PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Georges St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eugeniusz Zgodka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St Pierre's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Two Steps From Hell - Heart Of Courage. Eugeniusz Zgodka will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

St Pierre
vs
Zgodka

178 cm
18
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Georges St Pierre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eugeniusz Zgodka!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pierre throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zgodka.
St Pierre misses with a double jab.
St Pierre will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
St Pierre throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Zgodka counters with a shoot takedown. St Pierre fights it but they end up in guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zgodka wants to control from the top but St Pierre keeps moving.
Zgodka sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed St Pierre's guard.
St Pierre makes his way to full guard. A much better position for St Pierre.

St Pierre has his foot on Zgodka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zgodka works his way back into a safe position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zgodka advances position into side control!
St Pierre is trying to get back to half guard.
Zgodka remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Zgodka is looking to take a break and control but St Pierre is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zgodka lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zgodka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zgodka is looking to take a break and control but St Pierre is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zgodka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
St Pierre is looking for a sweep.

Zgodka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Zgodka is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, St Pierre has escaped the position, nice work there.
St Pierre is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zgodka is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but St Pierre is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
St Pierre is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
St Pierre is working hard here to advance position.

Zgodka looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
St Pierre tries to buck Zgodka off but Zgodka is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zgodka tries for a kimura but St Pierre is defending well.

Zgodka tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre being controlled for a moment.
St Pierre tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zgodka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zgodka working away.
Zgodka scores with a couple of short elbows.
St Pierre is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zgodka connects with a decent elbow.
St Pierre is looking for a sweep.
Zgodka working away.

Zgodka thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zgodka is looking to take a break and control but St Pierre is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
St Pierre takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre tries to buck Zgodka off but Zgodka is having none of it.
St Pierre throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
St Pierre tries to improve position but can't.
St Pierre might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Zgodka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zgodka thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Zgodka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by St Pierre, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Zgodka looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
St Pierre tries to bench press Zgodka off him but Zgodka keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eugeniusz Zgodka dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

St Pierre throws a head kick but Zgodka moves out of range.
St Pierre throws a half hearted mid kick.
St Pierre throws a series of punches but Zgodka moves out of range.
St Pierre throws a body punch but Zgodka moves out of range.
Georges St Pierre is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zgodka shoots in for a takedown but St Pierre shows good takedown defense.
St Pierre misses with the combination.
Zgodka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zgodka slips a jab and a cross from St Pierre.
Zgodka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but St Pierre avoids it really well and circles away.
St Pierre misses with an uppercut.
St Pierre scores with a body shot.
St Pierre fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zgodka manages to avoid it.
St Pierre throws the left hand but Zgodka avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

St Pierre gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zgodka to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Zgodka trying to control the position from guard on top but St Pierre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

St Pierre is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zgodka is aware though and is defending well.

St Pierre is looking for a triangle but Zgodka pushes his legs off easily.
Eugeniusz Zgodka has got the better of the ground game so far.
St Pierre looking to control.
Zgodka passes into half guard.

Zgodka is working for a kimura but St Pierre is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zgodka is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zgodka is breathing heavily.

Zgodka is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
St Pierre tries to roll over but Zgodka keeps him under control.

Zgodka is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so St Pierre is just riding it out for now. Zgodka eventually gives up the hold.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zgodka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
St Pierre is looking to control Zgodka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can St Pierre avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zgodka is looking to advance position but St Pierre won't allow it.
St Pierre throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
St Pierre manages to get to full guard.

St Pierre looking for a guillotine here but Zgodka defends easily.
Zgodka scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zgodka drops back looking for a leg! St Pierre is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and St Pierre manages to kick Zgodka off! Zgodka jumps back into St Pierre's guard.
St Pierre controls Zgodka momentarily but Zgodka frees himself.

St Pierre is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zgodka is aware though and is defending well.
St Pierre thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Zgodka advances to half guard.

Zgodka is looking for a kimura but St Pierre is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zgodka to get the leverage.
St Pierre is in trouble now - Zgodka has advanced to mount!
Zgodka wants to take St Pierre's back but he can't do it this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
St Pierre takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
St Pierre is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eugeniusz Zgodka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

St Pierre wants to slow Zgodka down by chopping away at his legs.
Zgodka checks a low kick from St Pierre.
The fighters circling - St Pierre throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zgodka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from St Pierre.
St Pierre misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zgodka.
St Pierre defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zgodka.
Zgodka moves away from the strike by St Pierre.
Zgodka shoots in but St Pierre avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Zgodka closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
St Pierre trying to control from the bottom.
St Pierre knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zgodka on the ground.
St Pierre is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zgodka passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for St Pierre!
Zgodka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Zgodka swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and St Pierre is now in Zgodka's guard. A big mistake from Zgodka there, giving up the dominant position!
St Pierre slips nicely into half guard.
Zgodka tries to get to full guard but St Pierre has control of the leg.
St Pierre missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
St Pierre is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zgodka on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

St Pierre is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
St Pierre prevents Zgodka from improving his position.
Zgodka gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zgodka wants to sweep here but St Pierre controlling him for the moment.
Zgodka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zgodka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in St Pierre's guard.
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!
St Pierre is looking to stand up but Zgodka isn't so interested in that idea.
Zgodka working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zgodka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. St Pierre swivels though and keeps the full guard.
St Pierre keeping moving, preventing Zgodka from controlling successfully.
Zgodka advances to half guard.
St Pierre wants to improve his position but Zgodka is controlling well.
Zgodka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. St Pierre defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

St Pierre looking for submissions off his back.

Zgodka is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. St Pierre doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zgodka.
Zgodka wants to control but St Pierre is keeping him busy.
St Pierre tries to roll over but Zgodka keeps him under control.

St Pierre looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Zgodka is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so St Pierre is just riding it out for now. Zgodka eventually gives up the hold.

St Pierre looking for submissions off his back.
Georges St Pierre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zgodka uses his free foot to push down on St Pierre's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for St Pierre.
St Pierre is wriggling around trying to escape.

Zgodka with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
St Pierre is in all sorts of trouble here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
St Pierre is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
St Pierre manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Eugeniusz Zgodka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zgodka is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Eugeniusz Zgodka.
I've got Zgodka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eugeniusz Zgodka!