PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin LaFleche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Couture
vs
LaFleche

187 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Martin LaFleche!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture shoots in but LaFleche avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Couture shoots in but no luck this time.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Couture.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.

LaFleche closes the distance and clinches.
Couture has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. LaFleche is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
LaFleche with an attempt at a knee that misses.
LaFleche prevents the takedown attempt.
Couture looking for a takedown.
Couture can't break the clinch.
Couture fails to pull guard.
Couture misses with the head strike.
Couture on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Couture wants to get back to striking at distance but LaFleche won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture fails to pull the fight into his guard.
LaFleche tries to land knees in the clinch but Couture avoids the damage to the body.
LaFleche throws a knee to the head but misses.
LaFleche scores with a knee to the head.
LaFleche misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Couture.
LaFleche landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Couture wants a takedown but no success here.
LaFleche with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Couture tries to stall but LaFleche uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
LaFleche landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
LaFleche stops a takedown attempt from Couture.
Couture tries to pull guard but LaFleche won't allow it.
LaFleche tries to land knees in the clinch but Couture avoids the damage to the body.
Couture trying to stall but LaFleche improves his position.
Couture takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
LaFleche lands a knee to the body.
LaFleche trying to land knees to the body.
LaFleche missing with knees to the body.
Couture tries to pull guard but LaFleche won't allow it.
Couture wants to get back to striking at distance but LaFleche won't allow it.
Couture wants to break the clinch but can't.
Couture takes a knee right on the jaw!
Couture is working for takedown but LaFleche is calmly controlling the position for now.
Couture is breathing heavily.
Couture has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. LaFleche avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Couture wants to break free but LaFleche has control.

LaFleche pulls Couture into guard.
LaFleche bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Couture's guard.
Couture utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
LaFleche in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
LaFleche is looking to work some ground and pound but Couture has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaFleche trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
LaFleche content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
LaFleche working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

LaFleche drops back, looking for a kneebar! Couture looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Couture looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Couture!

Couture is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but LaFleche is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Couture in the domination position with LaFleche hanging on.
LaFleche gets back to half guard.
Couture prevents LaFleche from improving his position.
LaFleche gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture wants to control from the top but LaFleche keeps moving.
Couture stopping the sweep attempt from LaFleche.

LaFleche is looking for a triangle but Couture pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
LaFleche controlling the position.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but LaFleche is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
LaFleche managing to control the position.
LaFleche looking to hit a scissor sweep but Couture is one step ahead there.
Couture wants to pass the guard but LaFleche is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin LaFleche dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

LaFleche has Couture up against the cage in a clinch.
Couture has had enough of the clinch but LaFleche keeps him there for the moment.
LaFleche crunches a lovely knee into Couture's ribcage.
Couture wants to break free but LaFleche has control.
LaFleche trying to land knees to the body.
LaFleche lands a body punch in the clinch.
Couture wants to break free but LaFleche has control.
LaFleche blocks the elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

LaFleche breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Couture wants to clinch

so LaFleche counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
LaFleche trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaFleche advances to half guard.
LaFleche looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
LaFleche is breathing heavily.
Couture trying to hold on to LaFleche's head to control him but LaFleche postures up.
LaFleche seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
LaFleche sitting and controlling from the half guard.
LaFleche stops Couture from getting back to his feet.
LaFleche prevents Couture from improving his position.

LaFleche is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
LaFleche trying to mount his opponent but Couture defends it.

Couture looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Couture keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
LaFleche is keen to just control but Couture is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Couture doesn't succeed with the takedown

so LaFleche counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
LaFleche must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
LaFleche trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Couture controlling the position.
Couture keeping full guard, as LaFleche tries to pass.
LaFleche advances position into side control!
Couture is trying to improve his position.
Couture wants to control but LaFleche postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaFleche wants to lay and pray for a moment but Couture keeps working.

LaFleche is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Couture has escaped the position, nice work there.

LaFleche stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Ryan Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Couture misses.
Couture misses with a takedown attempt

and LaFleche counters by clinching up.
LaFleche stalls.
Couture tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. LaFleche just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture avoiding damage as LaFleche throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for LaFleche to work.
LaFleche works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Couture jumps into guard, dragging LaFleche to the mat.

Couture throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
LaFleche pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Couture is keeping the position for now.
Couture keeping moving, preventing LaFleche from controlling successfully.
LaFleche postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
LaFleche working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Couture trying to control the position.
Couture will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Couture throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
LaFleche missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin LaFleche showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Couture's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Couture shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and LaFleche counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Couture wants a takedown.
LaFleche landing some nice looking knees to the body.

LaFleche breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Couture fails with the takedown

and LaFleche counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Couture!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
LaFleche landing punches.
LaFleche with the ground and pound from mount.
LaFleche lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
LaFleche lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Couture hang on?
LaFleche pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Couture is in a horrible position here. LaFleche smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Couture is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
LaFleche fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Oh Couture is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Couture seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaFleche landing punches.
LaFleche lands a nice shot to the head.
Couture is wriggling around trying to escape.
Couture tries to hold on but LaFleche pushes him away.
Couture sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Couture trying to control but LaFleche postures up.
Couture is trying to get back to full guard.
Couture trying to hold on to LaFleche's head to control him but LaFleche postures up.

LaFleche is working for a submission of some sort.
Couture has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. LaFleche is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to kick LaFleche off but LaFleche keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Couture is pressing down on LaFleche's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Couture is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Couture looking for a sweep. Not yet Couture, not yet.
LaFleche wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
LaFleche missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

LaFleche drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and LaFleche jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Couture manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
LaFleche is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture avoids the attempt from LaFleche to control.
Couture wants to take LaFleche's back here but LaFleche is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
LaFleche is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture tries to control but LaFleche wriggling away.
LaFleche tries to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
LaFleche just holding on.
LaFleche is wriggling around trying to escape.
LaFleche is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
LaFleche flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
LaFleche bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
LaFleche scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
LaFleche throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Couture works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

LaFleche avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
LaFleche trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.

Couture is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Couture had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. LaFleche is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Couture Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take LaFleche's back instead.
LaFleche rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Ryan Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Couture is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin LaFleche comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well LaFleche has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin LaFleche!