PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Koulouraki Souvlaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mia St John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souvlaki kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Greek Anthem. St John has chosen The Bitch is back as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Souvlaki
vs
St John

174 cm
26
135 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

168 cm
37
140 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

My$tic Clothing ~ (`10%Laundry`)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Koulouraki Souvlaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mia St John!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Ben Watson and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St John tries to clinch

and Souvlaki counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for St John!

Souvlaki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by St John, who protects the arm well.
St John is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Souvlaki trying to control the action but St John is working from the bottom.
Souvlaki working the head and body with strikes.
Souvlaki just content to control the position.

St John throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

St John instigates a clinch.
St John misses with a body punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
St John lands a shoulder strike.
St John tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
St John missing with knees to the body.

St John breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St John throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Souvlaki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've been hearing good reports from Souvlaki's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
St John is looking to stand up but Souvlaki isn't so interested in that idea.
Souvlaki stays in close to St John's body and controls the position.
Souvlaki stops St John from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

St John kicks Souvlaki off and gets to his feet.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souvlaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.

St John drives through and clinches with Souvlaki against the cage.

St John breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
St John throws a combination that misses

and Souvlaki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in St John's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
St John is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Souvlaki is controlling him.
Souvlaki is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St John wants to get back to his feet but Souvlaki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Souvlaki engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
St John wants to stand but Souvlaki is controlling the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Souvlaki shoots in for a takedown but St John shows good takedown defense.
St John is looking to clinch but Souvlaki is avoiding it.

St John has taken the fight to the clinch.
St John struggles to land a body shot inside as Souvlaki controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St John lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
St John creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Souvlaki's defenses.

St John breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
St John tries to clinch but Souvlaki moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Souvlaki.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch up but Souvlaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.

St John fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Souvlaki, pushing him back against the cage.

St John breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
St John displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Souvlaki shoots in but no luck this time.
St John is looking to clinch but Souvlaki is avoiding it.
Souvlaki dives in for a single leg takedown but St John sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koulouraki Souvlaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St John misses with a double jab.
Horrible takedown attempt by Souvlaki or perhaps it was just good defense by St John, which made it look bad.

St John has closed the distance and engaged Souvlaki in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
St John misses with the head strike.

St John breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St John is looking to clinch but Souvlaki is avoiding it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Souvlaki is defended easily by St John.
Souvlaki misses with a takedown attempt - St John sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souvlaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
St John will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
St John tries to bum rush Souvlaki with a series of wild strikes but Souvlaki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souvlaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
St John pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Souvlaki back to the cage. St John follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

St John takes the fight into the clinch.

St John breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souvlaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
St John is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Souvlaki attempts a counter takedown but St John avoids it well and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mia St John dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

St John misses with a series of wild punches.
Mia St John seems to be getting the better of the standup.
St John tries to clinch but Souvlaki is having none of it.
Souvlaki is looking to clinch.
St John tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

St John takes the fight into the clinch.

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

St John darts in and clinches Souvlaki up against the cage.

St John's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

St John darts in and clinches Souvlaki up against the cage.
St John can't find room to land a body shot as Souvlaki controls the action.

Souvlaki gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, St John regains guard.
Souvlaki controls from within his opponent's guard.
Souvlaki won't allow St John to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

St John scrambles and gets back to his feet.
St John tries to clinch but Souvlaki is having none of it.
St John tries to bum rush Souvlaki with a series of wild strikes but Souvlaki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Souvlaki misses with a takedown attempt - St John sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch up but Souvlaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Souvlaki attempts a counter takedown but St John avoids it well and moves away.
St John tries to clinch but Souvlaki moves out of range.
Souvlaki slips a jab and a cross from St John.
Souvlaki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around St John's waist but St John gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Souvlaki off to one side.

St John darts in and clinches Souvlaki up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for St John.
St John has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
St John wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Souvlaki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short left from Souvlaki.
St John stops a takedown attempt from Souvlaki.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koulouraki Souvlaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souvlaki has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by St John after a bit of a struggle.
St John tries to work over Souvlaki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
St John throws a head punch that misses.
Mia St John seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St John tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Souvlaki prevents St John from breaking the clinch.
St John struggles to land a body shot inside as Souvlaki controls his hands.

St John pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
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 gets in close and instigates a clinch.
St John gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Souvlaki.
Souvlaki pushes St John back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
St John stops a takedown attempt from Souvlaki.
St John prevents a body shot from Souvlaki.
A head punch on the inside from St John fails to land.
St John wants to break the clinch but can't.

