PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Georges stJ (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tristan Mkhalele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mkhalele has chosen STROMAE - Alors on danse as his entrance music. Tristan Mkhalele will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

stJ
vs
Mkhalele

180 cm
20
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Georges stJ!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tristan Mkhalele!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

stJ darts in and clinches Mkhalele up against the cage.

Mkhalele pulls stJ into guard.

Mkhalele escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. stJ gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
stJ stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mkhalele swivels though and keeps the full guard.
stJ trying to control the position from guard on top but Mkhalele is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
stJ is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mkhalele keeping moving, preventing stJ from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
stJ won't allow Mkhalele to sweep him here.

stJ drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and stJ jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mkhalele not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mkhalele wants to clinch

and stJ counters by clinching up.

Mkhalele lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Mkhalele is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mkhalele tries to pass the half guard into mount. stJ knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

stJ looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
stJ trying to control but Mkhalele postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed stJ's head.
Mkhalele not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
stJ tries to get to full guard but Mkhalele has control of the leg.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
stJ shoots for a takedown but Mkhalele saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

stJ closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
stJ misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
stJ is breathing heavily.
stJ working the head with strikes.

stJ tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
stJ works to advance to full mount. Mkhalele defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele tries to get back to half guard but can't.
stJ punching from mount but Mkhalele doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mkhalele sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mkhalele blocking the ground and pound attempt from stJ.
Mkhalele works his way to full guard. Good work.
Mkhalele avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mkhalele looking to control.
Mkhalele managing to control the position.
Mkhalele trying to keep a closed guard but stJ is proving a slippery customer.

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.
stJ loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
stJ landing with the ground and pound.
Mkhalele not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Mkhalele has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but stJ can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mkhalele working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from stJ.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tristan Mkhalele will probably get the nod.
That's time! stJ's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mkhalele wants to clinch

and stJ counters with a single leg into guard. Mkhalele didn't expect that.
stJ missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as stJ accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mkhalele keeping moving, preventing stJ from controlling successfully.
Mkhalele working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from stJ.

stJ stands and steps away. Mkhalele gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
stJ dives in and grabs Mkhalele's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mkhalele pushes down on stJ's head and hops out.
stJ swats away the attempt to clinch by Mkhalele.

Mkhalele clinches.
Mkhalele lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Georges stJ has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
stJ tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mkhalele smiles and moves away.
Mkhalele darts in trying to clinch

and stJ counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mkhalele dodges the ground and pound from stJ.
Mkhalele is looking to regain half guard here but stJ keeps moving and retains side control.
Mkhalele sneaks back into half guard.
Mkhalele is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Mkhalele is refusing to be controlled, as stJ sits in half guard.
stJ is pressing down on Mkhalele's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mkhalele is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mkhalele keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
stJ throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mkhalele is trying to stand back up but stJ is controlling him
Mkhalele makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mkhalele.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as stJ accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mkhalele is trying to keep stJ in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
stJ takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mkhalele looks for a takedown but stJ sprawls well.
stJ uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mkhalele.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mkhalele has managed to clinch.
Nice elbow from Mkhalele.
Mkhalele lands an elbow that stopped stJ in his tracks for a moment.
Mkhalele with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mkhalele lands an elbow that stopped stJ in his tracks for a moment.
Mkhalele scores with a knee to the head.
Mkhalele creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through stJ's defenses.
Mkhalele landing knees to the head.
Mkhalele lands a damaging elbow.
Mkhalele lands an elbow just above stJ 's eye.

Mkhalele jumps guard and drags stJ to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
stJ postures up.
stJ tries to free his leg and advance position but Mkhalele is retaining full guard.
Mkhalele avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mkhalele keeping moving, preventing stJ from controlling successfully.
stJ tries to stand but Mkhalele is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele managing to control the position.
stJ has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mkhalele is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mkhalele working a defensive guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mkhalele shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georges stJ dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Georges stJ's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mkhalele gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
stJ drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mkhalele gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside that stJ shrugs off.
Mkhalele comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A head punch on the inside from stJ fails to land.
Nice elbow from Mkhalele.
stJ drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mkhalele gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mkhalele lands an elbow that stopped stJ in his tracks for a moment.
stJ drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mkhalele gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges stJ. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mkhalele creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through stJ's defenses.
stJ takes an elbow to the temple.
Mkhalele lands a damaging elbow.

Georges stJ's cut is getting worse.

Mkhalele's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

stJ gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mkhalele to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mkhalele advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mkhalele is thwarting stJ's attempts to control the position.
stJ tries to kick Mkhalele off but Mkhalele keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Mkhalele is trying to work for a kimura but stJ is defending well.

Mkhalele is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mkhalele wants to pass the guard but stJ is defending well.

stJ manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A nice leg kick lands there from Mkhalele.
Mkhalele moves in looking to clinch but stJ pushes him off.
stJ takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

stJ has taken the fight to the clinch.
stJ wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mkhalele is pushing stJ up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Mkhalele lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
stJ fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside that stJ shrugs off.
stJ wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside.
stJ takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside that stJ shrugs off.
stJ jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mkhalele walks away with a smile on his face. stJ gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Mkhalele moves into the clinch successfully.
Mkhalele using the Thai plumb to throw knees but stJ has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
stJ tries to break the clinch but Mkhalele is controlling the position.
Mkhalele lands an elbow that stopped stJ in his tracks for a moment.
stJ tries to circle away but Mkhalele has him pinned against the cage.
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside that stJ shrugs off.
Mkhalele stops a takedown attempt from stJ.
Mkhalele lands an elbow just above stJ 's eye.
Mkhalele gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Mkhalele escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele tries to clinch but stJ is having none of it.
Mkhalele throws a head kick that misses.
Mkhalele tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and stJ counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

stJ stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Mkhalele to get to his feet.

Mkhalele closes the distance and clinches.

stJ breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
stJ throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Mkhalele forces stJ back against the cage and clinches.
Mkhalele lands an elbow inside.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mkhalele takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Mkhalele lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mkhalele tries to stall but stJ uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
stJ tries for a takedown but Mkhalele manages to get underhooks.
Mkhalele misses with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Mkhalele.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
stJ blocks an elbow strike.
Mkhalele creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

stJ has clasped his hands together around Mkhalele's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
stJ sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Mkhalele is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Mkhalele dodges the ground and pound from stJ.
Mkhalele is not content to let stJ control the position.
stJ working the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
stJ scoring with punches from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mkhalele manages to work his way to half guard, despite stJ's best efforts.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tristan Mkhalele.
I think Mkhalele 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tristan Mkhalele!