Attending an MMA card in person is unlike any other venue I have experienced. There is nothing like seeing someone go stone-cold unconscious mere feet away from you. Watching from the couch does the sport a disservice; in person, there is so much more detail. The magnitude of the moment seems brighter, and the fan reactions to certain fighters are far more apparent. On my part, it gave me a chance to see other unfamiliar prospects perform. Attending CFFC 159 in Philly with the guys reminded me how much there is to love about this sport, on any level. We saw friends of the show perform in front of our eyes, with Christian Bobe earning a hard-fought unanimous decision victory in the main event, and Jeremiah Delgado stealing the show with one of the best head kick knockouts you will ever see. Yet, we have already written about those gentlemen, and I suggest you check those articles out. Today, I am here to talk about a new fighter that caught my eye with an unexpected round one finish. Jarrod St. Jean, The Wolverine.
With a nickname like that, you would hope St. Jean has the fighting style to match. Thus far, he certainly has. Many of his wins have been earned through and through, and he always finds a way to have his hand raised. The 5-0 lightweight has had only one bout go to decision, while all the rest have come via round one finish (with one technically due to retirement). Currently, he rides a three-fight finish streak, all due to KO/TKO. Sort of like a (more skilled) Derrick Lewis, he is always liable to put his opponent away. He takes out very quality opponents as well, with his latest being undefeated. Three consecutive round one finishes against game fighters, all due to strikes? It’s a mistake to overlook a pedigree like this.
St. Jean’s boxing is one of his most advantageous attributes, specifically his straight shots like jabs and crosses down the pipe. Aided by his linear footwork and cage craft, it’s a stellar weapon. He is not just a headhunter, and seems to emphasize working the body as much as the head. Against both Aaron Hughes and Stash Kuykendall, St. Jean targeted the liver effectively. Against Hughes, he assaulted the liver worse than an alcoholic, boxing and body kicking it for the duration of the round. Eventually, St. Jean was able to put him away with a vicious knee to the liver, leading to the TKO. Against Kuykendall, his left hook to the liver also eventually led to the finish, but in a different way. Rather than body kicks, St. Jean prioritized outside low kicks to the thigh, softening him up to enter range for the final blows. Kuykendall was 6-1 at the time, and not an easy fighter to do this against.
Unfortunately, St. Jean does find himself taken down or controlled in the clinch more than I am sure he would like, but he does do some solid work in these positions. He himself has stated that he knows he may be prone to being taken down, yet remains somewhat nonchalant due to his ability to find his footing. Off the clinch, he creates damage on the exit, which is always preferable to punish the position. Takedowns do not seem to faze him; he gets right back to work with his jab, forcing his way forwards. Against Alius Delarosa in his most recent outing, St. Jean was facing an undefeated grappler who made things a real challenge for him at the start. St. Jean spent much of the round on the mat, but was able to fend off any submission attempts. Once he was able to rise, he timed a stunning counter right hook to drop Delarosa out cold.
If St. Jean can augment his takedown defense, his striking proficiency allows him to finish anyone he faces in the weight class. Linear movement and footwork bolster his jab, and his work with outside leg kicks and body kicks slow his opponent down for him to finish them. St. Jean has power, strong boxing, and finishing ability. To reiterate, three straight round one finishes and an undefeated record are points that cannot be ignored. On a less professional note, the guy is extremely likeable as a person and has a badass nickname. Is there anything more to say? I might need to see another fight or so out of him to see how he fares, but I am extremely impressed with Jarrod St. Jean. In a sport where it only takes one highlight reel to change a fighter’s life, St. Jean has several, and I look forward to seeing what is next for him.
