PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jermaine Saint Claire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Devil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jermaine Saint Claire has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Saint Claire
vs
Devil

191 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jermaine Saint Claire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tommy Devil!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Devil stuffs the takedown attempt from Saint Claire. Saint Claire gets slowly back to his feet.
Devil with the counter takedown but Saint Claire avoids it easily.
Saint Claire shoots for a double leg takedown but Devil sprawls well. He's pushed Saint Claire's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Devil feints the counter takedown.
Jermaine Saint Claire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saint Claire shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Devil as he avoids it easily.
Devil with the counter takedown but Saint Claire avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jermaine Saint Claire. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Saint Claire closes the distance and pushes Devil back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saint Claire can't find room to land a body shot as Devil controls the action.

Saint Claire gets control of Devil's arms and successfully pulls guard. Saint Claire will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Saint Claire is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Devil drops back looking for a leg! Saint Claire is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Saint Claire manages to kick Devil off! Devil jumps back into Saint Claire's guard.
Devil keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Saint Claire's head.
Devil trying to control the position from guard on top but Saint Claire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Devil has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Devil landing some decent shots from guard.
Saint Claire throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Devil trying to control the position from guard on top but Saint Claire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saint Claire keeping full guard, as Devil tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Devil cracks Saint Claire with a solid left hand.

That's two 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.
Devil stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saint Claire swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Devil being controlled here momentarily.

Devil drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Saint Claire dives on top into guard.

Devil looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Devil looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Saint Claire is in close to Devil's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Saint Claire wants to pass the guard but Devil is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Devil has his foot on Saint Claire's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saint Claire works his way back into a safe position though.
Saint Claire seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Saint Claire pushing down on Devil's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Devil has hold of Saint Claire's hands but Saint Claire slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Saint Claire looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Devil tries to roll over but Saint Claire keeps him under control.

Saint Claire decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saint Claire drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Saint Claire sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Devil's guard.
Devil is looking for a sweep. Saint Claire is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Devil actively working from the bottom here.
Saint Claire lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saint Claire is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Saint Claire passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Devil!

Saint Claire working for a submission but Devil is keeping him at bay.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermaine Saint Claire dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saint Claire throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Devil's waist but Devil gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Saint Claire off to one side.
Devil is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Saint Claire feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Saint Claire will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Devil is trying to control the position but Saint Claire postures up.
Saint Claire postures up and lands a big shot to Devil's brow.
Devil is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Devil looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saint Claire would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saint Claire postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Devil is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Saint Claire, into his guard.

Devil stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saint Claire swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Saint Claire is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Devil defends well.
Devil works over Saint Claire with some ground and pound from guard.
Saint Claire working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Devil.
Saint Claire keeping moving, preventing Devil from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Devil drops back, looking for a kneebar! Saint Claire looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Saint Claire looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Saint Claire!

Devil is looking to regain half guard here but Saint Claire keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Devil's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Devil tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Saint Claire wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Saint Claire tries for a kimura but Devil is defending well.
Devil is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Saint Claire.
Saint Claire trying to control the pace.
Devil tries to roll over but Saint Claire keeps him under control.
Saint Claire is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Devil can do to turn this around?

Saint Claire is looking for a kimura here.

Saint Claire looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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.
Devil slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Devil is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermaine Saint Claire dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Saint Claire closes the distance and clinches.

Saint Claire jumps guard and drags Devil to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Devil postures up and lands a big shot to Saint Claire's brow.
Saint Claire utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saint Claire keeping moving, preventing Devil from controlling successfully.
Saint Claire looking to hit a scissor sweep but Devil is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Devil trying to control the position from guard on top but Saint Claire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devil trying to move into half guard but instead Saint Claire has managed to sweep!

Saint Claire is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Devil trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Devil had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Saint Claire defends it easily.
Saint Claire looking to pass the guard.
Saint Claire chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Devil working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saint Claire doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saint Claire manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Saint Claire has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Saint Claire controlling from the top position.
Saint Claire connects with a couple of short punches.
Saint Claire sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Devil's guard.
Devil tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Still in half guard, Saint Claire seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saint Claire wants to pass the guard but Devil is defending well.
Saint Claire seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Devil tries to get to full guard but Saint Claire has control of the leg.
Saint Claire wants to take a breather but Devil is having none of it.

Saint Claire is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Devil makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Devil.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Saint Claire looking to pass the guard.
Devil is trying to control the position but Saint Claire postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Devil displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Saint Claire.
Devil is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jermaine Saint Claire showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Saint Claire, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jermaine Saint Claire!