PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between George St Piere (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex John (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 Piere
vs
John

170 cm
24
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, George St Piere!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alex John!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from St Piere.
St Piere moves in looking to clinch but John pushes him off.
John is clearly trying to counter these attacks from St Piere with a body shot.
St Piere lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
John misses with a series of wild punches.
John shoots in for a double leg but St Piere sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

John clinches with his opponent.
St Piere throws an elbow but it's blocked.

John's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

St Piere darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
St Piere trying to control from half guard but John is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Piere is stalling here. John is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! St Piere seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and John has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

John stands up and we're back to a striking position.
An inside leg kick from John misses.
St Piere throws a head kick that misses.
John misses with a takedown attempt

and St Piere holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

St Piere works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
John tries to land a sweep but no joy.
St Piere works over John with some ground and pound from guard.
St Piere is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

John has his foot on St Piere's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. St Piere works his way back into a safe position though.

John has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but St Piere can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
St Piere trying to control but John is working from the bottom.
St Piere is pushing down on John's leg trying to pass to half guard. John is fighting to maintain full guard but St Piere has managed to sneak the leg through.

St Piere is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Piere wants to lay and pray for a moment but John keeps working.
St Piere not doing much here.
St Piere tries to stand and escape but John is controlling the position.
John tries to get to full guard but St Piere has control of the leg.
St Piere is looking to take a break and control but John is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
St Piere shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has John pinned against the cage. John gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four 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.
St Piere misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George St Piere. That's going to take a lot out of him.

John drives through with a takedown into guard.
St Piere wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and John is now in half guard.
John scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
St Piere tries to roll over but John keeps him under control.
John throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex John will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

John dives in and scores a takedown into St Piere's guard.
St Piere keeping moving, preventing John from controlling successfully.

St Piere pushes John off and scrambles back to his feet.

John gets caught flat footed, as St Piere shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

John looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
John trying to control the position.
John has control of St Piere's left arm, preventing St Piere from doing any damage.
John working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

St Piere gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
St Piere fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
John has his takedown stuffed
and St Piere counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
St Piere tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. John manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from St Piere.
John shoots in for a takedown but St Piere shows good takedown defense.
An attempted straight right counter from St Piere misses the target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from St Piere is defended easily by John.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

John looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
St Piere is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
St Piere keeping moving, preventing John from controlling successfully.
St Piere has John pulled in close to control his posture.
St Piere is looking to sweep but instead, John has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John working over St Piere with some ground and pound. St Piere looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
John is looking to take a break and control but St Piere is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

St Piere actively working from the bottom here.
St Piere wants to control but John is keeping busy.
John landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
St Piere is trying to defend against the ground and pound but John scores with a couple of nice shots.
St Piere is looking to improve his position.
John looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks St Piere with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
John passes to full mount!
John raining down shots from the mount!
St Piere tries to lock up and control but John gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
BOOM! John connects with a massive shot to the dome!
St Piere taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex John 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. This is the final round!

John shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts St Piere as he jumps to the side.
St Piere fails with the takedown.
John throws a counter combo.
John doesn't manage to clinch there - St Piere circles away.

John drives through with a takedown into St Piere's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
St Piere looking for a sweep. Not yet St Piere, not yet.
John tries to free his leg and advance position but St Piere is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
John trying to control but St Piere is working from the bottom.

John decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
John doesn't succeed with the takedown
and St Piere makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

John moves into the clinch.

St Piere escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
St Piere is looking to clinch but John is avoiding it.

St Piere rushes John and presses him up against the cage.
St Piere tries to circle away but John has him pinned against the cage.
John tries to pull guard but St Piere holds him up against the cage and eventually John drops back down to his feet.
George St Piere has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex John.

St Piere breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
John shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has St Piere pinned against the cage. St Piere gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent St Piere stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
St Piere closes this distance looking for a takedown but John circles away.
Nice takedown defense from St Piere. No joy for John on that attempt.
John shoots in looking for a takedown. St Piere tries to sprawl out of it but John keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. St Piere manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from St Piere is defended easily by John.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Piere avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
St Piere shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says John as he avoids it easily.
John fails with a takedown attempt.

John gets the takedown into side control.
John takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
John working away.
John lands a decent elbow from side control.
St Piere can't do much from the bottom here.
John trying to control the action but St Piere is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

John stands up and we're back to a striking position.

John moves into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
John fails to pull guard.
George St Piere has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex John is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
John jumps guard but St Piere turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex John comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got John 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex John!