PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gennaro Gattuso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin St Andre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St Andre has chosen When the Saints Go Marching In as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Gattuso
vs
St Andre

176 cm
33
166 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

176 cm
35
160 lbs
32 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

DROPPIN BODIES
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gennaro Gattuso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benjamin St Andre!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gattuso moves out of range of the body kick.
St Andre lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Gennaro Gattuso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gattuso tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but St Andre paws at him with a jab and circles away.
St Andre ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gattuso misses with a jab, cross combination.
St Andre cracks Gattuso with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
St Andre scores with a leg kick.
St Andre misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
St Andre scoring well with a low kick there.
Gattuso darts in trying to clinch
and St Andre connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gattuso tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gattuso throws a jab when St Andre was well out of range.
Gattuso throws a quick head kick that skims the top of St Andre's head.
St Andre has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Gattuso steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from St Andre. That one must have hurt.
Gattuso tries to clinch there but St Andre circles away.
St Andre looks for the body kick but Gattuso saw that one coming.
St Andre throws a good cross that connects.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Andre lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
St Andre takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
St Andre explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Gattuso has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Bi-polar Asylum in the buildup to the fight.
St Andre scores with a jab to the head.
Gattuso with a lazy takedown attempt
and St Andre cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
St Andre lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
St Andre takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gattuso takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gattuso connects with a nice looking jab.
Gattuso tries to land a front kick but St Andre steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
St Andre uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gattuso.
St Andre scores with a leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Gattuso misses.
St Andre thows a body kick. Gattuso tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Gattuso wants to clinch but St Andre slips to the side
enabling St Andre to counter with a crisp jab.
Gattuso misses with a lunging right hand
and St Andre counters with an outside leg kick.

Gattuso closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming St Andre to the mat! St Andre manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso postures up in St Andre's guard and throws a big left but St Andre blocks it.
Gattuso postures up in St Andre's guard and throws a big left but St Andre blocks it.
Gattuso postures up and lands a big shot to St Andre's brow.

St Andre is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gattuso is aware though and is defending well.
Gattuso trying to control the position from guard on top but St Andre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gattuso tries to free his leg and advance position but St Andre is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now St Andre is on top in guard.

Gattuso avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gattuso throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gattuso keeping full guard, as St Andre tries to pass.
St Andre wants to control from the top but Gattuso keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso working a defensive guard here.
St Andre wants to control from the top but Gattuso keeps moving.

Gattuso is looking for a triangle but St Andre pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gattuso wants to sweep but no luck.
St Andre content to stall in guard here.
St Andre passes into half guard.

That's four 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.
St Andre is keen to just control but Gattuso is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

St Andre is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gattuso sees it coming and defends easily.

St Andre seems to be working for a kimura but Gattuso defends the submission attempt.

St Andre is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gattuso with the active half guard here but St Andre passes nicely into side control.
St Andre has knee on belly and moves into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin St Andre dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gattuso showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from St Andre.
Gattuso pulls out of a head kick attempt.
St Andre feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gattuso's calf.
St Andre fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gattuso connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between St Andre's hands.
St Andre is looking to slow Gattuso down with leg kicks.
St Andre throws a half hearted mid kick.
St Andre jabbing away but nothing is landing.
St Andre throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gattuso.
St Andre uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gattuso.
St Andre throws the kick towards the body but Gattuso avoids it.
Gattuso walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. St Andre checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Benjamin St Andre seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gattuso throws a sloppy head kick
and St Andre counters with a nice body kick.
St Andre fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gattuso has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
St Andre ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gattuso bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Gattuso does no damage.
St Andre jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gattuso fails to land the takedown.
St Andre misses with a low kick.
St Andre connects with a leg kick. Gattuso looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
St Andre avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gattuso shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and St Andre counters with a nice uppercut.
A kick lands to the mid section there for St Andre.
Gattuso uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from St Andre.
Jab by St Andre.
St Andre buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for St Andre.
Gattuso fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gattuso will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Gattuso is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in St Andre's half guard.
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 Andre actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

St Andre is defending against the submission attempts here by Gattuso.
Gattuso missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
St Andre gets back to full guard.
St Andre working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gattuso.

Gattuso drops back looking for a leg! St Andre is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and St Andre manages to kick Gattuso off! Gattuso jumps back into St Andre's guard.
St Andre looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Andre is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

St Andre is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gattuso is looking to work some ground and pound but St Andre has wrist control.
Gattuso throws a big elbow that misses.
Gennaro Gattuso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gattuso trying to control the position from guard on top but St Andre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
St Andre looking for a sweep. Not yet St Andre, not yet.
St Andre has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gattuso tries to free his leg and advance position but St Andre is retaining full guard.
Gattuso is working St Andre over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
St Andre has control of Gattuso's left arm, preventing Gattuso from doing any damage.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso trying to control but St Andre is working from the bottom.
St Andre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
St Andre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
St Andre looking for a sweep. Not yet St Andre, not yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
St Andre changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Gattuso drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
St Andre is trying to improve his position.

Gattuso is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but St Andre is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
St Andre takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin St Andre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gattuso shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with St Andre but St Andre pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A little jabbing left from St Andre on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gattuso misses with a body punch
and St Andre counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
St Andre lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gattuso is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A jab from St Andre does it's job there.
Gattuso lands the left hand.
Gattuso misses with a looping left.
Gattuso throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gattuso shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
St Andre cracks Gattuso with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
St Andre blocks the body kick.
St Andre leaves Gattuso with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gattuso takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
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 Andre scores with the left hand. Gattuso knows he should have avoided that one.
St Andre blocks a head kick by Gattuso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Andre looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gattuso feinted with a counter takedown.
St Andre with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Gattuso darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

St Andre looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
St Andre trying to control here.
St Andre has hold of Gattuso's hands but Gattuso slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gattuso wants to take a breather but St Andre is having none of it.
St Andre wants to get back to full guard.

St Andre looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Andre tries to roll over but Gattuso keeps him under control.
St Andre trying to control from the bottom.
St Andre keeping control of the position.
Benjamin St Andre is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gattuso is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gattuso seems to be looking for submissions.
Gattuso scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gattuso lands a nice short elbow.
Gattuso stalling away here and it's allowed St Andre to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gattuso accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gattuso with a flurry of punches that miss.
St Andre is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gattuso missing with punches from the bottom.
St Andre is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
St Andre is trying to control. Gattuso wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Andre is stalling here. Gattuso is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! St Andre seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gattuso has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Gennaro Gattuso has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gattuso wants to lay and pray for a moment but St Andre keeps working.
St Andre is looking for a sweep.
St Andre takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Gattuso is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. St Andre knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
St Andre tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gattuso wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
St Andre gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gattuso thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Benjamin St Andre.
I've got St Andre 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin St Andre!
Our winner, Benjamin St Andre, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.