PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lebron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

James
vs
St Pierre

185 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lebron James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, George St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James lands a nice shot to the body.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - St Pierre circles away.
St Pierre shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. James defends it nicely.

James gets caught napping as St Pierre dives in and scores a takedown. James manages to retain guard.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from St Pierre.
St Pierre wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. St Pierre gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.

James working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. St Pierre doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. St Pierre manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
James keeping moving, preventing St Pierre from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by George St Pierre.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
James stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from St Pierre.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from St Pierre is defended easily by James.
Lebron James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George St Pierre.
James is trying hard to land a takedown here. St Pierre sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
St Pierre has a takedown stuffed.

James has closed the distance and engaged St Pierre in a clinch.
St Pierre is trying to pull guard but James turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
James creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through St Pierre's defenses.
James dodges an elbow strike from St Pierre.

James has clasped his hands together around St Pierre's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but James wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
St Pierre is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ground and pound from James seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
St Pierre is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
St Pierre looks winded!
St Pierre is working to avoid the ground and pound but James connects with a decent elbow.
St Pierre gets back to half guard.
James stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
James looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lebron James.
James uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before St Pierre has time to react.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lebron James dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

St Pierre tries for a takedown but James sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

It looks like George St Pierre has been cut.

James closes the distance and clinches.
James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
James fails to pull the fight into his guard.
St Pierre fails to pull guard.
St Pierre lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
St Pierre wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
St Pierre is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables James to keep the fight standing.
Lebron James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George St Pierre.
St Pierre gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from James.
St Pierre is trying to stall.
St Pierre jumps guard but James stands there with St Pierre around his waist. St Pierre gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

St Pierre has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but James regains guard immediately.
James wants to hit a switch here but St Pierre passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for James there!
St Pierre tries to control but James wriggling away.
James is in all sorts of trouble here.
James sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is looking for a sweep. St Pierre is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

James kicks off St Pierre and gets to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from St Pierre.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by St Pierre.
St Pierre throws a lazy head kick

and James decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in St Pierre's guard.
St Pierre is breathing heavily.
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!
St Pierre working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.
James trying to control but St Pierre is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre is looking to stand up but James isn't so interested in that idea.
James is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Lebron James has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
James throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
James fails with the takedown
and St Pierre counters with a two punch combo.
Horrible takedown by James or perhaps it was just good defense by St Pierre which made him look bad.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but St Pierre sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and St Pierre counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
St Pierre trying to control the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James wants to get back to his feet.

St Pierre is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, James has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James wants to control but St Pierre is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lebron James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on George St Pierre's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

James wants to clinch

and St Pierre counters by moving into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
St Pierre has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. James avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

James breaks the clinch.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but St Pierre paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from St Pierre.
James shoots for a takedown but St Pierre saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. St Pierre tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. St Pierre manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James tries to score a power double leg takedown but St Pierre sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten James somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lebron James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre fails with the takedown
and James counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lebron James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
St Pierre misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from James.
St Pierre fails with an attempt to clinch.

St Pierre drives through and clinches with James against the cage.
James tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. St Pierre just stands there and leans against the cage.
James tries to pull guard but St Pierre won't allow it.

St Pierre pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James is trying hard to land a takedown here. St Pierre sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from James as St Pierre shoots in.
St Pierre doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
Lebron James is winning the standup battle so far.
St Pierre tries for a takedown but James sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

James shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches St Pierre napping and manages to drive through into side control!
St Pierre is trying to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
St Pierre is trying to control James's posture but James avoids it.
St Pierre is pushing James's head away, looking to escape. James manages to hold on to the position though.

James decides to stand up, so the ref orders St Pierre to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to clinch but St Pierre is avoiding it.
James lands with a thumping leg kick.
James goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - St Pierre looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

St Pierre shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches James napping and manages to drive through into side control!
St Pierre working the strikes but James uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
James is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James avoiding damage under a succession of punches from St Pierre.
James controlling the position well.

St Pierre is working for a submission of some sort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
St Pierre prevents James from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lebron James.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for James, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

The fight is ruled a draw!