PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Noble (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Noble
vs
St Pierre

169 cm
21
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Noble!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, George St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pierre lands a nice shot that snaps Noble's head back.
St Pierre tries to bum rush Noble with a series of wild strikes but Noble uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Noble slips a jab and a cross from St Pierre.
Noble looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? St Pierre is fending him off so far but Noble persists. Nope, St Pierre circles away and we're back to standing.
St Pierre displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Noble.
St Pierre misses with an uppercut. Noble saw that one coming.

St Pierre instigates a clinch.
St Pierre manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Noble breaks from the clinch.
Noble is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre throws a right hand that Noble ducks under and follows up with a left that Noble also avoids with ease.
St Pierre fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Noble avoids a kick to the body.
It looked like Noble was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
St Pierre misses with a jab to the body
and Noble counters with a leg kick.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Noble as he jumps to the side.
Noble stuffs the takedown attempt from St Pierre. St Pierre gets slowly back to his feet.
James Noble has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George St Pierre.
St Pierre looks winded!

Noble tries to keep at a distance but St Pierre has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noble scores a nice knee to the body.
Noble goes for a takedown in the clinch but St Pierre prevents it.
Noble wants a takedown but no success here.
Noble has had enough of the clinch but St Pierre keeps him there for the moment.
Noble looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Noble looking to slow down the pace here.
Noble controlling the action here for a moment.
Noble is looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

St Pierre gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
St Pierre slips nicely into half guard.
St Pierre trying to control from half guard but Noble is working away.
Noble taking some punishment here, with St Pierre in his half guard.
St Pierre working over Noble with some ground and pound. Noble looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw St Pierre working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Noble misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Noble looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
St Pierre winds up and cracks Noble with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

St Pierre is looking for a kimura but Noble is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for St Pierre to get the leverage.
Noble moves into full guard.

Noble is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
St Pierre must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
St Pierre makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Noble looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
St Pierre connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
St Pierre trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
St Pierre wants to control from the top but Noble keeps moving.
St Pierre tries to free his leg and advance position but Noble is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George St Pierre dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

St Pierre closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Noble quickly recovers to half guard.
Noble is looking to control St Pierre's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Noble avoid being mounted?
St Pierre lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Noble could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Noble is trying to control but can't.
Noble is staying active underneath St Pierre, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
St Pierre looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Noble is rocked!

St Pierre is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Oh Noble is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

St Pierre is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Noble is refusing to be controlled, as St Pierre sits in half guard.
Noble seems to have got his legs back now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noble regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from St Pierre.
St Pierre is breathing heavily.

Noble throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre throws a strike but Noble rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

St Pierre looking for a sweep. Not yet St Pierre, not yet.
St Pierre can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Noble controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
St Pierre wants to stand up but Noble is controlling him.

St Pierre is looking for a triangle but Noble pushes his legs off easily.
St Pierre looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
St Pierre being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre looking to hit a scissor sweep but Noble is one step ahead there.
St Pierre is still trying to improve position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if St Pierre can do anything to dispel that myth.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as St Pierre holds on and takes a little breather.
Noble not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Noble has gone for a leg lock! St Pierre slips out almost immediately though and dives into Noble's guard.

Noble is trying to control the position but St Pierre postures up.
St Pierre lands a couple of digs.
Noble preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
St Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Noble is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
St Pierre postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Noble is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Noble keeping moving, preventing St Pierre from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Noble is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and St Pierre defends well.
Noble has momentary wrist control but St Pierre slips an elbow through the middle.
St Pierre trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Noble is looking for a triangle but St Pierre pushes his legs off easily.

St Pierre stands up and waves to Noble to follow him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Noble blocks a head kick by St Pierre.

St Pierre closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George St Pierre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

St Pierre misses with a wild combination.
Noble appears to be looking for a big counter.

St Pierre closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Noble is trying to maintain the position but St Pierre is very close to passing his half guard.

Noble looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

St Pierre trying to work for an americana but Noble has managed to regain full guard.
St Pierre 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.
St Pierre is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noble trying to keep a closed guard but St Pierre is proving a slippery customer.
St Pierre wants to control from the top but Noble keeps moving.
St Pierre lands a couple of digs.
St Pierre with a nice head shot there.
St Pierre postures up.
St Pierre lands a couple of digs.
St Pierre pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Noble is keeping the position for now.

Noble looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
St Pierre stands up over Noble, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Noble's head.
St Pierre has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Noble escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. St Pierre gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Noble throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
St Pierre works over Noble with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

St Pierre got a little sloppy there for a moment and Noble has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, St Pierre has managed to get both his arms back between Noble's legs - danger averted.
Noble keeping moving, preventing St Pierre from controlling successfully.
St Pierre is in close to Noble's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

St Pierre thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
St Pierre with a nice head shot there.
Noble is trying to hold St Pierre in close to prevent damage but St Pierre has managed to pass into half guard.
Noble trying to control here.
St Pierre working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Noble on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
St Pierre scoring with strikes to the body and head.
St Pierre lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Noble quite badly. Noble pulls St Pierre in close trying to recover. St Pierre postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Noble on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Noble doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). George St Pierre!
George St Pierre seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.