PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Le Petit Criss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Criss comes into the arena with La danse des canards blaring out of the sound system. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Petit Criss
vs
St Pierre

164 cm
22
132 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

167 cm
22
147 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Le Petit Criss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Felix St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pierre darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Criss misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Criss moves in looking to clinch but St Pierre pushes him off.
Criss tries to clinch up.
Criss fails in his attempt to clinch.
Criss throws a head kick but St Pierre moves out of range.
St Pierre throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Criss sees it coming and avoids it easily.
St Pierre avoids the head kick by Criss.
Criss looking to land some kicks to the body here.
St Pierre lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Criss closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Criss tries a head kick but it misses.
St Pierre avoids a punch combination nicely.
Criss throws a head kick that misses.
Criss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Criss tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
St Pierre throws a combination. Criss tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Criss takes one to the side of the head.
St Pierre avoids the head kick by Criss.
Criss looks to land a combination. St Pierre sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Criss throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Criss throws a head kick but St Pierre moves out of range.

Criss clinches.
St Pierre tries for a takedown but Criss manages to get underhooks.

Criss breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Criss tries a head kick but it misses.
Criss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Criss misses with a low kick.
Criss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Good exchange - St Pierre coming out on top.
St Pierre uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
St Pierre avoids the head kick by Criss.

St Pierre shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Criss's guard.
St Pierre wants to control from the top but Criss keeps moving.
St Pierre with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
St Pierre trying to control but Criss is working from the bottom.
Criss is looking to stand back up but St Pierre counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Criss.

Criss makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Criss ducks right into an uppercut from St Pierre.
Criss throws a combination but it was largely blocked by St Pierre.
Criss pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Criss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Criss moves in looking to clinch but St Pierre pushes him off.
Criss takes a shot right to the bread basket.
St Pierre lands with a nice body punch.
St Pierre misses the shot to the body.
St Pierre tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Criss was well out of range. Poor timing from St Pierre.
Le Petit Criss is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Criss tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

St Pierre feints and as Criss raises his hands in defense, St Pierre changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

St Pierre thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
St Pierre is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Criss keeping moving, preventing St Pierre from controlling successfully.
St Pierre has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Criss wants to get back to his feet but St Pierre is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

St Pierre is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
St Pierre looks gassed!
Criss wants to stand up but St Pierre is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Criss pushes St Pierre off and scrambles back to his feet.
Criss throws a head kick that misses.
Criss tries to clinch but St Pierre is having none of it.
Criss wants to clinch up but St Pierre keeps it at a distance.
Criss tries to score with a low kick but St Pierre moves his leg out of the way.
Criss wants to clinch.
Criss tries a head kick but it misses.
St Pierre lands a nice looking body shot.
St Pierre misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Criss.
Criss finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix St Pierre dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Criss shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Le Petit Criss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Criss fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Criss takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
St Pierre avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
St Pierre blocks a head kick by Criss.
St Pierre misses the shot to the body.
St Pierre's corner calls for a 1-2. St Pierre obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
St Pierre scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Criss throws a push kick but St Pierre slaps the foot to one side.

St Pierre feints and as Criss raises his hands in defense, St Pierre changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
St Pierre passes Criss's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

St Pierre is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Criss has managed to free his arm - good work.
Criss looks like he's trying to stand up.
St Pierre thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Criss's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

St Pierre is looking for a kimura here.
St Pierre is breathing heavily.

Criss looking for submissions off his back.
St Pierre wants to pass to mount but Criss is defending the position.
St Pierre wants to control but Criss is keeping him busy.
Criss works his way to full guard. Good work.
Criss is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Criss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Criss lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but St Pierre circles away quickly and effectively.
Criss throws a head kick that misses.
Criss throws a head kick that misses.
St Pierre lands an overhand right.
St Pierre blocks a head kick by Criss.
A head kick misses from Criss.
St Pierre tries for a takedown but Criss sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Criss throws a sloppy head kick and St Pierre moves out of range easily.
St Pierre misses with a wild combination.
Criss cracks the inside of St Pierre's front leg.
A looping hook to the body misses from St Pierre. Criss does a little dance to reset his feet.
St Pierre swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Criss throws a head kick that misses.
St Pierre connects with a right hand. Criss shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Criss moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
St Pierre lands a slapping body shot.
St Pierre avoids the head kick by Criss.
Criss takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
St Pierre lands with a right hand.
St Pierre swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Criss.
Criss tries to clinch there but St Pierre circles away.
Criss tries a head kick but it misses.
St Pierre looks to score with a jab to the body but Criss is just out of range.
Le Petit Criss is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Criss uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from St Pierre.
St Pierre throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
St Pierre throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Left hook, right uppercut from St Pierre.
St Pierre swings for the body but Criss moves out of range.
St Pierre lands a really nice looking cross but Criss seems unphased.
St Pierre keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Criss misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Criss.
Criss tries a head kick but it misses.
St Pierre fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Criss misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
St Pierre misses with a hook.
Criss misses with a head kick.
Criss misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
St Pierre takes a swing at Criss's ribcage but misses.
Criss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
St Pierre swings and misses with a hook to the body.
St Pierre fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Criss manages to avoid it.
Criss misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Criss throws a push kick but St Pierre slaps the foot to one side.
Criss turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
St Pierre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Criss moves away.
Criss pulls out of a head kick attempt.
St Pierre avoids the head kick by Criss.
Criss pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix St Pierre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A head kick misses from Criss.
Criss tries to clinch but St Pierre moves out of range.
St Pierre connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nice uppercut there from St Pierre.
Criss throws a head kick that misses.
Criss pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Criss lands a head kick!
St Pierre scores with a jab.
A head kick from Criss lands but St Pierre takes it in his stride.
Criss shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
St Pierre blocks a leg kick.
St Pierre connects with a looping right hand.
St Pierre closes the distance and lands a one-two.
St Pierre dives in and grabs Criss's left leg, looking for a takedown. Criss pushes down on St Pierre's head and hops out.
Criss looks to land a combination. St Pierre sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Criss. That's going to slow St Pierre down.
Criss tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre blocks a head kick by Criss.
Jab, jab by St Pierre - just one landing.
Criss throws a sloppy head kick and St Pierre moves out of range easily.
Criss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Criss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Criss walks into a stiff left hand from St Pierre.

Criss gets caught flat footed, as St Pierre shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
St Pierre slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
St Pierre prevents Criss from escaping the position.
St Pierre trying to control the position but Criss is working away.
Criss wants to get back to his feet but St Pierre drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

St Pierre wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Criss, who protects the arm well.

St Pierre is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Criss knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Criss is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, St Pierre asserts his dominance and retains side control.

St Pierre thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre lands a nice forearm strike.
Criss is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The ground and pound from St Pierre seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Criss is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
St Pierre tries to score with some ground and pound. Criss controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A swing and a miss from St Pierre.
St Pierre lands the left hand.
Some wild striking there from Criss.

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.
Criss throws a head kick but St Pierre moves out of range.
Criss misses with a head kick.
St Pierre blocks a head kick by Criss.
Criss tries a head kick but it misses.
St Pierre fails to land the takedown.
Criss pulls out of a head kick attempt.
St Pierre connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Criss momentarily.
Criss throws a right and a left that St Pierre avoids nicely.
A head kick misses from Criss.
St Pierre lands a body shot.
Le Petit Criss has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Criss on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Criss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
St Pierre scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Criss doesn't seem bothered though.
A shot to de liver by St Pierre. Beautiful body shot.
Criss ducks right into an uppercut from St Pierre.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix St Pierre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got St Pierre 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felix St Pierre!