PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ronda Rousey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Georges StPierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rousey
vs
StPierre

154 cm
20
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ronda Rousey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Georges StPierre!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from StPierre misses.
StPierre keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rousey shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with StPierre but StPierre pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rousey will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronda Rousey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
StPierre slaps away a takedown attempt from Rousey, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rousey.
StPierre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rousey moves away.
Rousey leaves StPierre with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
StPierre moves away from the strike by Rousey.
StPierre fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rousey manages to avoid it.
Rousey wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

StPierre closes the distance and clinches.
Rousey using the Thai plumb to throw knees but StPierre has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

StPierre pulls guard successfully.
Rousey wants to control from the top but StPierre keeps moving.
StPierre is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rousey is looking to work some ground and pound but StPierre has wrist control.
Rousey could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
StPierre looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rousey is one step ahead there.
Rousey trying to control the position from guard on top but StPierre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

StPierre is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

StPierre has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rousey can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rousey trying to control the position from guard on top but StPierre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rousey pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. StPierre is keeping the position for now.
StPierre looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rousey might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rousey wanted to stand there but StPierre had control of the position.
Rousey looking to pass the guard.

Ronda Rousey has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

StPierre looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
StPierre tries to stand and escape but Rousey is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rousey controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
StPierre landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
StPierre seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rousey does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
StPierre wants to pass to mount but Rousey is defending the position.
Rousey is looking to control StPierre's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rousey avoid being mounted?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
StPierre takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges StPierre dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

StPierre slaps away a takedown attempt from Rousey, before circling back to the center of the mat.
StPierre shoots in but Rousey avoids the takedown attempt easily.
StPierre tries to clinch but Rousey moves out of range.
Rousey with a poor takedown

and StPierre counters by moving into the clinch.
Rousey has StPierre pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. StPierre manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronda Rousey. That's going to take a lot out of him.

StPierre lands a takedown into guard.
Rousey is trying to control the position but StPierre postures up.

Rousey is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. StPierre is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
StPierre seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Rousey is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
StPierre postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
StPierre wants to pass the guard but Rousey is keeping the position.
Rousey trying to keep a closed guard but StPierre is proving a slippery customer.
StPierre trying to control but Rousey is working from the bottom.
Rousey manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. StPierre manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

StPierre is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rousey defends well.
StPierre wants to sweep here but Rousey controlling him for the moment.
Rousey throwing strikes but missing.
Rousey loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
StPierre manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rousey manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
StPierre stopping the sweep attempt from Rousey.
Georges StPierre has got the better of the ground game so far.
StPierre trying to control but Rousey is working from the bottom.
StPierre postures up in Rousey's guard and throws a big left but Rousey blocks it.
StPierre trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
StPierre not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
StPierre stops Rousey from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Georges StPierre.
Rousey fails with an attempt to clinch.
StPierre motions for Rousey to come forward. StPierre throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
StPierre smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

StPierre looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rousey!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Rousey tries to buck StPierre off but StPierre is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
StPierre trying to control the action but Rousey is working from the bottom.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
StPierre in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges StPierre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

StPierre lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

StPierre shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than StPierre was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
StPierre wants to stand but Rousey has his arm trapped.
Check out the look on StPierre's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
StPierre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rousey keeps working.
Rousey seems a little lost for a moment, as StPierre dominates the positioning.
Rousey tries to bench press StPierre off him but StPierre keeps the position.
Rousey bucks up and tries to throw StPierre off but instead StPierre has got his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rousey fending off the submission attempt from StPierre.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rousey trying to control the hands but StPierre breaks the grip.
Rousey tries to roll but StPierre sticks to his back.
Rousey is working hard here to advance position.
StPierre biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
StPierre is looking to control Rousey but Rousey is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Rousey tries to escape but StPierre has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The referee is taking a good look at Rousey as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from StPierre!

StPierre working for a choke but Rousey is defending well.
StPierre lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. StPierre controlling the positon.
Rousey trying to control the action but StPierre just sinks the hooks in.
Rousey looking very determined here, making life difficult for StPierre.
StPierre might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rousey haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rousey looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rousey is trying to break free.
Rousey looking very determined here, making life difficult for StPierre.
Rousey wants to escape the position.
Rousey trying to control the position but StPierre manages to sink in the hooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

StPierre looking to break Rousey's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rousey remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise StPierre will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Ronda Rousey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
StPierre controlling from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Georges StPierre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well StPierre has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight for Georges StPierre!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Georges StPierre!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Georges StPierre!

Georges StPierre wins by unanimous decision!