PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between MIchael Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Burt Angle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burt Angle is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Couture
vs
Angle

190 cm
18
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
220 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

GummIberry Nutrition ($10 Sale)
GummIberry Nutrition ($10 Sale)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, MIchael Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Burt Angle!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture fails in his attempt to clinch.
Couture shoots for a takedown but Angle saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
MIchael Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Angle. No joy for Couture on that attempt.

Angle is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Couture's half guard.
Couture on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Couture tries to get out of the position.
Angle is looking to pass Couture's guard but actually Couture recovers to full guard.
Angle won't allow Couture to sweep him here.
Angle postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Angle throwing strikes but missing.
Couture not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Angle working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Couture's head.
Angle keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Couture's head.

Couture throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Angle has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle connects with a couple of short punches.
Couture controlling the position.
Couture looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Angle pushing down on Couture's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Couture taking some punishment here, with Angle in his half guard.
Angle lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture is staying active underneath Angle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Couture is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Angle scores with a couple of nice shots.
Angle thows a huge punch but Couture dodges it nicely.
Angle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Couture trying to control but Angle postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture is looking to improve his position.
Angle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Angle trying to pass the guard but Couture defending well.
Angle looks gassed!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Couture lands a nice shot to the body.
Couture tries to clinch there but Angle circles away.
Angle circles away from the clinch attempt.
Couture pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Couture with a poor takedown

and Angle counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for MIchael Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle wants to control but Couture is keeping him busy.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Angle scoring with punches and elbows.
An elbow from Angle crashes against the mat.
Angle working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Couture sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Angle throws a strike but Couture avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Angle is in close to Couture's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Couture wants to stand but Angle is controlling the position.
Angle scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Angle working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Couture's head.
Couture manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Angle is trying to escape the mount.
Angle looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Angle tries to break free.
Couture wants to control but Angle is keeping busy.
Angle rolls, trying to escape but Couture keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Angle dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Couture with a poor takedown

and Angle counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Couture!
Angle with good strikes from the mount here!
Angle unloading with bombs!
Angle avoids the attempt from Couture to control.
Angle lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Couture hang on?
Couture tries to lock up and control but Angle gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Angle dominating with strikes here.
Angle looking to finish Couture with some ground and pound. This is bad for Couture!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Couture sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Angle tries to pass the half guard into mount. Couture knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Angle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Couture tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Couture is looking to improve his position.
Angle scoring with strikes to the body and head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Couture misses the shot to the body.
Couture shoots in but no luck this time.
Couture misses with a takedown

and Angle counters with a shoot takedown. Couture fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for MIchael Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angle is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Angle is looking to work some ground and pound but Couture has wrist control.
Couture manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Angle manages to get himself to full guard.
Couture sitting in guard here, content to control.
Angle throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Couture won't allow Angle to sweep him here.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Couture is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Angle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle striking off his back but it's not causing Couture any problems.
Angle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Angle feints and as Couture raises his hands in defense, Angle changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Couture manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Angle manages to get himself to full guard.
Couture passes into half guard.
Angle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Angle.
Angle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Couture is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Angle thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Angle looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Couture puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Couture trying to control the action but Angle is working from the bottom.
Angle throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Angle tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Angle is looking to improve his position.
Couture controlling the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Couture shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Angle counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Angle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Angle circles away from the clinch attempt
and Angle counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Couture misses with a takedown

and Angle counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Angle landing with the ground and pound.
Angle throwing strikes but missing.
Angle thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Angle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Couture utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Couture controlling the position.
Couture working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Angle.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Couture gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Angle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Couture's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Angle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Couture is trying to keep Angle in close.

Couture looking for a guillotine here but Angle defends easily.
Angle works over Couture with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angle postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Couture looking to control.
Angle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Angle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Angle paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Couture fails in his attempt to clinch.
Couture has his takedown stuffed

and Angle counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Angle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for MIchael Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Angle is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Burt Angle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Couture manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Angle manages to get himself to full guard.
Angle trying to keep a closed guard but Couture is proving a slippery customer.
Angle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Burt Angle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Angle trying to keep a closed guard but Couture is proving a slippery customer.
Angle is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Angle wants to sweep but no luck.
Angle trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Angle striking off his back but it's not causing Couture any problems.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Couture tries to clinch up

and Angle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Couture manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Angle manages to get himself to full guard.
Angle trying to control the position.
Angle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Angle tries to strike from the bottom.
MIchael Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Angle has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Angle lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Couture!

And that's the end of the fight!
Burt Angle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Angle winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Burt Angle!