PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and rashid rowe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St Pierre comes to the cage accompanied by Break Stuff. rowe comes into a darkened arena with his song building. juicy kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! St Pierre has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. rashid rowe is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

St Pierre
vs
rowe

199 cm
18
235 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

219 cm
21
269 lbs
3 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, John St Pierre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, rashid rowe!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Lou da Vinci and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for rowe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
rowe tries to bum rush St Pierre with a series of wild strikes but St Pierre uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
rowe misses with a two punch combination.

rowe drops St Pierre with a beautiful combination! St Pierre stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - rowe is looking for the KO!

St Pierre is rocked!

It looks like John St Pierre has been cut.
St Pierre is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
St Pierre shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with rowe but rowe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A nice inside leg kick there by St Pierre. That's going to slow rowe down.
rowe misses with a series of wild punches.
rowe misses with a double jab.
rowe tries to bum rush St Pierre with a series of wild strikes but St Pierre uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
rowe throws a right and a left that St Pierre avoids nicely.
St Pierre dives in and grabs rowe's left leg, looking for a takedown. rowe pushes down on St Pierre's head and hops out.
rowe tries to bum rush St Pierre with a series of wild strikes but St Pierre uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
rowe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from rowe does no damage.
rowe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
St Pierre showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from rowe.
rowe throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rowe throws a right and a left that both miss.
rowe tries to bum rush St Pierre with a series of wild strikes but St Pierre uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A punch combination from rowe misses.
St Pierre just misses with a punch to the body.
rashid rowe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
St Pierre slips a jab and a cross from rowe.
St Pierre tries to close the distance and clinch up but rowe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
rowe fails to land with a series of punches.
rowe throws a nice looking combination but St Pierre bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
rowe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but St Pierre circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from rowe.
rowe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
rowe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
St Pierre showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from rowe.
St Pierre avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
rowe goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
rowe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but St Pierre circles away quickly and effectively.

St Pierre moves into the clinch successfully.
St Pierre is trying to work for a single leg takedown but rowe pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John St Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
rowe tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
rowe tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

rowe gets control of St Pierre's arms and successfully pulls guard. rowe will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
rowe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in St Pierre's guard.
St Pierre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
St Pierre manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
rowe bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
rowe tries to free his leg and advance position but St Pierre is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre trying to control the position here.
rowe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
rowe tries to free his leg and advance position but St Pierre is retaining full guard.
rowe is looking to work some ground and pound but St Pierre has wrist control.
rowe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as St Pierre works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
rowe postures up in St Pierre's guard and throws a big left but St Pierre blocks it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
St Pierre throws a nice head kick!
St Pierre avoids a punch combination nicely.
St Pierre fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A punch combination from rowe misses.
rowe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
rowe misses with a few strikes there.
rowe avoids the body shot from St Pierre.
rowe throws a nice looking combination but St Pierre bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
St Pierre misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
rowe falls off balance throwing a combination

and St Pierre counters with a single leg into guard. rowe didn't expect that.
rowe wants to improve his position but instead St Pierre has moved into half guard.
St Pierre lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are battling for position here. rowe manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
rowe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
rowe throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

rashid rowe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John St Pierre's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

rowe throws a combination that misses

and St Pierre counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by St Pierre.
St Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but rowe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
rowe manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
A nice elbow there by rowe.
rowe postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. St Pierre looks a forlorn figure.
rowe with good strikes from the mount here!
rowe has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of St Pierre's face.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
rowe working the ground and pound effectively.
St Pierre tries to hold on but rowe postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rowe prevents St Pierre from getting the reversal.
You get the feeling that St Pierre really doesn't like being in this position too much.
St Pierre taking shots to the head.
rowe lands a big elbow.
rowe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
rowe working St Pierre over with strikes here.
rowe putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
rowe lands with some strikes.
St Pierre is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
rowe unloading with bombs!

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.
rowe is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. St Pierre can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
St Pierre taking shots to the head.
St Pierre might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
rowe avoids the attempt from St Pierre to control.
St Pierre is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
rowe thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
St Pierre is desperately trying to improve his position but rowe has a good base and remains in mount.
rowe raining down shots from the mount!
St Pierre is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
rowe thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rowe lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
rowe looking to finish St Pierre with some ground and pound. This is bad for St Pierre!
rowe misses with a head shot.
rowe fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
rowe lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
rowe misses with a head shot.
St Pierre is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
rowe is landing with some decent strikes but St Pierre is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
A nice elbow there by rowe.
rowe breaks from St Pierre's wrist control and lands an elbow.
rowe putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four 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.
rowe landing strikes, looking to finish!
St Pierre regains half guard.
rowe is looking to advance position but St Pierre won't allow it.
rowe has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The referee warns St Pierre that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
rowe with shots to the head and body - St Pierre looks very uncomfortable down there.
St Pierre is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
rowe landing strikes from the mount and St Pierre is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but rashid rowe will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on John St Pierre's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

rowe misses with a double jab
and St Pierre counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
St Pierre fails to land the takedown.
rowe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and St Pierre counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for rowe!
rowe is desperately trying to improve his position but St Pierre has a good base and remains in mount.
St Pierre wants to control the pace but rowe is squirming around nicely.
rowe is working to get back to half guard.
St Pierre lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
rowe is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
rowe is squirming around, avoiding St Pierre's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
rowe is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
John St Pierre overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
rowe is trying to escape the mount.
BOOM! St Pierre connects with a massive shot to the dome!
rowe manages to regain half guard. Good work.
rowe tries to get to full guard but St Pierre has control of the leg.
St Pierre blocks the strikes from rowe.
rowe moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
rowe lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for St Pierre!
St Pierre is wriggling around trying to escape.
rowe punishing his opponent with strikes.
rowe thowing shots but they're missing.
St Pierre reaches up and holds on to rowe to control the position.
A nice elbow there by rowe.
rowe with shots to the head and body - St Pierre looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rowe landing punches.
rowe landing strikes, looking to finish!
rowe is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. St Pierre can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
rowe throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
rowe landing shots from mount.
St Pierre wants to hold on but rowe pushes him away.
rowe lands with some strikes.
rowe working St Pierre over with strikes here.
rowe postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. St Pierre looks a forlorn figure.
rowe punishing his opponent with strikes.
rowe working St Pierre over with strikes here.
rowe avoids the attempt from St Pierre to control.

That's four 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.
rowe lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
rowe won't let St Pierre get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
rowe scoring with strikes but St Pierre is staying in there.
St Pierre is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
St Pierre really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
rowe putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
St Pierre wants to hold on but rowe pushes him away.
rowe lands with some strikes.
John St Pierre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
St Pierre regains half guard.
rashid rowe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
St Pierre is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John St Pierre.
I think rowe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... rashid rowe!