PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Hughs (ranked 10326 p4p, 0 weight class) and George St Pierre (ranked 4513 p4p, 604 weight class). The key to victory for Joe Hughs has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hughs
vs
St Pierre

178 cm
50
167 lbs
47 - 55 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 47 - 55 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Hughs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, George St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughs displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from St Pierre.
St Pierre gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hughs counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hughs turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from St Pierre is defended easily by Hughs.
Joe Hughs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George St Pierre.
St Pierre chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hughs can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughs digs a good hook to St Pierre's body.
St Pierre shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hughs defends it nicely.
Hughs tries to counter by clinching up but St Pierre breaks away and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre tries for a takedown but Hughs sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
St Pierre just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHughs.
Hughs punishes St Pierre's body with a nice straight punch.
St Pierre tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hughs sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten St Pierre somewhat.
Hughs throws a quick inside leg kick.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hughs as he avoids it easily.
Hughs lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
St Pierre tries for a takedown but Hughs sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughs fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hughs lands a high kick!
St Pierre looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
George St Pierre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughs throws a right hand that St Pierre ducks under and follows up with a left that St Pierre also avoids with ease.
St Pierre drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hughs defends it well.
St Pierre closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
St Pierre with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hughs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick by Hughs misses

and St Pierre decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hughs's guard.
St Pierre looks winded!
St Pierre missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
St Pierre trying to control but Hughs is working from the bottom.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre lands with a heel strike from the guard.
St Pierre wants to sweep here but Hughs controlling him for the moment.

St Pierre working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hughs doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hughs manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

St Pierre is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hughs defends well.

St Pierre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hughs can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

St Pierre is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hughs is aware though and is defending well.
Hughs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. St Pierre is keeping the position for now.
St Pierre is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hughs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for St Pierre on the ground.
St Pierre wants to sweep here but Hughs controlling him for the moment.
Hughs has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
St Pierre thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
St Pierre looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hughs is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Hughs dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

St Pierre with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hughs counters with a right hand to the body.
Hughs explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Hughs darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

St Pierre gets a takedown into half guard.
St Pierre has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Hughs actively working from the bottom here.

Hughs looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St Pierre drops an elbow to the side of Hughs's head.
St Pierre scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hughs has hold of St Pierre's hands but St Pierre slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughs is trying to get back to full guard.
St Pierre perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
George St Pierre has got the better of the ground game so far.
St Pierre is trying to control. Hughs wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hughs looking for submissions off his back.

St Pierre is working for a kimura but Hughs is defending it quite comfortably.
St Pierre working Hughs over with strikes.
St Pierre looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hughs moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hughs throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hughs looking for a guillotine here but St Pierre defends easily.
Hughs is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that St Pierre can do to turn this around?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hughs has momentary wrist control but St Pierre slips an elbow through the middle.
St Pierre postures up and lands a big shot to Hughs's brow.
St Pierre keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hughs's head.
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.
St Pierre with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hughs working for a triangle but St Pierre defends it easily.
St Pierre sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Hughs working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. St Pierre doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. St Pierre manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
St Pierre scoring with some ground and pound.
St Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
St Pierre landing with the ground and pound.
St Pierre not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hughs keeping full guard, as St Pierre tries to pass.
St Pierre slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
St Pierre working some strikes from top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
St Pierre wants to control from the top but Hughs keeps moving.
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.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

St Pierre fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
St Pierre looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown but Hughs shows good takedown defense.

Hughs moves into the clinch.

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

Hughs moves into the clinch.
Hughs is pressed up against the cage. St Pierre has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hughs down to the mat. Hughs avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Joe Hughs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George St Pierre.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughs displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from St Pierre.
Hughs is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from St Pierre.
St Pierre takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hughs connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughs's jab looks to have found its range, popping St Pierre under the eye.
St Pierre shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hughs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
St Pierre walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hughs.
St Pierre shoots in and drives through. Hughs sprawls well.
St Pierre with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hughs to score with a decent uppercut.
Hughs scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hughs lands with a kick to the ribs.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hughs as he jumps to the side.
Hughs uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughs scores with the left hand. St Pierre knows he should have avoided that one.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hughs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
St Pierre walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hughs.
St Pierre showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hughs.
Hughs lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Hughs has managed to clinch.
St Pierre on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

St Pierre tightens his grip and picks Hughs up, before dumping him to the ground. Hughs manages to land in guard.

Hughs is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
St Pierre scoring with punches to the head and body.
St Pierre controls from within his opponent's guard.
St Pierre lands a couple of digs.
St Pierre trying to control but Hughs is working from the bottom.
St Pierre is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Hughs working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. St Pierre doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. St Pierre manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
St Pierre keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hughs's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre forces his way into half guard.
Hughs tries to get to full guard but St Pierre has control of the leg.
St Pierre blocks the strikes from Hughs.
Hughs is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
St Pierre is taking a breather. Hughs says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
St Pierre tries to pass to full mount but Hughs defends it.

St Pierre moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Hughs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Hughs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hughs has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Hughs!