PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between George St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorge Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

St Pierre
vs
Rivera

178 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George St Pierre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jorge Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pierre is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
George St Pierre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
St Pierre is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rivera sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
St Pierre throws a leg kick

and Rivera counters with a shoot takedown. St Pierre fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera tries to free his leg and advance position but St Pierre is retaining full guard.
Rivera stays in close to St Pierre's body and controls the position.
Let's hope that Rivera has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
St Pierre is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rivera slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jorge Rivera hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
St Pierre shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rivera counters with a single leg into guard. St Pierre didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
St Pierre can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rivera controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rivera looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jorge Rivera wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rivera takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rivera gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and St Pierre counters with a straight right hand.
St Pierre's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rivera under the eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for St Pierre with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George St Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivera avoids the head kick by St Pierre.
St Pierre changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rivera tries to avoid it but St Pierre manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rivera to the ground. Rivera escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Rivera shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rivera showed some decent athleticism there.
Rivera perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rivera's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
St Pierre trying to control here.
Rivera keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rivera is thwarting St Pierre's attempts to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
St Pierre throws a series of punches but Rivera avoids them all with ease.
St Pierre tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
St Pierre fails with a takedown attempt.
St Pierre fails to land the takedown.

Rivera has St Pierre up against the cage in a clinch.
St Pierre is trying to push Rivera away but Rivera has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rivera has him pressed against the cage.

Rivera decides to pull guard.
Rivera is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rivera is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rivera has his hands on St Pierre's head, controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jorge Rivera.
Rivera looks for a takedown but St Pierre sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Rivera dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No luck for Rivera with that takedown attempt.
St Pierre lunges at Rivera with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rivera's hand.
St Pierre tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rivera sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten St Pierre somewhat.
St Pierre tries to clinch but Rivera is having none of it.
St Pierre fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
St Pierre fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George St Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown but Rivera shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre tries a head kick but it misses.
St Pierre misses with a head kick.
St Pierre closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rivera circles away.
St Pierre stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and St Pierre wants it to stay on the feet.
St Pierre shoots in and drives through. Rivera sprawls well.
Rivera looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rivera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rivera shoots for a double leg takedown but St Pierre sprawls well. He's pushed Rivera's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around St Pierre's waist but St Pierre gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rivera off to one side.
St Pierre finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
St Pierre attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rivera slips a jab and a cross from St Pierre.
St Pierre moves to clinch but Rivera breaks away

and Rivera counters with a nice double leg into guard.
St Pierre can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rivera controls the pace.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
St Pierre keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Rivera engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jorge Rivera hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
St Pierre closes the distance but Rivera moves to the side

and Rivera counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in St Pierre's guard now.
St Pierre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rivera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
St Pierre controls Rivera momentarily but Rivera frees himself.
Rivera stays in close to St Pierre's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jorge Rivera.
Rivera checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre tries to clinch but Rivera moves out of range.
St Pierre misses with a jab, cross combination.
St Pierre changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rivera tries to avoid it but St Pierre manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rivera to the ground. Rivera escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
St Pierre thows a leg kick but Rivera checks it

and Rivera counters with a takedown into side control.
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!

Rivera is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but St Pierre is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rivera wants to control but St Pierre is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee asks Rivera politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rivera prefers to stall for the moment though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Rivera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

St Pierre tries to clinch but Rivera moves out of range.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rivera counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
St Pierre is looking for a sweep. Rivera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rivera controlling the action here.
St Pierre makes his way to full guard. A much better position for St Pierre.
St Pierre looking to control.
Rivera trying to control but St Pierre is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jorge Rivera was stalling too much, according to the referee.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rivera as he jumps to the side.
George St Pierre is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
St Pierre looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - St Pierre looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
St Pierre stuffs the takedown attempt from Rivera. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rivera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rivera.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rivera.
George St Pierre has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Rivera.
St Pierre shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rivera pinned against the cage. Rivera gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
St Pierre closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rivera counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in St Pierre's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. St Pierre is keeping the position for now.
St Pierre controls Rivera momentarily but Rivera frees himself.
Rivera controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from St Pierre as Rivera shoots in.
St Pierre looks for a takedown but Rivera sprawls well.
Rivera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has St Pierre pinned against the cage. St Pierre gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rivera as he jumps to the side.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rivera stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rivera wants it to stay on the feet.
Jorge Rivera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
George St Pierre is winning the standup battle so far.
St Pierre stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
St Pierre slaps away a takedown attempt from Rivera, before circling back to the center of the mat.
George St Pierre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jorge Rivera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rivera 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jorge Rivera!