.
Tajik looks to land a right hand but Pierre moved out of range.
Tajik throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pierre.
Pierre scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Tajik misses the shot to the body.

Pierre fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tajik sprawls well initially but Pierre persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Pierre scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tajik is trying to get back to full guard.
Pierre throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tajik blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pierre.
Tajik blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pierre.
Tajik is looking to control Pierre's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tajik avoid being mounted?
Tajik moves into full guard.
Pierre missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tajik not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tajik tries to score with a low kick but Pierre moves his leg out of the way.
Tajik throws a series of strikes that have Pierre backpedaling.
Tajik throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Pierre counters with a takedown into side control.
Pierre landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Tajik can't do much from the bottom here.
Pierre throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Pierre is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierre working away.
Tajik tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pierre wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pierre fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Pierre cracks Tajik with a big elbow.
Tajik is looking for a sweep.
Pierre scoring with punches and elbows.
Tajik struggling a bit here.
Tajik isn't going anywhere.
Pierre lands a decent elbow from side control.
Pierre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tajik keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre cracks Tajik with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Pierre cracks Tajik with a big right hand but Tajik just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Tajik is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Pierre blocks the strikes from Tajik.
Pierre throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Pierre scoring with punches from side control.
Pierre looking to control but instead Tajik has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Pierre not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tajik is trying to stand back up but Pierre is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pierre missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tajik moves into full guard.
Tajik throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Tajik pulls Pierre in close to his closed guard and prevents Pierre from doing any damage or advancing position.
Tajik lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Pierre in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tajik looking for a sweep. Not yet Tajik, not yet.
Tajik is controlling Pierre's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Pierre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Saint Pierre's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A right-left combo lands from Tajik.
Left hook, right uppercut from Pierre.
Tajik avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pierre connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tajik swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pierre counters with a stiff right hand.
Pierre looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tajik throws a jab when Pierre was well out of range.
Quer Tajik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pierre lands with a nice combination. Tajik backs away looking to recover.
Tajik throws a combination that misses
and Pierre counters with a three punch combo that has Tajik backing up. Tajik nods at Pierre to acknowledge the strikes.
Pierre tries to close the distance and clinch but Tajik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tajik looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tajik throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pierre sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tajik misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tajik swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Pierre decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tajik's guard.
Pierre wants to control from the top but Tajik keeps moving.
Pierre is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pierre in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pierre with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pierre missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saint Pierre has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tajik tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pierre throws and elbow that misses. Tajik uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pierre's guard. Nice move by Tajik!
Tajik throwing strikes from guard but Pierre blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tajik thows a leg kick but Pierre checks it
and Pierre counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Pierre shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tajik misses with a double jab
and Pierre counters with a slapping leg kick.
Pierre throws a combination that misses
and Tajik counters with a nice body shot.
Tajik swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Pierre counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pierre.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pierre throws and elbow that misses. Tajik uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pierre's guard. Nice move by Tajik!
Tajik throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tajik looking to sit in guard and control but Pierre gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tajik preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pierre throws a big right hand that misses.
Tajik trying to keep a closed guard but Pierre is proving a slippery customer.
Tajik avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tajik is trying to keep Pierre in close.
Saint Pierre is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tajik lands with a nice body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tajik looks to land a right hand but Pierre moved out of range.
Pierre moves out of range of the strikes.
Pierre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tajik moves away.
Tajik lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Pierre is looking to clinch.
Quer Tajik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tajik throws a lazy right hand but Pierre sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Quer Tajik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pierre misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tajik counters with a two punch combo.
Pierre throws a series of punches but Tajik avoids them all with ease.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters circling - Tajik throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tajik falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pierre counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Saint Pierre.
I've got Pierre winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

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