PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Georges ST Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

ST Pierre
vs
Michaels

180 cm
23
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
20
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Georges ST Pierre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joseph Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

ST Pierre 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.
ST Pierre tries to free his leg and advance position but Michaels is retaining full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Michaels can do anything to dispel that myth.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing ST Pierre from controlling successfully.
Michaels pulls ST Pierre in close to prevent any damage.
ST Pierre passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels tries to get to full guard but ST Pierre has control of the leg.
Michaels wants to control but ST Pierre is keeping busy.
ST Pierre wants to free his trapped foot but Michaels is holding on for dear life with his legs.

ST Pierre is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Michaels is just riding it out for now. ST Pierre eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.

ST Pierre is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Michaels sees it coming and defends easily.
Michaels is trying to get back to full guard.
ST Pierre is looking to advance position but Michaels won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
ST Pierre prevents Michaels from improving his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Michaels with a lazy takedown attempt

and ST Pierre counters with a shoot takedown. Michaels fights it but they end up in guard.
ST Pierre slips nicely into half guard.
ST Pierre tries to pass to full mount but Michaels defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ST Pierre stops Michaels from getting back to his feet.
Michaels is staying active underneath ST Pierre, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
ST Pierre is breathing heavily.
Michaels wants to get back to full guard.
ST Pierre is looking to take a break and control but Michaels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Michaels shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and ST Pierre counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Michaels's guard now.
Michaels really doesn't want to stay on the ground with ST Pierre. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
ST Pierre tries to free his leg and advance position but Michaels is retaining full guard.
ST Pierre advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ST Pierre wants to control but Michaels is keeping him busy.
Michaels gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
ST Pierre tries to control but Michaels wriggling away.

ST Pierre wants to finish this one by submission but Michaels is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from ST Pierre.
ST Pierre prevents Michaels from getting the reversal.

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.
Michaels flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

ST Pierre with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
ST Pierre trying to control but Michaels is having none of it.
Michaels is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Michaels tries to lock up and control but ST Pierre gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
ST Pierre controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges ST Pierre dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

ST Pierre shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Michaels is trying to defend but ST Pierre finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Michaels is looking to improve his position.
Michaels slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
ST Pierre being controlled here momentarily.
ST Pierre postures up.
Michaels is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels can't keep his opponent in guard - ST Pierre advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
ST Pierre trying to control the action but Michaels is working from the bottom.
ST Pierre is really struggling to control Michaels but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Michaels moves into full guard.
ST Pierre trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.

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.
Michaels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
ST Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

and ST Pierre counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
ST Pierre content to control rather than advance.
Michaels is trying to control but can't.
ST Pierre frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Michaels wants to control but ST Pierre is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels can't escape the position.
ST Pierre can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Michaels is looking to escape.
Michaels is trying desperately to improve position.
ST Pierre trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Michaels with a lazy takedown attempt

and ST Pierre counters with a takedown into side control.
ST Pierre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Michaels keeps working.

ST Pierre working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Michaels tries to bench press ST Pierre off him but ST Pierre keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges ST Pierre dominated that second round.
That's time! ST Pierre's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

ST Pierre has his takedown stuffed

and Michaels counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for ST Pierre!
Michaels can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as ST Pierre is looking to escape.
ST Pierre keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Michaels sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ST Pierre is trying desperately to improve position.
ST Pierre sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
ST Pierre is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Michaels is controlling the pace.
Michaels prevents ST Pierre from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Michaels tries to pass to full mount but ST Pierre defends it.
ST Pierre is trying to get back to full guard.
ST Pierre has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Michaels is working away from the top position though.
Michaels wants to control but ST Pierre is keeping him busy.
ST Pierre keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
ST Pierre doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Michaels holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels jumps guard but ST Pierre stands there with Michaels around his waist. Michaels gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Michaels tries to score a body lock takedown but ST Pierre shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
ST Pierre wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges ST Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Michaels breaks from the clinch.
ST Pierre with a poor takedown

and Michaels counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. ST Pierre manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Michaels slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Michaels with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. ST Pierre is keeping the position for now.
ST Pierre keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.
Michaels wants to pass the guard but ST Pierre is keeping the position.
ST Pierre looking to hit a scissor sweep but Michaels is one step ahead there.
Joseph Michaels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Georges ST Pierre is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Michaels postures up in ST Pierre's guard and throws a big left but ST Pierre blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Michaels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

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