PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Georges St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St Pierre comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Numero 1 kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Smith
vs
St Pierre

195 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Georges St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pierre tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
St Pierre tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith connects with a single shot there.
St Pierre fails in his attempt to clinch.
St Pierre avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
St Pierre gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Xavier Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith dodges the punch combination from St Pierre.

St Pierre closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smith to the mat! Smith manages to get full guard.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. St Pierre manages to get himself to full guard.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith stands and throws St Pierre's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but St Pierre is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
St Pierre is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith working the ground and pound.
St Pierre is trying to improve his position.

Smith tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
St Pierre is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Smith in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

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

St Pierre darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.
Smith wants to control but St Pierre is keeping busy.
St Pierre prevents Smith from improving his position.
St Pierre slows the pace down in half guard.
Smith is looking for a sweep. St Pierre is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith tries to kick St Pierre off but St Pierre keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smith throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Xavier Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Georges St Pierre.

St Pierre fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smith sprawls well initially but St Pierre persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
St Pierre looks gassed!
Smith pushes St Pierre off looking to stand but St Pierre dives back in and keeps control.
Smith moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
St Pierre pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre prevents Smith from standing back up.
St Pierre is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Smith wants to improve his position but St Pierre is controlling well.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. St Pierre lands a nice short elbow.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

St Pierre closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
St Pierre is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Georges St Pierre will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

St Pierre drives through with a takedown into guard.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Smith will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Smith pushes St Pierre off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Smith throws the kick towards the body but St Pierre avoids it.
Xavier Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith lands with a hook. St Pierre tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
St Pierre closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. St Pierre pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
St Pierre takes a head kick and keeps coming.

St Pierre decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith wants to improve his position but St Pierre is controlling well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but St Pierre is one step ahead there.
Smith wants to stand but St Pierre is controlling the position.
St Pierre is in close to Smith's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Smith throws a couple of heel strikes.
St Pierre is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
St Pierre pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
St Pierre keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Smith has his feet on St Pierre's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by St Pierre.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and St Pierre moves out of range easily.

St Pierre darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
St Pierre is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.
St Pierre is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.
St Pierre looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith passes St Pierre's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
St Pierre wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
St Pierre trying to control but Smith postures up.
Georges St Pierre has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ground and pound from Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is thwarting St Pierre's attempts to control the position.
Smith controlling the action here.
St Pierre tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Smith works his way into full mount!
Smith working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Smith punishing his opponent with strikes.
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 Xavier Smith will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

St Pierre shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Smith.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? St Pierre is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, St Pierre circles away and we're back to standing.

Smith changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. St Pierre looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
St Pierre regains half guard, as Smith was trying to land strikes.
St Pierre controlling the position well.
Smith trying to control the action but St Pierre is working from the bottom.
St Pierre keeping hold of Smith's head, controlling as best he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but St Pierre is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
St Pierre tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
St Pierre is controlling Smith's position as best he can from this difficult position.
St Pierre is not content to let Smith control the position.
St Pierre tries to roll over but Smith keeps him under control.
St Pierre trying to control but Smith postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Smith drives through and clinches with St Pierre against the cage.
St Pierre wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.

St Pierre is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Smith can't fight it off and eventually St Pierre manages to take the fight to the floor. Smith looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
St Pierre won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Smith doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Smith has his foot on St Pierre's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. St Pierre works his way back into a safe position though.
St Pierre slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Smith throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre landing a few strikes.
Smith is not content to let St Pierre control the position.
St Pierre tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
St Pierre trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith manages to work his way to half guard, despite St Pierre's best efforts.
Smith wants to get back to his feet.
St Pierre is controlling the pace.

Smith kicks St Pierre off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith.
St Pierre with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a takedown into side control.
St Pierre on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Smith tries to advance to mount but can't.
St Pierre tries to bench press Smith off him but Smith keeps the position.
Smith advances to mount.
Smith connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Xavier Smith!