PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Couturier (ranked 6663 p4p, 4265 weight class) and Dwayne Mill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Couturier is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Couturier
vs
Mill

187 cm
21
201
3 - 7 - 0

186 cm
23
213
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jonathan Couturier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dwayne Mill!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mill looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Couturier is breathing heavily.
Mill swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Couturier counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mill thinking.

Mill 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.
Mill is standing up over Couturier. Couturier looks to escape but Mill dives into side control.

Mill trying to control the action but Couturier is working from the bottom.
Mill passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Couturier!

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mill throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mill trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mill lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Couturier blocking the ground and pound.
Mill trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mill controlling the position easily from mount.
Mill can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Couturier is looking to escape.
Mill misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Mill controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mill trying to control but Couturier is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mill controlling the pace for now.
Couturier knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mill on the ground.

Mill is working for a guillotine from mount but Couturier frees his head quite easily.
Mill can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Couturier is looking to escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Mill dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jonathan Couturier's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mill gets a double leg takedown into Couturier's guard.
Couturier can't keep his opponent in guard - Mill advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mill perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mill trying to control the action but Couturier is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mill wants to free his trapped foot but Couturier is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Mill looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Dwayne Mill has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mill trying to mount his opponent but Couturier defends it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mill in particular looking to stall.
Mill wants to take a breather but Couturier is having none of it.
Couturier is looking to escape.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Mill is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Couturier defends it well.

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.
Mill content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mill wants to free his trapped foot but Couturier is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mill fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Couturier avoids it really well and circles away.
Couturier leaves Mill with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mill shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jonathan Couturier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwayne Mill.

Mill moves into the clinch successfully.

Couturier manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mill looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mill lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Couturier circles away quickly and effectively.
Mill shoots in looking for a takedown but Couturier manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mill's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mill shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Couturier counters with a straight right hand.
Mill tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Couturier defends well and Mill ends up having to push Couturier into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Couturier slaps away a takedown attempt from Mill, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couturier displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mill.

Mill gets tackled into the cage by Couturier. Couturier maintains the clinch.
Couturier wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mill has him pressed against the cage.
Mill changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Couturier fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mill shoots in for a double leg but Couturier sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mill shoots in and drives through. Couturier sprawls well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mill wants to clinch but Couturier slips to the side
letting Couturier counter with a right hand.
Couturier stuffs the takedown attempt from Mill. Mill gets slowly back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Couturier dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jonathan Couturier's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mill misses with a takedown
and Couturier connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mill shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Couturier but Couturier pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mill closes this distance looking for a takedown but Couturier circles away.
Jonathan Couturier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dwayne Mill.
Mill tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Couturier defends well and Mill ends up having to push Couturier into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mill is trying hard to land a takedown here. Couturier sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Mill shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Couturier is trying to defend but Mill finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mill wants to work for an arm triangle but Couturier is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mill moves into full mount! Couturier won't be happy about that!
Mill looking to control and managing it successfully.

Mill looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Mill landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mill get's back to his feet.
Jonathan Couturier is winning the standup battle so far.
Mill changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Couturier tries to avoid it but Mill manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Couturier to the ground. Couturier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Couturier stuffs the takedown attempt from Mill. Mill gets slowly back to his feet.

Mill has Couturier up against the cage in a clinch.
Mill keeps control of Couturier as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mill drops down looking for an ankle pick but Couturier pulls his leg out and moves away.
Jonathan Couturier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mill shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Couturier as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mill shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Couturier is staying active underneath Mill, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Mill is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Couturier has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Mill is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Mill is trying to control. Couturier wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwayne Mill comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mill 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwayne Mill!
A very excited looking Dwayne Mill rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.