PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Georges ST Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josue Antoine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Georges ST Pierre has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

ST Pierre
vs
Antoine

180 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, 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 Montreal, Josue Antoine!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ST Pierre on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Antoine. Antoine obviously looking to wear him down.
ST Pierre will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
ST Pierre showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Antoine.
ST Pierre shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Antoine sprawls well. Antoine wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. ST Pierre gets slowly back to his feet.
Antoine throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No luck for ST Pierre with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges ST Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Antoine scores with a takedown into ST Pierre's guard.
Antoine wants to get up but he can't break ST Pierre's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
ST Pierre is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ST Pierre looking for a sweep. Not yet ST Pierre, not yet.
Antoine must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Antoine wants to control from the top but ST Pierre keeps moving.
Antoine tries to stand but ST Pierre is controlling from the bottom.
ST Pierre lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Antoine!
Antoine is squirming around, avoiding ST Pierre's attempts to control the action.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Antoine can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
ST Pierre is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Antoine is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Antoine gets back to half guard.
ST Pierre is trying to control the action in half guard but Antoine is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Antoine is trying to control but can't.
ST Pierre is controlling the pace.
ST Pierre is keen to just control but Antoine is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ST Pierre is looking to stall here but Antoine recovers full guard.
ST Pierre wants to control from the top but Antoine keeps moving.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Georges ST Pierre just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Antoine throws a chopping leg kick but ST Pierre manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Antoine swinging wildly here.
ST Pierre with a lazy takedown attempt
and Antoine counters with a two punch combo.
Antoine throws a right and a left that ST Pierre avoids nicely.
Antoine shoots and misses

and ST Pierre counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
ST Pierre is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Antoine pushes ST Pierre off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
No joy there for Antoine, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
ST Pierre with a poor takedown
and Antoine counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Antoine throws a right and a left that ST Pierre avoids nicely.
Antoine misses with a low kick as ST Pierre jumps back.
ST Pierre with a poor takedown

and Antoine decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in ST Pierre's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Antoine trying to control the position from guard on top but ST Pierre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
ST Pierre is trying to control the position but Antoine postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josue Antoine dominated that round.
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.

Antoine has closed the distance and engaged ST Pierre in a clinch.

Antoine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
ST Pierre misses with a takedown attempt
and Antoine counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
ST Pierre doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Antoine counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
ST Pierre keeping moving, preventing Antoine from controlling successfully.
Antoine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. ST Pierre swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Antoine throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antoine trying to stand up but can't free himself from ST Pierre's guard.
ST Pierre is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
ST Pierre 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.
Antoine wants to stand but ST Pierre has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
ST Pierre keeping moving, preventing Antoine from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Antoine doesn't manage to clinch there - ST Pierre circles away.

Antoine throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. ST Pierre was covering up waiting for the punch and Antoine finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Antoine loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Antoine 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 wants to sweep here but Antoine controlling him for the moment.
Josue Antoine has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ST Pierre working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Antoine throws and elbow that misses. ST Pierre uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Antoine's guard. Nice move by ST Pierre!
ST Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Antoine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
ST Pierre wants to pass the guard but Antoine is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
ST Pierre fails with the takedown

and Antoine decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in ST Pierre's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges ST Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Antoine is stalling in the full guard.
Antoine wants to control from the top but ST Pierre keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josue Antoine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Antoine closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Antoine has ST Pierre pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. ST Pierre manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
ST Pierre can't get the takedown.

Antoine breaks the clinch.
ST Pierre showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Antoine.
Josue Antoine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Antoine throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent ST Pierre stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Antoine tries to clinch up but ST Pierre circles away and keeps his distance.

Antoine moves into the clinch.
Antoine prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antoine lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Antoine pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
ST Pierre with a lazy takedown attempt

and Antoine counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Antoine.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Georges ST Pierre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Antoine drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Antoine pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Antoine fails with an attempt to clinch.
Antoine scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A right-left combo lands from Antoine.
ST Pierre has his takedown stuffed
and Antoine counters with a one-two to the body.
A head kick from Antoine lands but ST Pierre takes it in his stride.
Antoine tries to score with a low kick but ST Pierre moves his leg out of the way.

ST Pierre feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
ST Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but Antoine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
ST Pierre won't allow Antoine to get back to his feet.
Josue Antoine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Antoine really doesn't want to stay on the ground with ST Pierre. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ST Pierre wants to control from the top but Antoine keeps moving.
Antoine controlling the position.
ST Pierre wants to pass the guard but Antoine is keeping the position.
Antoine has ST Pierre pulled in close to control his posture.
Antoine trying to keep a closed guard but ST Pierre is proving a slippery customer.

That's four 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.
Antoine has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Antoine is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
ST Pierre trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
ST Pierre trying to control but Antoine is working from the bottom.
Georges ST Pierre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
ST Pierre trying to stand up but can't free himself from Antoine's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josue Antoine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Antoine has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josue Antoine!