PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Geordie St Pearce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Geordie St Pearce has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Rogers
vs
St Pearce

180 cm
21
185 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

183 cm
19
179 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

Project Mayhem

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Geordie St Pearce!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pearce cracks Rogers with a good jab.

Rogers closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rogers lands in his opponent's guard.
Rogers looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rogers stopping the sweep attempt from St Pearce.
Rogers landing some decent shots from guard.
Rogers sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rogers trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rogers makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rogers cracks St Pearce with a solid left hand.
Rogers is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rogers seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down St Pearce for as long as he can get away with.
St Pearce wants to stand and escape but Rogers is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rogers 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.
St Pearce wants to sweep here but Rogers controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Steve Rogers.
St Pearce throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rogers sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rogers lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
St Pearce misses with a wild body shot.
Rogers takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
St Pearce misses the shot to the body.
St Pearce thows a body shot but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
St Pearce wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rogers thows a body shot but no joy.
Rogers has a takedown stuffed.
Rogers scores with a hook to the body. St Pearce takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pearce ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rogers moves away.
Rogers shoots and misses

and St Pearce counters with a single leg into guard. Rogers didn't expect that.
St Pearce throws a strike but Rogers rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
St Pearce wants to sweep here but Rogers controlling him for the moment.
Rogers is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
St Pearce working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rogers.
Rogers advances to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if St Pearce can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers controlling the pace.
St Pearce trying to control but Rogers postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rogers is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rogers has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Rogers dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

St Pearce is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rogers keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
St Pearce shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rogers stuffs the takedown.
Rogers changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. St Pearce tries to avoid it but Rogers manages to keep hold of a leg and drag St Pearce to the ground. St Pearce escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
St Pearce swings for the body but Rogers moves out of range.
Rogers gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and St Pearce counters with a nice double leg into guard.
St Pearce throws a big elbow that misses.
St Pearce preventing the sweep.
Rogers manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. St Pearce manages to get himself to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rogers slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but St Pearce is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
St Pearce looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rogers is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Steve Rogers just wasn't active enough.
Rogers lands with an uppercut that bounces St Pearce off the cage and back into range.
A combination from St Pearce does no damage.

Rogers shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pearce won't allow Rogers to pass to mount.
Rogers controlling the action here.
St Pearce wants to control but Rogers is keeping busy.
Rogers with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rogers's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
St Pearce is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Steve Rogers wasn't doing enough on the ground.
St Pearce misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rogers.
Rogers lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
St Pearce throws out a loose jab but Rogers uses good head movement to avoid it.
St Pearce looks to land a combination but Rogers avoids it well.
St Pearce misses with a series of wild punches.
Rogers thows a body shot but no joy.
St Pearce is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rogers rather than just go for the knockout.
Rogers shoots in looking for a takedown but St Pearce manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rogers's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St Pearce misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rogers.

Rogers feints and as St Pearce raises his hands in defense, Rogers changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
St Pearce trying to control the position.
Rogers controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
St Pearce really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rogers. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rogers controls the position.
Rogers tries to advance to mount but can't.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rogers happy to just control the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Rogers dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

St Pearce with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rogers counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
St Pearce is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rogers's corner is telling him to maintain position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Steve Rogers wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

St Pearce tries to sprawl but Rogers drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Well, if Rogers is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
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 Pearce keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rogers scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pearce has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rogers is working away from the top position though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
St Pearce has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Rogers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Well, if Rogers is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
St Pearce is looking to control Rogers's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can St Pearce avoid being mounted?

We're going to have a standup here because Steve Rogers wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
St Pearce shoots in looking for a takedown but Rogers manages to keep the fight standing, pushing St Pearce's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pearce throws a hook but Rogers blocks it.
Rogers moves away from the strike by St Pearce.
St Pearce takes a swing at Rogers's ribcage but misses.
Rogers lands a really nice looking cross but St Pearce seems unphased.
St Pearce fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rogers manages to avoid it.
Rogers thows a body shot but no joy.
St Pearce goes for a double leg but Rogers avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rogers continues to drive forward.
Steve Rogers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Geordie St Pearce.
St Pearce lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
St Pearce has a couple of punches blocked by Rogers.
St Pearce has a couple of punches blocked by Rogers.
Rogers blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rogers tries for a takedown but St Pearce manages to get underhooks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
St Pearce misses with a short punch on the inside.
St Pearce tries to work over Rogers's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rogers is trying to work for a single leg takedown but St Pearce pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers blocks an uppercut.
St Pearce has a couple of punches blocked by Rogers.

Rogers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
St Pearce swings for the body but Rogers moves out of range.
Rogers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? St Pearce is fending him off so far but Rogers persists. Nope, St Pearce circles away and we're back to standing.
Rogers closes the distance and clinches up with St Pearce, looking for a takedown. Rogers pushes St Pearce against the cage but St Pearce circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from St Pearce. No joy for Rogers on that attempt.
Steve Rogers is winning the standup battle so far.
Rogers shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts St Pearce as he jumps to the side.
Rogers takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A jab from Rogers does it's job there.
Rogers looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rogers takes a body punch but keeps moving.
St Pearce scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from St Pearce misses the target.
Steve Rogers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rogers shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in St Pearce's guard.
St Pearce trying to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
St Pearce is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rogers forces his way into half guard.
Geordie St Pearce has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
St Pearce tries to roll over but Rogers keeps him under control.
Rogers content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Rogers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rogers, 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Rogers!
Steve Rogers seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.