PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacque St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Jacque St Pierre has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

St Pierre
vs
Russell

192 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
22
191 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jacque St Pierre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jack Russell!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pierre shoots in and drives through. Russell sprawls well.

Russell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. St Pierre sprawls well initially but Russell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Russell moves into full mount! St Pierre won't be happy about that!
St Pierre wants to hold on but Russell pushes him away.
Russell punishing his opponent with strikes.
St Pierre on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if St Pierre tries to get out of the position.
Russell thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Russell throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Russell trying to control but he's not successful this time.
St Pierre is wriggling around trying to escape.
Russell throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Russell should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

St Pierre defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Russell.
St Pierre is looking to improve his position but Russell isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
St Pierre avoids a series of strikes thrown by Russell.
St Pierre is squirming around, avoiding Russell's attempts to control the action.
St Pierre wants to hold on but Russell pushes him away.
St Pierre tries to reverse the position but Russell maintains control.
Russell throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for St Pierre because Russell loaded up on that one.
Russell lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Russell wants to control the pace but St Pierre is squirming around nicely.
Russell dominating with strikes here.
Russell landing strikes, looking to finish!
St Pierre wants to hold on but Russell pushes him away.
St Pierre knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Russell on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Russell jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but St Pierre manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Russell working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Russell wants to lay and pray for a moment but St Pierre keeps working.
Russell throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Russell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
St Pierre can't do much from the bottom here.
St Pierre tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Russell wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
St Pierre struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell wants to lay and pray for a moment but St Pierre keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Russell avoids the head kick by St Pierre.
Russell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with St Pierre but St Pierre pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Russell looks gassed!

St Pierre drops Russell with a beautiful combination! Russell stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - St Pierre is looking for the KO!

It looks like Jack Russell has been cut.
St Pierre shoots for a takedown but Russell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Russell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
St Pierre tries to clinch up but Russell circles away and keeps his distance.
Russell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
St Pierre dives in and grabs Russell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Russell pushes down on St Pierre's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacque St Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St Pierre ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
St Pierre dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jack Russell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Russell as St Pierre shoots in.
Russell with a poor takedown
and St Pierre counters with a left and a right that stings Russell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russell tries to move into range but St Pierre moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
St Pierre dives in and grabs Russell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Russell pushes down on St Pierre's head and hops out.
St Pierre avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
St Pierre is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
St Pierre closes this distance looking for a takedown but Russell circles away.

St Pierre fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Russell, pushing him back against the cage.
St Pierre tries to break free but Russell pushes him back against the cage.

Russell works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
St Pierre looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

St Pierre is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Russell drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Russell jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jack Russell will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jack Russell's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

St Pierre fails with a takedown attempt.
Russell tries to clinch but St Pierre moves out of range.
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 closes the distance but Russell moves to the side

and Russell moves into the clinch.
Russell doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Russell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Russell can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St Pierre can't break the clinch.
Russell is breathing heavily.
Russell is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jacque St Pierre has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Russell.
Russell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. St Pierre is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Russell just stands there and leans against the cage.
Russell keeps the fight in the clinch, despite St Pierre's efforts to push away.
St Pierre has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
St Pierre is trying to break the clinch but Russell is controlling him.
St Pierre tries to pull guard but Russell holds him up against the cage and eventually St Pierre drops back down to his feet.
St Pierre missing with knees to the body.
Russell goes for a takedown attempt but St Pierre pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Russell dives in and grabs St Pierre's left leg, looking for a takedown. St Pierre pushes down on Russell's head and hops out.

St Pierre gets the takedown into side control.
St Pierre in side control, throwing shots but Russell defends.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre wants to control but Russell is keeping him busy.
St Pierre is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Russell is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Russell is looking to regain half guard here but St Pierre keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell struggling a bit here.
Russell is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked St Pierre off and has taken his back!
You can see the frustration on St Pierre's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Russell gets his hands free as St Pierre looks to control.
St Pierre wants to escape the position.
Russell trying to control.
Russell is not going to allow St Pierre to sit and survive in this position.

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 rolls, trying to escape but Russell keeps control of the position.
Russell scores with punches to the body.

Russell is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but St Pierre has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
St Pierre covering up well and avoiding damage.
St Pierre is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
St Pierre trying to control but not successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
St Pierre is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jacque St Pierre will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jack Russell's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Russell misses with a jab to the body
and St Pierre counters with a stiff right hand.

St Pierre clinches with his opponent.
St Pierre drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Russell pulls St Pierre into guard.
St Pierre looking to sit in guard and control but Russell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Russell forces his way into half guard.
Russell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Russell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Russell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell is looking to take a break and control but St Pierre is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
St Pierre wants to control but Russell is keeping busy.
St Pierre blocking the ground and pound attempt from Russell.
Russell is looking to advance position but St Pierre won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Russell as he avoids it easily.
Russell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has St Pierre pinned against the cage. St Pierre gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
St Pierre shoots for a double leg takedown but Russell sprawls well. He's pushed St Pierre's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacque St Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russell stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Russell avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Russell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with St Pierre but St Pierre pushes him off and we're back to square one.
St Pierre misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
St Pierre moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

St Pierre clinches up against the cage.
Russell can't get the takedown.
Russell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
St Pierre looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
St Pierre is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Russell pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from St Pierre.
St Pierre tries to break free but Russell pushes him back against the cage.
St Pierre fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Russell just stands there and leans against the cage.
St Pierre fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Russell prevents the takedown attempt.
St Pierre wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Russell wants a takedown but no success here.

St Pierre gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Russell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Russell manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Russell punching from mount but St Pierre doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell prevents St Pierre from getting the reversal.
Russell misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
St Pierre keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Russell with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Russell is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, St Pierre has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Russell trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jacque St Pierre.
I think St Pierre 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jacque St Pierre!