UFC-124 GSP dominates Koscheck in a unanimous decision
Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck
Round 1
Referee Herb Dean has officiating duties for this welterweight title bout. St. Pierre pumps a left jab before taking Koscheck down against the base of the fence. Koscheck cage-walks to his feet. Double-jab and a right hand follow-up from St. Pierre. Another takedown attempt from St. Pierre is stuffed by Koscheck, who lands a grazing left hand on the exit. St. Pierre keeps the jabs coming, ducking under a big right from Koscheck, whose face is already showing damage. Left jab and a head kick by St. Pierre, who's moving around the perimeter of the cage. Koscheck steps right into another stiff left jab before moving in for a takedown. St. Pierre stuffs the attempt and finds his back against the fence. Koscheck on his knees, working for a high double, and he's finally able to bring St. Pierre down with 20 seconds left in the round.
Round 2
Koscheck's right eye is already in rough shape, cut and swollen at the start of the second frame. St. Pierre gets back to work with left jabs and inside leg kicks. Koscheck's overhand rights are missing for the most part, with GSP often ducking under them. St. Pierre lands another Superman left hand, then a hard kick to the body. GSP keeps going back to his double-left jab followed by a right hand, snapping Koscheck's head back. Koscheck puts together a solid combo that finishes with an uppercut, but St. Pierre appears unfazed. GSP switch-kicks to Koscheck's body and comes forward with a few punches to end the round.
Round 3
No surprise: more left jabs from GSP to begin the third. The champ tries for a single-leg after about a minute, but Koscheck puts his back to the cage and they clinch instead. Underhooks for Koscheck, who reverses GSP into the fence, only to be quickly reversed back. St. Pierre kneeing inside while Koscheck comes over the top with a few punches, neither terribly effectively. Referee Dean tells them to get busy and the fighters disengage. GSP continues snapping Koscheck's head back with the left jab. They tie up and St. Pierre seems to say something to referee Dean about his glove. A moment later, Dean cautions Koscheck, "don't hold the gloves," as they clinch against the fence. Leg kicks and left hands by St. Pierre for the final minute of the round.
Round 4
The ringside doctor can be overheard telling Herb Dean that Koscheck can't see out of his right eye in between rounds, but he allows the fight to continue after protest from Koscheck. St. Pierre scores a takedown early and takes Koscheck's back, but Koscheck stands and shakes him. Koscheck drops for a leglock which GSP slips, and now St. Pierre has a waistlock, holding Koscheck against the fence. St. Pierre lands a knee to the damaged eye of the doubled-over Koscheck. Back in the center of the cage, Koscheck is throwing one-twos, only to have GSP sidestep every attempt. Koscheck now checking St. Pierre's inside leg kicks. GSP with a cracking left hook, followed by a few more stiff jabs. According to CompuStrike, St. Pierre landed 24 strikes to Koscheck's three in the fourth frame.
Round 5
St. Pierre starts the final round with more kicks to the inside of Koscheck's left leg. Another jab snaps Koscheck's head back before he completely misses a single-leg attempt. Left hook by St. Pierre, and then he's back to pumping the jab. Three minutes left for Koscheck to pull something off, or GSP is keeping his title. St. Pierre ducks an overhand right and ties Koscheck up against the fence with two minutes left. It takes a moment and a few punches from Koscheck, but GSP brings his man to the mat. Koscheck stands up, only to be dragged back down. Koscheck stands again. Knees to the legs of Koscheck by GSP. Short punches to the body by Koscheck. Thirty seconds left. St. Pierre lands a body kick, another jab, and a one-two for good measure at the close of the bout.
All three judges have it 50-45 for GSP.
Discuss.
