PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between George St pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caco Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

St pierre
vs
Vera

196 cm
35
156 lbs
20 - 18 - 0

185 cm
30
168 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, George St pierre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Caco Vera!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St pierre swinging wildly here.
St pierre moves out of range as Vera throws a body kick.
Caco Vera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
St pierre shoots in for a takedown but Vera shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
St pierre throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vera.
A punch combination from St pierre misses.
Vera scores with a push kick.
St pierre takes a swing at Vera's ribcage but misses.
Vera thows a left - swing and a miss!
St pierre closes the distance and clinches up with Vera, looking for a takedown. St pierre pushes Vera against the cage but Vera circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for St pierre, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
St pierre misses with a few strikes there.

Vera lands a big head kick that sends St pierre tumbling to the mat! Vera takes a step backwards and waves St pierre back to his feet - he wants the finish!

St pierre is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
St pierre misses with a few strikes there.
We've been hearing reports that St pierre has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
St pierre swinging wildly here.
Vera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

St pierre changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Vera looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Vera is pushing St pierre's head away, looking to escape. St pierre manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St pierre trying to control the action but Vera is working from the bottom.
St pierre working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Vera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
St pierre trying to control the action but Vera is working from the bottom.

St pierre tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no St pierre has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Vera regains half guard there - taking advantage of St pierre's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera wants to get back to his feet.
St pierre is stalling here. Vera is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! St pierre seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Vera has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
St pierre is looking to regain half guard here but Vera keeps moving and retains side control.
St pierre is trying to control Vera's posture but Vera avoids it.
St pierre tries to improve position but can't.
St pierre is working hard here to advance position.

Vera stands up and beckons St pierre to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St pierre avoids a kick to the body.
Vera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Vera misses with a body kick.
Vera showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from St pierre.
Vera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
St pierre misses with a jab, cross combination.
St pierre tries for a takedown but Vera sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George St pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
St pierre on the wrong end of a nice hook.
St pierre throws a right and a left that both miss.
A leg kick checked by St pierre.
Some wild striking there from St pierre.
Vera avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick misses from Vera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St pierre closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vera circles away.
Vera throws a head kick that misses.
Vera misses with a low kick.
Vera turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
St pierre blocks a head kick by Vera.
St pierre closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
St pierre throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by St pierre!
St pierre really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vera dodges the punch combination from St pierre.
Vera is looking to land body kicks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
St pierre bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

St pierre throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vera tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. St pierre is in Vera's guard.
St pierre looking to sit in guard and control but Vera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

St pierre is looking for a triangle but Vera pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Caco Vera will probably get the nod.
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.

Nice cross by Vera.
St pierre misses with a double jab.
Vera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
St pierre cracks Vera with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nice sprawl there from Vera as St pierre shoots in.
Vera misses with a kick to the body.
St pierre avoids the head kick by Vera.

St pierre drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
St pierre trying to control the position but Vera is working away.
Vera controls the position for a moment.
St pierre trying to control the action but Vera is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

St pierre working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
St pierre wants to control but Vera is keeping him busy.
Vera struggling a bit here.
Vera is looking to work his way out of this bad position but St pierre is controlling him well.
Vera trying to remain calm as St pierre controls from the top position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera tries to bench press St pierre off him but St pierre keeps the position.
St pierre throwing strikes but Vera manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
St pierre is trying to get back to half guard.
Vera is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down St pierre's shoulder. That is not cool.
St pierre is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vera off and has taken his back!

St pierre patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vera looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Vera defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of St pierre's arms.
George St pierre overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

St pierre looking to break Vera's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Vera remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise St pierre will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Vera is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get St pierre off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

St pierre is persistently looking for the submission but Vera is defending it well.
St pierre avoiding Vera 's attempts to control his hands.
St pierre is hanging on to Vera's back as he tries to escape.
Vera holding both St pierre 's hands and preventing any damage.

Vera fending off the submission attempt from St pierre.

Vera is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if St pierre gets his way!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Vera's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vera is still trying to improve position.

St pierre is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Vera knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Vera for a finish.

St pierre is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vera staying busy and making it hard for St pierre to control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vera trying to get back to his feet but St pierre is in full control for now.
Vera trying to control the position but St pierre manages to sink in the hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George St pierre dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Vera throws a wild body kick that St pierre sees coming a mile off.
Vera lands a head kick. St pierre smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

St pierre shoots in and gets a takedown into Vera's guard.
St pierre prevents Vera from getting back to his feet.
Vera wants to sweep but no luck.
St pierre trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.

St pierre thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vera keeping moving, preventing St pierre from controlling successfully.
St pierre will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Vera wants to get back to his feet but St pierre is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Vera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vera keeping moving, preventing St pierre from controlling successfully.
Vera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vera wants to hit a switch here but St pierre passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Vera there!
St pierre content just to control the position here.
Vera is squirming around, avoiding St pierre's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera gets back to half guard.
Vera tries to kick St pierre off but St pierre keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Vera tries to roll over but St pierre keeps him under control.
St pierre wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vera keeps working.

George St pierre has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
St pierre will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Vera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Vera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Vera misses.
St pierre ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
St pierre moves away from the strike by Vera.
Some wild striking there from St pierre.
An inside leg kick from Vera misses.
St pierre misses with the combination.
A good leg kick by Vera.
St pierre throws a series of punches but Vera avoids them all with ease.
Vera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
St pierre stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Vera.
Vera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Caco Vera seems to be getting the better of the standup.

St pierre dives in and scores a takedown into Vera's guard.
St pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Vera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera wants to get back to his feet but St pierre is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
St pierre controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
St pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Vera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vera is trying to control the position but St pierre postures up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because George St pierre just wasn't active enough.

St pierre looking to score a takedown here. Vera is defending well but St pierre drives through and ends up in Vera's guard.

Vera has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. St pierre is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Vera breaks from the clinch.
A punch combination from St pierre misses.
Sloppy strikes from St pierre. Those never looked like landing.
St pierre throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vera.

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 George St pierre.
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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... George St pierre!
Post fight, George St pierre stared into the camera and said 'my dream is to meet chad mendes at 145, but for now i want to destroy johnny johnson.'.