PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Georges St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunther Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St Pierre comes into the arena with GSP blaring out of the sound system. Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

St Pierre
vs
Gracie

178 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

181 cm
22
172 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 2 - 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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gunther Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gracie is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by St Pierre.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from St Pierre.
St Pierre ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
St Pierre shoots in looking for a takedown. Gracie tries to sprawl out of it but St Pierre keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gracie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie throws an overhand right that lands on St Pierre's shoulder, as St Pierre tries to avoid the shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Gracie as he connects with a hook.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gracie as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges St Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
St Pierre will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
St Pierre takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from St Pierre.
A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
Some wild striking there from Gracie.
Gracie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
St Pierre tries to land a leg kick but Gracie saw it coming and moves away.
St Pierre moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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 wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie is striking but St Pierre is not phased and passes to half guard.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but St Pierre has control of the leg.

Gracie manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Gunther Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
St Pierre's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and St Pierre duly obliges.
Gracie checks the leg kick nicely there.
St Pierre changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gracie tries to avoid it but St Pierre manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gracie to the ground. Gracie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
St Pierre slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.
Gracie looks gassed!

St Pierre shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than St Pierre was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
St Pierre can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracie is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre controlling the position easily from mount.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.
St Pierre with shots to the head and body - Gracie looks very uncomfortable down there.
St Pierre avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
St Pierre can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracie is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Gracie wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
St Pierre breaks from Gracie's wrist control and lands an elbow.
St Pierre cracks Gracie with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
St Pierre controlling the position easily from mount.
St Pierre tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
St Pierre takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding St Pierre's attempts to control the action.
St Pierre lands with some strikes.
St Pierre working the ground and pound effectively.
Gracie swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
St Pierre sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
St Pierre has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges 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.

Gracie stuffs the takedown.
St Pierre falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.
Gracie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
St Pierre uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

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 trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but St Pierre defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
St Pierre sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Georges St Pierre just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
St Pierre shoots for a takedown but Gracie saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
St Pierre with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges St Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

St Pierre shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as St Pierre sits in half guard.
St Pierre content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
St Pierre is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Gracie reverses the position - he's now on top in St Pierre's guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but St Pierre is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but St Pierre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
St Pierre wants to sweep but no luck.
St Pierre is pulling down on Gracie's head. It's preventing any offense from Gracie, at least for the moment.
St Pierre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now St Pierre is on top in guard.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but St Pierre is one step ahead there.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
St Pierre advances position into side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
St Pierre seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gracie for as long as he can get away with.
Gracie misses with an elbow from the bottom.
St Pierre takes a little break here. Gracie wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
St Pierre trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges St Pierre dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

St Pierre shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gracie pinned against the cage. Gracie gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
St Pierre shoots in but Gracie avoids the takedown attempt easily.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gracie as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges St Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters circle momentarily. St Pierre darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
St Pierre tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily
and Gracie counters with a straight right hand.
St Pierre has his takedown stuffed
and Gracie counters with a series of strikes. St Pierre will be more careful next time no doubt.
St Pierre looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gracie tries to clinch but St Pierre moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie takes a swing at St Pierre's ribcage but misses.
Gracie misses with a straight left.
Gracie might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Gracie cracks St Pierre with an open hand slap.
Gracie scores with a jab. St Pierre acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

St Pierre drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
St Pierre is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
St Pierre is really struggling to control Gracie but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Gracie is trying to stand back up but St Pierre is controlling him
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.
St Pierre trying to control the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
St Pierre misses with a takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in St Pierre's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
St Pierre tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! St Pierre is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! St Pierre has escaped and now he's on top!

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but St Pierre defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
St Pierre controlling from the top position.
St Pierre stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing St Pierre from controlling successfully.
Gunther Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as St Pierre accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
St Pierre slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
St Pierre wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Georges St Pierre is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
St Pierre sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie tries to strike from the bottom.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gunther Gracie 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

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