PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Georges Stpierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michal Elsner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the ring it seems that Georges Stpierre has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Georges Stpierre seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Stpierre
vs
Elsner

178 cm
26
170 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

183 cm
26
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Georges Stpierre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michal Elsner!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stpierre looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stpierre missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Elsner looking for submissions off his back.
Elsner is refusing to be controlled, as Stpierre sits in half guard.
Elsner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stpierre.

Elsner actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Elsner looks winded!

Stpierre is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Elsner sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stpierre is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Elsner!
Stpierre looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Stpierre is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Elsner to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Elsner shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stpierre throws some wild stikes that Elsner manages to avoid easily.
Elsner swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Stpierre throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Stpierre misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Elsner is wriggling around trying to escape.
Elsner is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stpierre misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Elsner throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Stpierre throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Elsner is looking to improve his position but Stpierre isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Elsner regains half guard.
Stpierre not doing much here.
Elsner is staying active underneath Stpierre, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Elsner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Elsner is staying active underneath Stpierre, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stpierre stalling.
Stpierre has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Stpierre trying to mount his opponent but Elsner defends it.
Stpierre is working hard here to advance position.
Stpierre trying to control the action but Elsner is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Stpierre decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stpierre is looking to take a break and control but Elsner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stpierre is looking to advance position but Elsner won't allow it.
Elsner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stpierre.
Stpierre prevents Elsner from improving his position.
Elsner is not content to let Stpierre control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elsner is trying to get back to full guard.

Stpierre is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges Stpierre dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Stpierre clinches with his opponent.
Stpierre throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Elsners head.

Stpierre ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stpierre no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stpierre wants to sweep here but Elsner controlling him for the moment.
Stpierre wants to control but Elsner passes easily into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elsner is thwarting Stpierre's attempts to control the position.
Stpierre is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Pitbull MMA, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Stpierre tries to roll over but Elsner keeps him under control.

Stpierre looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Elsner is breathing heavily.
Stpierre is trying to maintain the position but Elsner is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stpierre tries to clinch but Elsner is having none of it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Elsner crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Stpierre - the referee stops the clock and Elsner gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Stpierre. Elsner manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Stpierre throws a body kick that misses.
Elsner is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Stpierre shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Elsner's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elsner keeping moving, preventing Stpierre from controlling successfully.
Stpierre wants to pass the guard but Elsner is keeping the position.
Stpierre controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Stpierre trying to stand up but can't free himself from Elsner's guard.
Stpierre knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Elsner on the ground.
Stpierre wants to control from the top but Elsner keeps moving.
Stpierre with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Stpierre stands up and waves to Elsner to follow him.
Stpierre fails in his attempt to clinch.
Elsner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Elsner is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Stpierre tries to clinch up but Elsner circles away and keeps his distance.
And Elsner tries to counter it with a takedown but Stpierre pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Stpierre shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Elsner napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Stpierre in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Stpierre wants to stand but Elsner has his arm trapped.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elsner is not content to let Stpierre control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges Stpierre dominated that second round.
That's time! Stpierre's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stpierre throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Elsner was covering up waiting for the punch and Stpierre finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Elsner wants to hit a switch here but Stpierre passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Elsner there!
Elsner is in all sorts of trouble here.
Elsner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elsner regains half guard.
Stpierre is trying to control the action in half guard but Elsner is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stpierre controlling the action here.
Elsner regains full guard. Nicely done.

Elsner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stpierre defends it easily.
Elsner keeping moving, preventing Stpierre from controlling successfully.
Elsner keeping full guard, as Stpierre tries to pass.
Stpierre wants to control from the top but Elsner keeps moving.

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.

Elsner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stpierre defends well.
Stpierre tries to stand but Elsner is controlling from the bottom.
Stpierre pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Elsner is keeping the position for now.
Elsner keeping moving, preventing Stpierre from controlling successfully.

Elsner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stpierre defends it easily.

Elsner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stpierre defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stpierre with a flurry of punches that miss.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Stpierre would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stpierre drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stpierre throwing strikes but missing.

Elsner isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Stpierre stacks Elsner on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Stpierre!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stpierre is looking to take a break and control but Elsner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Georges Stpierre overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stpierre is really struggling to control Elsner but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Elsner is trying to get back to half guard.
Elsner manages to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stpierre looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Elsner wants to improve his position but Stpierre is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges Stpierre clearly takes that round.
That's time! Stpierre's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stpierre lands a nice looking body kick.
Stpierre scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Michal Elsner has been cut.

Stpierre bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stpierre wants to stand but Elsner has his arm trapped.
Stpierre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Elsner keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elsner is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Elsner is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elsner dodges the ground and pound from Stpierre.
Stpierre trying to control the position but Elsner is working away.
Elsner tries to improve position but can't.
Elsner stops Stpierre from passing to mount.

Stpierre is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Elsner is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Stpierre tries to move to mount but Elsner blocks the move with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stpierre wants to stand but Elsner has his arm trapped.
Stpierre trying to control the action but Elsner is working from the bottom.
Elsner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Elsner is not content to let Stpierre control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Georges Stpierre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stpierre tries to clinch up but Elsner circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stpierre gets the takedown into side control.
Elsner is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stpierre off and has taken his back!
Stpierre is trying to stand back up.
Elsner is not going to allow Stpierre to sit and survive in this position.
Stpierre can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elsner scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
I really don't envy Stpierre right now.
Stpierre trying to control the hands but Elsner won't let him.
Stpierre is in bad spot here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stpierre trying to control but not successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges Stpierre had his way with Michal Elsner in that round.
The cut man is working on Michal Elsner's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Stpierre closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Elsner's guard.

Elsner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stpierre defends it easily.
Elsner lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Stpierre looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Elsner puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stpierre has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Elsner is working away from the top position though.
Elsner is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stpierre gets full guard.

Stpierre is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stpierre manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Elsner manages to get himself to full guard.

Stpierre pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Elsner is keeping the position for now.

Stpierre avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stpierre stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Elsner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stpierre forces his way into half guard.
Stpierre tries to pass to full mount but Elsner defends it.

Stpierre moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Elsner.
Stpierre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Elsner keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elsner striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Stpierre gets to mount! Elsner was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Stpierre trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Elsner sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Stpierre controlling the pace.
Elsner is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Elsner actively working from the bottom here.
Elsner misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Elsner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stpierre is pressing down on Elsner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Elsner is holding on for now.
Elsner is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Elsner gets caught flat footed, as Stpierre shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Georges Stpierre showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stpierre has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 50:45
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 50:45
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Georges Stpierre!