PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St Pierre has chosen Make Smash Ya Tap! as his entrance music. Paul James has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

James
vs
St Pierre

170 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
35
185 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Paul James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, George St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pierre throws a nice looking combination but James bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
St Pierre dives in and grabs James's left leg, looking for a takedown. James pushes down on St Pierre's head and hops out.
Decent striking displayed by St Pierre there.
St Pierre changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. James tries to avoid it but St Pierre manages to keep hold of a leg and drag James to the ground. James escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

St Pierre closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming James to the mat! James manages to get full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
St Pierre prevents James from getting back to his feet.
James could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
St Pierre controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
St Pierre chips away with some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
St Pierre wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James wants to stand up but St Pierre is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

George St Pierre has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
St Pierre connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between James's hands.
St Pierre pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
St Pierre throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from St Pierre. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
St Pierre shoots in looking for a takedown but James manages to keep the fight standing, pushing St Pierre's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Paul James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George St Pierre.
An inside leg kick from James misses.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
St Pierre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but James moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a few strikes there.
St Pierre shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
St Pierre fails to land the takedown.
St Pierre misses with a straight right.
St Pierre throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
James slips a straight right by St Pierre.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
St Pierre shoots in but no luck this time.
St Pierre misses the shot to the body.
James jabs St Pierre to the body, keeping him at a distance.
St Pierre with a lazy takedown attempt

and James moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
James can't find room to land a body shot as St Pierre controls the action.
James is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
St Pierre is trying to push James away but James has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
James is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but St Pierre is keeping busy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for James.
James has a couple of punches blocked by St Pierre.
James is trying to maintain a safe position but St Pierre gets an underhook and turns James into the cage.
St Pierre tries to pull guard but James holds him up against the cage and eventually St Pierre drops back down to his feet.
St Pierre tries to break free but James pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with St Pierre's elbow.
James misses with an elbow strike.
James stalling.

St Pierre jumps into guard, dragging James to the mat.
James trying to stand up but can't free himself from St Pierre's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

St Pierre has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. James doesn't defend quickly enough and St Pierre has managed to lock this one up! Can James escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to St Pierre on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). George St Pierre!