PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Izumi Toshiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Georges St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Toshiro kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Scary. Georges St Pierre told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Toshiro
vs
St Pierre

184 cm
20
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Izumi Toshiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Georges St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Toshiro closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming St Pierre to the mat! St Pierre manages to get full guard.
Toshiro looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Toshiro trying to control the position from guard on top but St Pierre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
St Pierre is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Toshiro stops St Pierre from standing up.

St Pierre working for a triangle but Toshiro defends it easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Toshiro is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
St Pierre trying to control the position.
Toshiro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
St Pierre tries to clinch there but Toshiro circles away.
St Pierre doesn't manage to clinch there - Toshiro circles away.
St Pierre scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
St Pierre throws a right hand that Toshiro ducks under and follows up with a left that Toshiro also avoids with ease.

Toshiro darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
St Pierre pushes Toshiro off but Toshiro dives into side control.
St Pierre wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Toshiro is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but St Pierre is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
St Pierre wants to control but Toshiro postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Toshiro is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. St Pierre knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Toshiro is breathing heavily.
St Pierre sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
St Pierre trying to hold on to Toshiro's head to control him but Toshiro postures up.
Toshiro is taking a breather. St Pierre 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 wants to control but Toshiro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Toshiro missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
St Pierre tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Toshiro has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre is squirming around, avoiding Toshiro's attempts to control the action.

Toshiro working for a guillotine from mount but St Pierre is in no mood to give up.
Toshiro trying to control but St Pierre is having none of it.
St Pierre is trying to escape the mount.
St Pierre wants to hold on but Toshiro pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Toshiro looking to finish St Pierre with some ground and pound. This is bad for St Pierre!
St Pierre is working to get back to half guard.
St Pierre in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Toshiro swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and St Pierre is now in Toshiro's guard. A big mistake from Toshiro there, giving up the dominant position!
St Pierre postures up.

St Pierre stands up from Toshiro's guard - St Pierre perhaps looking for a knockout.
St Pierre fails in his attempt to clinch.
St Pierre tries for a takedown but Toshiro circles away easily

and Toshiro counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Toshiro.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Izumi Toshiro dominated that round.
That's time! Toshiro's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Toshiro closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming St Pierre to the mat! St Pierre manages to get full guard.

St Pierre is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
St Pierre trying to keep a closed guard but Toshiro is proving a slippery customer.
St Pierre keeping moving, preventing Toshiro from controlling successfully.
Toshiro sitting in guard here, content to control.
St Pierre is trying to keep Toshiro in close.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre keeping moving, preventing Toshiro from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
St Pierre is looking to sweep but instead, Toshiro has passed into half guard.
Toshiro is controlling the pace.

Toshiro seems to be looking for submissions.
St Pierre is trying to control but can't.

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.
Toshiro is trying to control. St Pierre wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
St Pierre wants to improve his position but Toshiro is controlling well.
St Pierre is trying to stand up here but Toshiro is controlling him well.
St Pierre is trying to get back to full guard.
St Pierre looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Toshiro changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. St Pierre looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Toshiro trying to control the position but St Pierre is working away.
St Pierre can't do much from the bottom here.

Toshiro is trying to get an arm triangle but St Pierre is defending well.
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.
St Pierre struggling a bit here.

Toshiro tries for a kimura but St Pierre is defending well.
St Pierre is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Toshiro's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
St Pierre is trying to get back to full guard.
Toshiro wants to take a breather but St Pierre is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
St Pierre wants to get back to his feet.
Toshiro with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
St Pierre tries to roll over but Toshiro keeps him under control.
Toshiro stops St Pierre from getting back to his feet.
St Pierre is trying to control but can't.
St Pierre tries to kick Toshiro off but Toshiro keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
St Pierre fails with the takedown

and Toshiro counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Toshiro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Toshiro trying to control but St Pierre is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Izumi Toshiro dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

St Pierre tries to bum rush Toshiro with a series of wild strikes but Toshiro uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A left lands for St Pierre.

St Pierre shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
St Pierre takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
St Pierre is in the full mount, landing strikes.
St Pierre landing shots from mount.
St Pierre looking to ground and pound but Toshiro is blocking nicely.
St Pierre is looking to stand but St Pierre has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
St Pierre tries to push Toshiro's head away but Toshiro is holding on tight.
Toshiro tries to hold on but St Pierre pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
St Pierre lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Toshiro hang on?
Toshiro can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

St Pierre jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Toshiro manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
St Pierre throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
St Pierre tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Toshiro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Toshiro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and St Pierre counters with a nice double leg into side control. Toshiro won't be happy with that.
Toshiro manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Toshiro is looking to take a break and control but St Pierre is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Toshiro prevents St Pierre from improving his position.
St Pierre controlling the position well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toshiro is looking to take a break and control but St Pierre is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
St Pierre is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
St Pierre wants to get back to his feet.

St Pierre is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Toshiro pulls his head out easily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
St Pierre throws a right hand that Toshiro ducks under and follows up with a left that Toshiro also avoids with ease.

St Pierre gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Toshiro to score an easy takedown into full guard.
St Pierre working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toshiro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Toshiro stopping the sweep attempt from St Pierre.
St Pierre is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

St Pierre working for a triangle but Toshiro defends it easily.
St Pierre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Toshiro misses with a takedown attempt
and St Pierre counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Georges St Pierre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

St Pierre shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Toshiro manages to get to full guard.
Izumi Toshiro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
St Pierre works over Toshiro with some ground and pound from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Georges St Pierre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Toshiro 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Izumi Toshiro!