PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bengt Karlsson (ranked 4118 p4p, 5238 weight class) and Georges StPierra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Bengt Karlsson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Karlsson
vs
StPierra

185 cm
24
180
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bengt Karlsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Georges StPierra!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karlsson moves into the clinch successfully.

Karlsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
StPierra shoots in for a takedown but Karlsson shows good takedown defense.

Karlsson drives through and clinches with StPierra against the cage.

Karlsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
StPierra defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Karlsson.
StPierra wants to counter the offense by Karlsson and move into the clinch position.

Karlsson moves into the clinch successfully.
Karlsson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. StPierra is defending well for now.
StPierra gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Karlsson.

Karlsson pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
StPierra landing some decent shots from guard.
StPierra stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karlsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson controls StPierra momentarily but StPierra frees himself.
StPierra scoring with punches to the head and body.
StPierra tries to free his leg and advance position but Karlsson is retaining full guard.
StPierra trying to control the position from guard on top but Karlsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
StPierra might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Karlsson haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
StPierra preventing the sweep.

Karlsson working for a triangle but StPierra defends it easily.
Karlsson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
StPierra wants to pass the guard but Karlsson is keeping the position.
StPierra is in close to Karlsson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Karlsson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Karlsson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. StPierra doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. StPierra manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as StPierra accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
StPierra lands a couple of decent looking shots.
StPierra keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Karlsson's head.
StPierra looking to sit in guard and control but Karlsson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

StPierra is trying to control the position but Karlsson postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as StPierra holds on and takes a little breather.
StPierra not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Karlsson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as StPierra works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

StPierra is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Karlsson is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson looking to sit in guard and control but StPierra gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Karlsson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Karlsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
StPierra landing with the ground and pound.
StPierra stands and throws Karlsson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Karlsson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Karlsson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Georges StPierra will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

StPierra stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and StPierra wants it to stay on the feet.
Karlsson fails with a takedown attempt.
Karlsson misses with a takedown attempt - StPierra sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bengt Karlsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karlsson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
StPierra keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Karlsson slaps away a takedown attempt from StPierra, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
StPierra tries to score a power double leg takedown but Karlsson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten StPierra somewhat.
Bengt Karlsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
StPierra closes the distance and clinches up with Karlsson, looking for a takedown. StPierra pushes Karlsson against the cage but Karlsson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
StPierra tries for a takedown but Karlsson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Karlsson closes the distance looking to clinch

and StPierra counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
StPierra drops an elbow to the side of Karlsson's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Karlsson is working hard here to advance position.
StPierra working Karlsson over with strikes.
StPierra content to control rather than advance.
StPierra not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Karlsson regains full guard. Nicely done.
StPierra tries to free his leg and advance position but Karlsson is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

StPierra got a little sloppy there for a moment and Karlsson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, StPierra has managed to get both his arms back between Karlsson's legs - danger averted.
StPierra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karlsson is keeping the position for now.
Karlsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
StPierra passes into half guard.
StPierra is thwarting Karlsson's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
StPierra is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
StPierra is thwarting Karlsson's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
StPierra tries to pass the half guard into mount. Karlsson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
StPierra lands strikes from half guard.
StPierra is trying to control the action in half guard but Karlsson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
StPierra working the head and body with strikes.
StPierra is trying to control. Karlsson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Karlsson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of StPierra's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take StPierra's back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
StPierra trying to control but not successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Georges StPierra showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get 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.

Karlsson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts StPierra as he jumps to the side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from StPierra.
Karlsson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around StPierra's waist but StPierra gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Karlsson off to one side.
Karlsson shoots in for a takedown but StPierra shows good takedown defense.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from StPierra! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bengt Karlsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Karlsson gets caught flat footed, as StPierra shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karlsson wants to sweep here but StPierra controlling him for the moment.
StPierra trying to control but Karlsson is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
StPierra content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but StPierra is one step ahead there.
StPierra postures up.
Georges StPierra has got the better of the ground game so far.

Karlsson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. StPierra doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. StPierra manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
StPierra lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Karlsson keeping moving, preventing StPierra from controlling successfully.
StPierra postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
StPierra must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
StPierra scoring with some ground and pound.
StPierra sitting in guard here, content to control.
StPierra lands a couple of elbows.

Karlsson is looking for a triangle but StPierra pushes his legs off easily.
StPierra keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Karlsson's head.
StPierra postures up and lands a big shot to Karlsson's brow.
Karlsson wants to stand up but StPierra is controlling him.
StPierra postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

StPierra thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
StPierra scoring with some ground and pound.
Karlsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from StPierra.
StPierra wants to get up but he can't break Karlsson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Karlsson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karlsson misses with a combination
and StPierra counters with a left to the body.

StPierra throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Karlsson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. StPierra is in Karlsson's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
StPierra landing some decent shots from guard.
StPierra trying to control but Karlsson is working from the bottom.
StPierra landing with the ground and pound.
StPierra connects with a couple of short punches.
StPierra is stalling in the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
StPierra with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Georges StPierra comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got StPierra 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Georges StPierra!