PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stacey Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek St John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rush
vs
St John

186 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stacey Rush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Derek St John!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Steve Montenegro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rush throws a sloppy head kick and St John moves out of range easily.

Rush clinches up against the cage.

Rush breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

St John looking to score a takedown here. Rush is defending well but St John drives through and ends up in Rush's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as St John accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
St John distracts Rush with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
St John trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rush's guard.
Rush keeping moving, preventing St John from controlling successfully.
Rush managing to control the position.
St John showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Derek St John wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rush looks for a takedown but St John sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from St John. No joy for Rush on that attempt.

St John drives through with a takedown into Rush's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rush keeping moving, preventing St John from controlling successfully.
St John has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rush tries to land a sweep but no joy.
St John sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Rush throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St John lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
St John sitting in guard here, content to control.

St John stands up and waves to Rush to follow him.
Rush throws a nice looking combination but St John bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

St John moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush goes for a takedown in the clinch but St John prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stacey Rush. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rush manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
St John trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rush's guard.
St John trying to control the position from guard on top but Rush is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
St John with a nice head shot there.

St John stands up from Rush's guard - St John perhaps looking for a knockout.
St John throws a head kick but Rush moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts St John as he jumps to the side.
Nice sprawl there from St John as Rush shoots in.
Rush is breathing heavily.
Rush works over St John's head and body with a nice combination.

St John scores with a takedown into Rush's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
St John has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rush is proving hard to escape from.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
St John is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek St John dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

St John fails to land the takedown.
St John throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rush doesn't succeed with the takedown

so St John counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Rush wriggles free and stands up.
Rush stuffs the takedown.

St John drives through with a takedown into Rush's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
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 John is stalling in the full guard.

Rush throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! St John escapes and throws Rush's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
St John tries to advance to mount but can't.
Rush looks to move to half guard but instead St John has passed into mount! Damn!
St John controlling the position easily from mount.
St John tries to control but Rush wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St John prevents Rush from getting the reversal.
St John working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
St John punishing his opponent with strikes.
St John wants to control the pace but Rush is squirming around nicely.

St John is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Rush has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Rush!
St John trying to keep a closed guard but Rush is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St John manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rush manages to get himself to full guard.
Rush working a defensive guard here.
St John wants to control from the top but Rush keeps moving.
Rush can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as St John controls the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rush tries to clinch up but St John circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush connects with a solid leg kick.

St John moves into range and clinches up with Rush.
St John wants to take the fight to the mat but Rush manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Stacey Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek St John.
Rush avoids the elbow strike from St John, against the cage.

Rush pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
St John leaves Rush with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Rush.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rush shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts St John as he jumps to the side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

St John feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rush keeping full guard, as St John tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek St John showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rush shoots in and drives through. St John sprawls well.
St John stuffs the takedown attempt from Rush. Rush gets slowly back to his feet.
A head kick misses from St John.
St John shoots in looking for a takedown but Rush manages to keep the fight standing, pushing St John's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
St John shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rush defends it nicely.
Rush dives in and grabs St John's left leg, looking for a takedown. St John pushes down on Rush's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stacey Rush. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St John throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rush misses with a takedown attempt - St John sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

St John closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rush's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rush looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! St John has picked Rush up and slammed him! Rush can't keep hold of the triangle and St John manages to pass to side control!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
St John advances to full mount.
Rush is squirming around, avoiding St John's attempts to control the action.
St John content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

St John stands up from mount. Strange move.
St John tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rush manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A low kick from St John is predictable there
and Rush counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. St John is lucky that one didn't land flush.

St John feints and as Rush raises his hands in defense, St John changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rush looking to hit a scissor sweep but St John is one step ahead there.
Rush trying to control the position.
St John distracts Rush with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St John content to stall in guard here.

St John gets to his feet. Rush looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

St John closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rush to the mat! Rush manages to get full guard.
Rush can't keep his opponent in guard - St John advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
St John slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St John is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rush keeping hold of St John's head, controlling as best he can.

St John wants to work for an arm triangle but Rush is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek St John comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well St John has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek St John!
Derek St John spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.