PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nikita Golubev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Golubev has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Nikita Golubev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Golubev
vs
St Pierre

179 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikita Golubev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, George St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

St Pierre looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Golubev is breathing heavily.

St Pierre gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
St Pierre misses with a wild combination.
Nice takedown defense from Golubev. No joy for St Pierre on that attempt.
Golubev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from St Pierre.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nikita Golubev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George St Pierre.
No luck with that takedown attempt from St Pierre.
Golubev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Golubev but Golubev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown but Golubev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Golubev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Golubev wants it to stay on the feet.

Golubev darts in and clinches St Pierre up against the cage.
Golubev is trying to break the clinch but St Pierre is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre jumps guard but Golubev stands there with St Pierre around his waist. St Pierre gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
St Pierre jumps guard but Golubev stands there with St Pierre around his waist. St Pierre gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Golubev is trying to break the clinch but St Pierre is controlling him.
Golubev lands a hook to the side of the head.
St Pierre wants a takedown.
St Pierre is trying to drag Golubev to the mat but Golubev just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

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.
St Pierre tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Golubev just stands there and leans against the cage.
Golubev is pressed up against the cage. St Pierre has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Golubev down to the mat. Golubev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
St Pierre is trying hard to land a takedown here. Golubev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
George St Pierre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Golubev has St Pierre up against the cage in a clinch.
Golubev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
St Pierre takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
St Pierre prevents Golubev from breaking the clinch.
Golubev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Golubev prevents a takedown attempt there.
Golubev lands a right hand.
St Pierre changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Golubev fights it off and pushes away nicely.
St Pierre fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
St Pierre changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Golubev tries to avoid it but St Pierre manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Golubev to the ground. Golubev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
St Pierre has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Golubev.
St Pierre swats away the attempt to clinch by Golubev.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Golubev sprawls well. Golubev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. St Pierre gets slowly back to his feet.

Golubev has taken the fight to the clinch.
St Pierre is working for takedown but Golubev is calmly controlling the position for now.
St Pierre has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Golubev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short left from Golubev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikita Golubev dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

St Pierre feints and as Golubev raises his hands in defense, St Pierre changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

St Pierre gets to his feet - Golubev follows without any prompting.
St Pierre shoots for a double leg takedown but Golubev sprawls well. He's pushed St Pierre's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
St Pierre looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Golubev is fending him off so far but St Pierre persists. Nope, Golubev circles away and we're back to standing.

Golubev gets a clinch.
St Pierre misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Golubev.
A shot in the inside from Golubev.
St Pierre looking for a takedown.
Nikita Golubev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George St Pierre.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Golubev stops a takedown attempt from St Pierre.
St Pierre tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Golubev smiles and moves away.
Golubev doesn't manage to clinch there - St Pierre circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Golubev has managed to clinch.
Golubev lands with a short shot to the head.
St Pierre wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Golubev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of St Pierres head.
St Pierre is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Golubev breaks from the clinch.

Golubev gets caught flat footed, as St Pierre shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

St Pierre stands and steps away. Golubev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Golubev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golubev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Golubev pushes St Pierre off and gets back to his feet.

Golubev has closed the distance and engaged St Pierre in a clinch.
Golubev pushes St Pierre back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
St Pierre fails to pull guard.
St Pierre is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Golubev gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Golubev landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Golubev to work.
St Pierre tries to stall but Golubev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
St Pierre tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Golubev lands a right hand that snaps the head of St Pierre backwards.
St Pierre changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Golubev fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Golubev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from St Pierre.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
St Pierre tries to clinch but Golubev moves away

and Golubev holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
St Pierre is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Golubev is keeping busy.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Golubev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Golubev.
A short uppercut from Golubev.
St Pierre keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Golubev's efforts to push away.
St Pierre has Golubev pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Golubev manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George St Pierre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

St Pierre misses with a two punch combination.
St Pierre closes the distance looking to clinch

and Golubev counters by clinching up.
Golubev prevents a takedown attempt there.
St Pierre jumps guard but Golubev stands there with St Pierre around his waist. St Pierre gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Golubev makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Golubev lands a right hand.
St Pierre can't get the takedown.
Nikita Golubev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George St Pierre.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golubev is pushing St Pierre up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
St Pierre goes for a takedown in the clinch but Golubev prevents it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Golubev makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Golubev stops a takedown attempt from St Pierre.

That's two 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 jumps guard but Golubev stands there with St Pierre around his waist. St Pierre gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Golubev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
St Pierre pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Golubev gets in close and instigates a clinch.
St Pierre has had enough of the clinch but Golubev keeps him there for the moment.

Golubev breaks the clinch.
St Pierre fails with the takedown.
St Pierre has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golubev thuds his right hand into St Pierre's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
St Pierre tries for a takedown but Golubev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Golubev works over St Pierre's head and body with a nice combination.
Golubev lands with a nice body punch.
Nikita Golubev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
St Pierre darts in trying to clinch

and Golubev counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Golubev lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Golubev on the inside.
Golubev is pressed up against the cage. St Pierre has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Golubev down to the mat. Golubev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Golubev as he avoids it easily.
Golubev moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
St Pierre fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
St Pierre takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
St Pierre throws a punch but it's blocked by Golubev.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Golubev.

Golubev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
St Pierre throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Golubev.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
St Pierre keeps the fight on the outside.
Golubev slaps away a takedown attempt from St Pierre, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Golubev clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikita Golubev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Golubev 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikita Golubev!