PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Georges St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gaizka Usandizaga (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
Usandizaga

180 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Tends to cut

KAISER

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 Las Vegas, Georges 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 Las Vegas, Gaizka Usandizaga!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pierre throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Usandizaga avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

St Pierre feints and as Usandizaga raises his hands in defense, St Pierre changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
St Pierre wants to stand but Usandizaga has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Usandizaga striking off his back but it's not causing St Pierre any problems.
Usandizaga thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Usandizaga throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
St Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Usandizaga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
St Pierre passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Usandizaga is staying active underneath St Pierre, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
St Pierre blocks the strikes from Usandizaga.
St Pierre blocks the strikes from Usandizaga.
St Pierre works his way into full mount!
Usandizaga is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usandizaga swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
St Pierre raining down shots from the mount!
Usandizaga is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Usandizaga is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Usandizaga is trying to escape the mount.
St Pierre manages to capitalize on a mistake by Usandizaga to take his back!
Usandizaga tries to roll but St Pierre sticks to his back.
Usandizaga rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Usandizaga throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usandizaga missing with punches from the bottom.
Usandizaga strikes from the bottom but St Pierre uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Usandizaga tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but St Pierre wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
St Pierre avoids the strikes from the bottom by Usandizaga.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Usandizaga is trying to strike from the bottom but St Pierre has passed into full mount.
Usandizaga can't escape the position.
St Pierre blocks Usandizaga's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Usandizaga really doesn't want to stay on the ground with St Pierre. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Usandizaga throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Usandizaga throws a strike but has given up his back in the process.
St Pierre doesn't have the hooks in and Usandizaga manages to turn into his guard.
Usandizaga wants to stand but St Pierre has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usandizaga wants to stand and escape but instead St Pierre has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Usandizaga trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Usandizaga throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Usandizaga throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Usandizaga throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Usandizaga throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Usandizaga tries to strike from the bottom.
St Pierre is breathing heavily.
St Pierre postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
St Pierre working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
St Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Usandizaga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usandizaga striking off his back but it's not causing St Pierre any problems.
St Pierre preventing the sweep.
Usandizaga striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Usandizaga tries to strike from the bottom.
Usandizaga is striking off his back. St Pierre thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Usandizaga can do anything to dispel that myth.
Usandizaga misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Usandizaga misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Usandizaga throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Usandizaga punching from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Usandizaga throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Usandizaga flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Usandizaga is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Usandizaga punching from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaizka Usandizaga dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Usandizaga throws a right and a left that both miss.
St Pierre tries to clinch but Usandizaga moves out of range.
St Pierre dodges the punch combination from Usandizaga.
Usandizaga throws a nice looking combination but St Pierre bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Usandizaga moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

St Pierre gets a double leg takedown into Usandizaga's guard.
Usandizaga keeping moving, preventing St Pierre from controlling successfully.
Usandizaga throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Usandizaga wants to hit a switch here but St Pierre passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Usandizaga there!
Usandizaga is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usandizaga is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Usandizaga working to try and regain half guard.
Usandizaga is squirming around, avoiding St Pierre's attempts to control the action.
Usandizaga srikes from the bottom but he's lost position and has given up his back.
Usandizaga can't escape the position.
Usandizaga prevents St Pierre from getting a body triangle.
Usandizaga rolls, trying to escape but St Pierre keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre struggling to keep hold of the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
St Pierre controlling well, preventing Usandizaga from escaping the position.
Usandizaga keeps trying to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Usandizaga covering up well and avoiding damage.
St Pierre has the hooks in. Usandizaga is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Usandizaga fending off the submission attempt from St Pierre.
Gaizka Usandizaga has got the better of the ground game so far.
Usandizaga is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Usandizaga fending off the submission attempt from St Pierre.
St Pierre doesn't have the hooks in and Usandizaga manages to turn into his guard.
St Pierre is trying to control the position but Usandizaga postures up.
Usandizaga wants to get up but he can't break St Pierre's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Usandizaga is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaizka Usandizaga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Usandizaga looks to land a combination but St Pierre avoids it well.
St Pierre tries to close the distance and clinch up but Usandizaga swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Usandizaga throws a left and a right that both miss
and St Pierre counters with a good, hard body kick but Usandizaga shrugs it off.

St Pierre shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than St Pierre was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Usandizaga wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
St Pierre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Usandizaga keeps working.
St Pierre tries to stand but Usandizaga is controlling his head.
Usandizaga tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Usandizaga wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Usandizaga misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Usandizaga throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Usandizaga strikes from the bottom but St Pierre takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Usandizaga is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usandizaga throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Usandizaga throwing hammer fists to the chest of St Pierre. What's that going to do exactly?
Usandizaga is trying to escape the mount.
Usandizaga gives up his back whilst trying to strike.
You can see the frustration on Usandizaga's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Usandizaga is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
St Pierre doesn't have the hooks in and Usandizaga manages to turn into his guard.
Usandizaga wants to stand and escape but instead St Pierre has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
St Pierre passes Usandizaga's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
St Pierre is pressing down on Usandizaga's thigh, looking to free his foot. Usandizaga is holding on for now.
Usandizaga flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre blocks the strikes from Usandizaga.
St Pierre blocks the strikes from Usandizaga.
Usandizaga flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Usandizaga punching from the bottom.
Usandizaga regains full guard. Nicely done.
Usandizaga throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Usandizaga trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Usandizaga wants to sweep here but St Pierre controlling him for the moment.
Usandizaga striking off his back but it's not causing St Pierre any problems.
Usandizaga will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Usandizaga throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Usandizaga throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usandizaga keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Usandizaga throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Usandizaga has a closed guard, preventing St Pierre from standing up.
Usandizaga throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Usandizaga trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Usandizaga tries to strike from the bottom.
St Pierre is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Usandizaga striking off his back but it's not causing St Pierre any problems.
Usandizaga tries to strike from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
St Pierre won't allow Usandizaga to sweep him here.
Usandizaga will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Usandizaga throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Georges St Pierre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Usandizaga throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gaizka Usandizaga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Usandizaga 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gaizka Usandizaga!