PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Finan OConnell (ranked 4578 p4p, 6008 weight class) and Georges St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Georges St Pierre is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

OConnell
vs
St Pierre

175 cm
25
160
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
160
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Finan OConnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Georges St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pierre scores with a spinning back kick!
OConnell lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by OConnell.

It looks like Georges St Pierre has been cut.
St Pierre throws a head kick that OConnell semi-blocks.
OConnell scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. St Pierre doesn't seem bothered though.
St Pierre slips a straight right by OConnell.
St Pierre tries to clinch but OConnell moves out of range.
St Pierre tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but OConnell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
St Pierre tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
St Pierre steps to the side to avoid the strikes from OConnell.
OConnell's corner calls for a 1-2. OConnell obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
St Pierre ducks under a wild hook from OConnell.
OConnell lands a nice looking kick to the body. St Pierre takes a step back to recover.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
St Pierre tries a head kick but it misses.
St Pierre tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. OConnell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell just misses with a punch to the body.
St Pierre lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
An inside leg kick from OConnell misses.
As OConnell backs off St Pierre throws a huge counter combo but OConnell manages to avoid it all.
OConnell throws an uppercut from half a mile away. St Pierre sees it coming and avoids it easily.
St Pierre raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
OConnell scores with a shot to the body.
A leg kick checked by St Pierre.
OConnell stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
St Pierre throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
OConnell misses with a lunging right hand
and St Pierre counters with a two punch combo.
OConnell lands a straight punch to the body, keeping St Pierre at a distance.
St Pierre thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on OConnell if he has to take too many more of those.
OConnell pivots, looking for a leg kick but St Pierre is out of range and OConnell settles back down.
As OConnell backs off St Pierre throws a huge counter combo but OConnell manages to avoid it all.
Sloppy strikes from St Pierre. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OConnell moves into range and clinches up with St Pierre.
This has been an exciting period of action!
St Pierre tries to land a knee to the head but OConnell blocks with his arms.
OConnell throws a blind hook that connects with the side of St Pierres head.
St Pierre lands a nice knee to the body.
St Pierre tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and OConnell avoids it.
OConnell has St Pierre pressed against the cage, preventing St Pierre from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
St Pierre lands a nice knee to the body.
St Pierre with an attempt at a knee that misses.
St Pierre can't find room to land a body shot as OConnell controls the action.
OConnell is working St Pierre over against the cage.
St Pierre looks winded!

OConnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
St Pierre on the wrong end of a nice jab.
OConnell throws a right hand that misses
and St Pierre finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OConnell takes the fight into the clinch.

OConnell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
St Pierre keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Despite the aggression on St Pierre's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
OConnell does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
It seemed like St Pierre was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

OConnell has St Pierre up against the cage in a clinch.
OConnell working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by OConnell.

St Pierre manages to break the clinch.
OConnell throws an ugly left hook that misses

and St Pierre counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
St Pierre is struggling to control the position.
St Pierre letting OConnell take a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by OConnell.
OConnell pushes St Pierre back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

St Pierre breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
St Pierre lands a high kick!
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!
OConnell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
St Pierre pulls out of a head kick attempt.

St Pierre gets tackled into the cage by OConnell. OConnell maintains the clinch.
A shot in the inside from OConnell.
A short right from OConnell on the inside.
St Pierre avoids the elbow strike from OConnell, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, St Pierre just misses with a elbow thrown towards OConnell's brow.
OConnell lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finan OConnell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Georges St Pierre's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

St Pierre misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
St Pierre takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
OConnell lands with a cross.
OConnell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that St Pierre can do to turn this around?
OConnell lands a really nice looking cross but St Pierre seems unphased.

OConnell tries to keep at a distance but St Pierre has taken the fight into the clinch.
OConnell lands an elbow that stopped St Pierre in his tracks for a moment.

OConnell manages to break the clinch.
St Pierre bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OConnell looks to land a combination. St Pierre sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
OConnell takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
OConnell misses with a straight left.
St Pierre moves away from the strike by OConnell.
St Pierre wants to counter with a clinch but OConnell pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OConnell closes the distance and clinches.
OConnell lands a hook that snaps the head of St Pierre backwards.
A nice glancing elbow lands by St Pierre.
OConnell tries to work over St Pierre's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
OConnell lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
St Pierre with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
St Pierre with an attempt at a knee that misses.
OConnell takes an elbow to the forehead.
St Pierre trying to land knees to the body.

