The tone was set for the entire fight almost immediately as St. Pierre used his vastly superior striking technique and his defensive wrestling to keep Shields on the feet and out of his element.
Early in the first round, Shields caught a GSP body kick but was denied the takedown by some impressive acrobatics from the champion. From then on, Shields’ urgency for the takedown appeared to diminish and St. Pierre began to pick him apart with a jab/overhand right combination.
And so it continued for the rest of the fight. St. Pierre has been criticised in recent times for his lack of killer instinct and those criticisms are only going to increase after this fight.
The champion did suffer an eye injury in the second round that left his vision impaired but he was facing a clearly inferior opponent who he should have been able to put away.
Regardless, St. Pierre records his sixth consecutive title defence and his ninth straight win.
While the night had a disappointing end, the rest of the card was filled with dramatic finishes, the retirement of a legend and one of the nastiest hematomas in fight history.
In the other title fight, Jose Aldo defended his UFC featherweight championship for the first time with a hard fought decision win over Canadian, Mark Hominick.
Aldo used his superior stand-up skills and his rarely seen wrestling game to outwork and punish the challenger.
In the fourth round, Aldo landed an elbow strike inside Hominick’s guard that immediately produced a tennis ball sized hematoma on Hominick’s forehead.
The doctor was called in to inspect the damage and cleared Hominick to continue. Hominick was cleared again by the doctor in between the fourth and fifth rounds and was in hot pursuit for a much needed finish when the round began.
A failed guillotine choke attempt by Aldo ended with the champion on his back. Too tired to escape to his feet, Aldo was helpless against the desperate Hominick who rained blow after blow on the Brazilian.
It was too little too late however, as Aldo received the unanimous verdict from the judges.
Randy Couture did not get the fairytale end to his career that many of his fans wanted as he was knocked out by former champion, Lyoto Machida in the second round.
In a move straight out of The Karate Kid, Machida landed a jumping front kick to the face of Couture that left him prone on the mat 1:05 into the second frame. Couture was unable to make an impression on Machida in the first round as he found the Brazilian constantly out of his grasp.
Couture announced his retirement at the end of the bout, which finishes a hall of fame career that saw him capture the heavyweight belt on three separate occasions, and the light heavyweight belt on two.
The rest of the pay-per-view card exceeded its lofty expectations as Vladimir Matyushenko knocked out Jason Brilz in twenty seconds and the charismatic Benson Henderson outpointed crowd favourite, Mark Bocek. The former WEC lightweight champion punished Bocek on the feet and stayed out of trouble on the ground to notch a well deserved and entertaining unanimous decision.
In preliminary action, 21-year old Canadian, Rory MacDonald threw Ultimate Fighter winner, Nate Diaz, around like a ragdoll to earn a decision victory. MacDonald suplexed Diaz three times in the space of one minute in the third round to put an exclamation mark on the victory.
Welterweight up and comer Jake Ellenberger further reinforced his contender credentials with a first round knockout of home-town favourite Sean Pierson at 2:42 of the first round.
Pablo Garza and John Makdessi made permanent additions to their respective highlight reels as well with the former submitting his opponent with a flying triangle choke in the first round while the latter knocked out The Ultimate Fighter 11 contestant, Kyle Watson with an awe-inducing spinning backfist.
Full Results
Main Card
Georges St. Pierre defs. Jake Shields via unanimous decision (50-45, 48-47, 48-47)
Jose Aldo defs. Mark Hominick via unanimous decision (48-45, 48-46, 49-46)
Lyoto Machida defs. Randy Couture via KO (jumping front kick) at 1:05 of round 2.
Vladimir Matyushenko defs. Jason Brilz via KO (punches) at :20 of round 1.
Benson Henderson defs. Mark Bocek via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Preliminary Card
Rory MacDonald defs. Nate Diaz via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-26)
Jake Ellenberger defs. Sean Pierson via KO (punch) at 2:42 of round 1.
Claude Patrick defs. Daniel Roberts via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Ivan Menjivar defs. Charlie Valencia via TKO (elbow and punches) at 1:30 of round 1.
Jason MacDonald defs. Ryan Jensen via submission (triangle choke) at 1:37 of round 1.
John Makdessi defs. Kyle Watson via KO (spinning backfist) at 1:27 of round 3.
Pablo Garza defs. Yves Jabouin via submission (flying triangle choke) at 4:31 of round 1.
damos_x
Guest
I t says it all about Couture that he still put himself on the line against a guy who was recently the title holder & wasn't worried about having a glorious exit. he is a real example to some of the trash talkers etc who seem drawn to MMA.
NF
Guest
The overall card was great till the GSP fight both fighters were pretty conservative and stuck to mainly jabs, weak striking and a take-down or two really disappointing considering GSP saying to the media to 'don't blink' which is ironic now considering what happen to GSP's eye which hopefully ain't severe. Great to see the Janitor KO Blitz in 20 seconds sure he made be no longer a title contender but Vladdy can still made a impact of sorts in the LHW division as a mid-card fighter. Machida's KO crane kid was karate kid to the max and I love that movie I assume Steven Seagal is Mr Miyagi lol. Unfortunate for Couture to retire that way but it's a impressive way to go out.
Jerry
Guest
The thing is, GSP is probably the best in the world at controlling the fight. Unfortunately, this can make for boring fights as he keeps the fight in an uncomfortable zone for his opponent and cruises to a comfortable win. Shields has decent technical striking skills (just no power) and a rock solid chin, so it doesn't surprise me he lasted the distance.
damos_x
Guest
GSP had a taste of what it is like to be caught & then finished by a supposedly inferior opponent against Serra & he isn't likely to let himself get in that situation again, even if it means a less 'exciting' fight for fans. Perhaps it isn't so much on GSP but his opponent to come & get what the champ has, ie, the belt, so even though we all think that a champ should be able to take it to an adversary & dominate them regardless of style or situation, maybe the level of fighter is such that it really could go wrong & who wants to stand up at the end of the bout & have the satisfaction of the other guys hand held high but at least you made it interesting for the fans. This is professional sport after all & that is about winning, entertainment is what you get in the fake wrestling & if you are into that then all freedom to you, but i for one do not expect a fighter to entertain me for the sake of it.
Cookie
Roar Rookie
How good was Machida's 'Front Crane Kick', makes me want to watch 'The Karate Kid' again. I think GSP will always be behind Silva in regards to the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world because of the statements you made above. Yes he is good all round but he just can't finish fights, something Silva has started to do in his last 2 fights.