PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and LeBron St Pierre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St Pierre has chosen It's Raining Men as his entrance music. LeBron St Pierre struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 206.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Machida
vs
St Pierre

185 cm
20
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
21
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lyoto Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, LeBron St Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Pierre avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lyoto Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machida is looking to clinch but St Pierre is avoiding it.
Machida stuffs the takedown.
Machida chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Machida tries to clinch but St Pierre moves out of range.
Machida tries to clinch there but St Pierre circles away.
St Pierre circles away from the clinch attempt.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Machida throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like LeBron St Pierre has been cut.
Machida connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed St Pierre momentarily.

St Pierre is rocked!
Machida shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts St Pierre as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida tries for a takedown but St Pierre circles away easily

and St Pierre counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Machida's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyoto Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St Pierre postures up.

Machida throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Machida wants to improve his position but instead St Pierre has moved into half guard.
Machida is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

St Pierre is trying to work for a kimura but Machida is defending well.
St Pierre is thwarting Machida's attempts to control the position.

St Pierre is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Machida is just riding it out for now. St Pierre eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida is trying to maintain the position but St Pierre is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Machida tries to lock up and control but St Pierre gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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.
Machida is trying desperately to improve position.

St Pierre goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Machida is on top in guard.
Machida wants to pass the guard but St Pierre is keeping the position.

St Pierre looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Machida passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lyoto Machida will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on LeBron St Pierre's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Machida tries to clinch up.
Machida has his takedown stuffed

and St Pierre counters with a single leg into guard. Machida didn't expect that.
Machida working a defensive guard here.
Machida wants to stand up but St Pierre is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Pierre advances position into side control!
Machida manages to work his way to half guard, despite St Pierre's best efforts.

St Pierre wants to work for an arm triangle but Machida is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Machida moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two 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.

St Pierre postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Machida is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of St Pierre, into his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machida is stalling in the full guard.
Machida throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machida gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Machida shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and St Pierre counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Machida keeping full guard, as St Pierre tries to pass.

Machida keeping busy on the bottom but St Pierre has passed one foot through into half guard.
LeBron St Pierre has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

St Pierre is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
St Pierre is thwarting Machida's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeBron St Pierre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on LeBron St Pierre's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Machida is looking to clinch but St Pierre is avoiding it.
Machida tries for a takedown but St Pierre sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Machida throws a combination. St Pierre tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lyoto Machida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida tries to clinch but fails miserably

and St Pierre counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Machida's guard now.
Machida trying to keep a closed guard but St Pierre is proving a slippery customer.
Machida is looking to stand up but St Pierre isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
St Pierre advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is looking to escape.
Machida trying to hold on to St Pierre's head to control him but St Pierre postures up.
Machida moves into full guard.
St Pierre postures up.
Machida wants to stand but St Pierre is controlling the position.

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.

Machida throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Machida is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Machida can't break the clinch.
St Pierre wants a takedown.
Machida changes levels and goes for a takedown here. St Pierre fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Machida shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

St Pierre looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Machida wants to pass the guard but St Pierre is keeping the position.
St Pierre is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Machida trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Machida is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but St Pierre pulls his head out easily.
Machida pushes St Pierre off looking to stand but St Pierre dives back in and keeps control.

St Pierre is looking for submissions but instead, Machida has regained full guard.
Machida trying to keep a closed guard but St Pierre is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
LeBron St Pierre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think St Pierre 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... LeBron St Pierre!