St John breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
St John moves out of range as Souvlaki strikes.
St John throws a right and a left that both miss.
Souvlaki tries to counter with a takedown but St John is quick to defend against it.
Souvlaki closes the distance and clinches up with St John, looking for a takedown. Souvlaki pushes St John against the cage but St John circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
St John tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from St John.
St John is looking to clinch but Souvlaki is avoiding it.
Souvlaki shoots in for a double leg but St John sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
St John throws a right and a left that both miss.

Souvlaki tries to keep at a distance but St John has taken the fight into the clinch.
St John dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

St John pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mia St John is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

St John moves into the clinch successfully.
St John is trying to break the clinch but Souvlaki has him pressed against the cage.
St John wants to break the clinch but can't.
St John can't find room to land a body shot as Souvlaki controls the action.
St John gets underhooks to prevent Souvlaki's takedown attempt.
St John misses with a short punch on the inside.
St John tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
St John trying to stall but Souvlaki improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St John stops a takedown attempt from Souvlaki.

St John's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
St John throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
St John moves in looking to clinch but Souvlaki pushes him off.
St John throws a right hand that Souvlaki ducks under and follows up with a left that Souvlaki also avoids with ease.
No joy there for St John, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Souvlaki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Souvlaki tries to counter with a takedown but St John is quick to defend against it.

Souvlaki gets a clinch.
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 doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Souvlaki has St John pressed against the cage, preventing St John from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
St John working hard to break the clinch.
St John lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
St John tries to throw a body punch but Souvlaki avoids it by throwing St John back against the cage.
St John has a couple of punches blocked by Souvlaki.
St John is defending well against a takedown attempt.
St John is pressed up against the cage. Souvlaki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag St John down to the mat. St John avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mia 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! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Souvlaki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
St John tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
St John misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Souvlaki appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
St John misses with a series of wild punches.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souvlaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No joy there for St John, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

St John has Souvlaki up against the cage in a clinch.

St John manages to break the clinch.
St John tries to clinch there but Souvlaki circles away.
Souvlaki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St John will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
St John moves in looking to clinch but Souvlaki pushes him off.
St John tries to clinch there but Souvlaki circles away.
St John goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - St John looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

St John instigates a clinch.

St John escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

St John gets in close and instigates a clinch.
St John taking a breather.
Souvlaki misses with a punch to the body.
Souvlaki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
St John lands a shoulder strike.
St John gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Souvlaki.

St John breaks the clinch.
Souvlaki swats away the attempt to clinch by St John.
The fight stays on the outside here - St John looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souvlaki throws the left hand but St John avoids the punch easily.
St John wants to counter the offense by Souvlaki and move into the clinch position.
Souvlaki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. St John manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
St John steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Souvlaki.
Souvlaki shoots for a takedown but St John saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koulouraki Souvlaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch but Souvlaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Souvlaki darts in looking for a takedown but St John gets double underhooks and turns Souvlaki into the cage.

Souvlaki closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into St John's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Souvlaki stops St John from standing up.
Souvlaki sitting in guard, not really doing much.
St John is looking to stand back up but Souvlaki counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by St John.
St John pushes Souvlaki off looking to stand but Souvlaki dives back in and keeps control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St John pushes Souvlaki off looking to stand but Souvlaki dives back in and keeps control.

St John manages to escape and get back to his feet!
St John takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
St John tries to clinch there but Souvlaki circles away.

St John fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Souvlaki, pushing him back against the cage.
St John is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Souvlaki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, St John creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
St John cracks Souvlaki with a nice body shot.
St John misses with a shot to the kidneys.

St John pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
St John stuffs the takedown.

St John moves into range and clinches up with Souvlaki.

St John's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
St John's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and St John duly obliges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Souvlaki is trying hard to land a takedown here. St John sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St John throws a right and a left that Souvlaki avoids nicely.
Souvlaki changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch up but Souvlaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
St John tries to clinch up.
St John lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Souvlaki circles away quickly and effectively.
Mia St John is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch but Souvlaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Souvlaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Souvlaki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but St John swivels and escapes.
St John lands a jab-cross combination.
Koulouraki Souvlaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Souvlaki misses the jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Souvlaki is defended easily by St John.
Mia St John is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Souvlaki throws a punch but it's blocked by St John.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mia St John comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got St 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mia St John!
Mia St John opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.