OConnell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
St Pierre throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
OConnell connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between St Pierre's hands.
OConnell tests St Pierre's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
OConnell lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
OConnell scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
OConnell goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Georges St Pierre is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

St Pierre has closed the distance and engaged OConnell in a clinch.

St Pierre breaks from the clinch.
OConnell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but St Pierre manages to avoid it.
OConnell connects with a solid leg kick.
OConnell lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
OConnell connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Finan OConnell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

OConnell instigates a clinch.
A short uppercut from OConnell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre is trying to force a seperation but OConnell has the dominant position.
OConnell controlling the action here for a moment.
OConnell avoiding damage as St Pierre throws knees to the body.
St Pierre pushes OConnell back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
St Pierre breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
St Pierre is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
OConnell cracks a nice hook into St Pierre's ribs.
OConnell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by St Pierre.
St Pierre throws a counter combo.
St Pierre tries to clinch there but OConnell circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
OConnell lands a left hand that snaps the head of St Pierre backwards.
OConnell blocks a body shot from St Pierre.
OConnell pushes off an throws an elbow but St Pierre leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
St Pierre tries to land knees in the clinch but OConnell avoids the damage to the body.
St Pierre misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from OConnell.
OConnell can't find room to land a body shot as St Pierre controls the action.
OConnell lands a body punch.
St Pierre misses with a punch to the body.
OConnell scores with an uppercut up the middle.
OConnell managing to block the knees to the body from St Pierre.
St Pierre is breathing heavily.
OConnell with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That has opened up Georges St Pierre's cut even more.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
OConnell landing knees to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finan OConnell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Georges St Pierre's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

OConnell scores with a jab to the head.
St Pierre uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by OConnell.
Finan OConnell is winning the standup battle so far.
OConnell throws a leg kick but St Pierre checks it.
St Pierre moves in looking to clinch but OConnell pushes him off.
OConnell cracks St Pierre with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
OConnell works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
OConnell misses with a body kick.
OConnell lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OConnell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
OConnell throws a looping overhand right but St Pierre ducks down to avoid it.

OConnell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with St Pierre, pushing him back against the cage.

OConnell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell swinging wildly here.
St Pierre scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
OConnell jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
St Pierre tries to close the distance and clinch but OConnell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
OConnell misses the jab.
St Pierre fails in his attempt to clinch.
OConnell swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Some wild striking there from St Pierre.
St Pierre tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Pierre displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as OConnell throws out the jab.
Good standup being displayed there by OConnell as he connects with a hook.
OConnell with a hook.
OConnell looks to land a combination. St Pierre sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
St Pierre has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
St Pierre tries to close the distance and clinch but OConnell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
St Pierre ducks under a wild hook from OConnell.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
St Pierre tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
OConnell connects with a leg kick.

St Pierre has managed to clinch.

OConnell breaks from the clinch.
St Pierre tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OConnell takes the fight into the clinch.
The referee calls for OConnell to work.
St Pierre tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
OConnell takes a knee to the side of the body.
St Pierre lands an elbow that stopped OConnell in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Finan OConnell has been cut.
St Pierre lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
OConnell lands an uppercut.
St Pierre putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has OConnell in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Come on St Pierre - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
OConnell has a couple of punches blocked by St Pierre.
Finan OConnell has scored more points in the clinch so far.
OConnell tries a body shot but St Pierre blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
St Pierre is trying to push OConnell away but OConnell has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
St Pierre with an attempt at a knee that misses.
OConnell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but St Pierre blocks it with crossed arms.
St Pierre blocks an elbow strike from OConnell.
St Pierre lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
OConnell working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Georges St Pierre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
St Pierre lands an elbow that stopped OConnell in his tracks for a moment.
St Pierre tries to break the clinch but OConnell is controlling the position.
St Pierre avoiding damage as OConnell throws knees to the body.
St Pierre crunches a lovely knee into OConnell's ribcage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by St Pierre.
St Pierre utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Finan OConnell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
OConnell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Finan OConnell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well OConnell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Finan OConnell!