PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Couture (ranked 2736 p4p, 3197 weight class) and Mike Miami (ranked 189 p4p, 212 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Couture
vs
Miami

172 cm
26
135
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
135
2 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xavier Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mike Miami!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miami tries to close the distance and clinch but Couture swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Miami lands a nice looking body shot.
Miami cracks Couture with a right hand to the side of the head.
Miami lands a jab to the head.
Miami's coach down at Freaky Fight Club was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Miami's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Couture clinches up against the cage.
Couture definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Miami misses with a hook to the ribs.
Couture dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Couture.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Miami creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Couture is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A bit of stalling here from Couture.
Miami throws a head punch that misses.
Couture has a couple of punches blocked by Miami.
Miami prevents the takedown attempt.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Miami.
Miami lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A bit of stalling here from Couture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miami throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short right from Miami on the inside.
Miami misses with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Miami creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Miami tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Couture avoiding damage.
Couture is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Miami is keeping busy.
A hook to the body from Miami.
Couture doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Miami misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Couture.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Miami creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Couture slows down the pace here.
A body shot lands from Miami.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture effectively controlling the action here.
Couture drops down looking for an ankle pick but Miami pulls his leg out and moves away.
Miami punishes Couture's body with a nice straight punch.
Miami stuns Couture with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Couture swings widly with a right hand
and Miami counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Couture shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Couture not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Miami blocking the ground and pound attempt from Couture.
Couture seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Miami does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Miami is pressing down on Couture's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Miami is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miami has his hands on Couture's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture landing some decent shots from guard.
Couture lands a couple of digs.
Couture seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Couture throwing strikes but missing.
Couture throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Couture is looking to work some ground and pound but Miami has wrist control.
Miami keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.
Couture trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Couture throws a strike but Miami rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Couture tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Miami wants to get up but he can't break Couture's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Couture wants to sweep here but Miami controlling him for the moment.
Miami postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Miami dominated that round.
That's time! Couture's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Miami scores with a nice head shot.
Miami rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Couture moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Couture fails in his attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Miami on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Xavier Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couture misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Couture gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Couture throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Couture tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Miami defends well and Couture ends up having to push Miami into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
It seemed like Miami was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Miami goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Miami has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Couture blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Miami lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Miami scores with a nice short uppercut.

Couture is rocked!
Couture is looking to control Miami's arms but Miami gets an underhook and turns him. Now Couture has his back to the cage.
Oh Couture is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Miami pushes Couture back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Couture seems to have got his legs back now.

Couture turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Couture manages to end up in side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Miami is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Miami is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Couture in side control, throwing shots but Miami defends.
You can see the frustration on Miami's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Couture throws an elbow but Miami slips to the side and avoids it well.
Couture sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Miami is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Miami is trying to improve his position.
Couture throwing shots but missing, from side control.

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.
Couture postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Miami is not content to let Couture control the position.
Miami parries the strikes from Couture easily there. Couture is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Miami to escape.
Couture lands an elbow.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Miami is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Couture lands some shots froms side control.
Couture working the ground and pound but Miami is defending the strikes.
Couture in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Couture creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Couture has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Miami managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Couture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miami avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Couture.
Miami is working to avoid the ground and pound but Couture connects with a decent elbow.
Miami really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Couture. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Miami is trying to get back to half guard.
Couture misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miami tries to improve position but can't.
Xavier Couture overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Check out the look on Couture's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Couture works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Miami is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Miami is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Couture creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Miami sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture is working Miami over with some ground and pound from side control.
Miami takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Couture misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Couture landing a few strikes.
Couture tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Couture misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Couture looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Miami is avoiding damage well.
Couture fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Miami avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Couture.
Couture working the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Couture dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Miami misses with a series of wild punches.
Couture takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Miami throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Couture.
Miami slips under a jab.
Mike Miami is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Miami tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Couture manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Couture throws a hook but Miami avoids it easily.
Miami feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Coutures jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Couture will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Miami fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Couture half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Donk. Miami catches Couture right on the button with a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miami misses with an uppercut.
Couture shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Couture or perhaps it was just good defense by Miami, which made it look bad.
A little jabbing left from Miami on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miami stuns Couture with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mike Miami is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Miami.
Miami moves out of range of the strikes.
Miami uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Couture.
A countering left hand to the body from Miami misses.
Miami connects with a jab.
Couture misses with a lunging right hand
and Miami scores with a counter punch that sends Couture to the canvas! Miami smells blood - he's punishing Couture with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Couture has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mike Miami!