PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saint Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Decan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Pierre
vs
Decan

178 cm
25
170 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

185 cm
23
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saint Pierre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Decan!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Russell Pearce and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Decan throws a low kick but Pierre moves out of range easily.
Good work by Pierre as he checks the leg kick.
Decan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Decan wants it to stay on the feet.
Decan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pierre.
Saint Pierre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Decan misses.
Pierre misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Decan lands a two punch combo.
Decan throws a chopping leg kick but Pierre manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Pierre misses with a takedown
and Decan counters with a nice kick to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saint Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Decan misses with a double jab

and Pierre counters with a single leg into guard. Decan didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Decan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pierre postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decan wants to get back to his feet but Pierre is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pierre postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pierre accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Pierre is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pierre cracks Decan with a solid left hand.
Decan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pierre.
Pierre prevents Decan from getting back to his feet.
Pierre stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Decan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pierre working some strikes from top position.
Decan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pierre is controlling him.
Pierre throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Decan is looking to stand up but Pierre isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pierre.
Decan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pierre.
Pierre postures up in Decan's guard and throws a big left but Decan blocks it.
Pierre throwing strikes but missing.
Decan wants to get back to his feet but Pierre is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pierre postures up and lands a big shot to Decan's brow.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Decan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Decan is looking to stand up but Pierre isn't so interested in that idea.
Decan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pierre.
Pierre landing some decent shots from guard.

Decan pushes Pierre off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre slips a jab and a cross from Decan.
Pierre looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Decan is fending him off so far but Pierre persists. Nope, Decan circles away and we're back to standing.
Pierre tries to score a power double leg takedown but Decan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pierre somewhat.
Decan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Decan wants it to stay on the feet.

Pierre closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ground and pound from Pierre seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Pierre connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Decan some visible discomfort.

Decan bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Pierre shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Decan is trying to defend but Pierre finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pierre prevents Decan from standing back up.
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!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pierre scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nice strikes from Pierre there.
Pierre not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Decan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Pierre seems to be looking for submissions.
Pierre prevents Decan from standing back up.
Pierre has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pierre connects with a nice short shot to Decan's temple.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Decan is trying to stand up here but Pierre is controlling him well.
Decan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pierre.

Pierre is looking for a kimura but Decan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pierre to get the leverage.
Pierre is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Pierre dominated that round.
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.

Decan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Decan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Decan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pierre shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Decan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Pierre shoots for a double leg takedown but Decan sprawls well. He's pushed Pierre's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Decan misses with a body kick.
Pierre shoots in for a takedown but Decan shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saint Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Decan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Decan wants it to stay on the feet.
Pierre misses with a takedown
and Decan counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mark Decan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Decan throws a low kick but Pierre moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pierre.
Decan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pierre shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Decan counters with an outside leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pierre dodges the punch combination from Decan.
Decan connects with a nice looking jab.
Decan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pierre.
Pierre on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Decan connects with a solid leg kick.
Decan misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decan fails to land with a series of punches.
Decan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Decan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Decan thuds a left hand into Pierre's body.
Mark Decan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Decan throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Some wild striking there from Decan.
Decan misses with a body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pierre looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Decan leaves Pierre with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decan lands with a kick to the temple. Pierre shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Decan throws a series of punches but Pierre moves out of range.
Decan throws a head kick that misses.
Pierre misses with a takedown attempt
and Decan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Pierre looks for a takedown but Decan sprawls well.
Decan misses with a two punch combination.
Decan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Decan leaves Pierre with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Decan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pierre closes the distance and clinches up with Decan, looking for a takedown. Pierre pushes Decan against the cage but Decan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Decan looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Pierre will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Pierre shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Decan's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Decan defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Pierre.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Decan is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Pierre raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Decan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Decan leaves Pierre with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pierre fails with a takedown attempt.
Decan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pierre.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saint Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Decan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pierre circles away quickly and effectively.

Pierre closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pierre lands in his opponent's guard.
Pierre throwing strikes but missing.

Decan uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Decan. Pierre does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre closes the distance and clinches up with Decan, looking for a takedown. Pierre pushes Decan against the cage but Decan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Pierre with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pierre dodges the punch combination from Decan.
Nice takedown defense from Decan. No joy for Pierre on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Decan. No joy for Pierre on that attempt.
Decan scores with a body shot.
Pierre avoids a kick to the body.
Decan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decan lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pierre backs up against the cage.
Decan misses with a double jab.
Decan throws a head kick but Pierre moves out of range.
Decan lands with a nice body punch.
No luck for Pierre with that takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Decan as Pierre shoots in.
Pierre shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Decan counters with an inside leg kick.
Pierre gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Decan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Decan.
Sloppy strikes from Decan. Those never looked like landing.
Pierre takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Decan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Decan looks to land a combination but Pierre avoids it well.
Mark Decan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Decan throws the left hand but Pierre avoids the punch easily.
Decan misses with a few strikes there.
Decan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pierre dives in and grabs Decan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Decan pushes down on Pierre's head and hops out.
Pierre fails with the takedown.
Pierre fails with a takedown attempt.
Decan throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Decan lands with a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pierre on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Pierre misses with a takedown
and Decan counters with a thumping low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Decan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Decan 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Decan!