PBP Commentary

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

Couture
vs
Sousa

190 cm
18
245 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

191 cm
20
215 lbs
0 - 10 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 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 0 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Sousa!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Couture drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sousa looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Couture looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Couture lands an elbow.
The referee asks Couture politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Couture prefers to stall for the moment though.

Couture stands up and beckons Sousa to his feet.
Couture pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Couture moves into range and clinches up with Sousa.
Sousa keeps control of Couture as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Couture as Sousa tries to tie him up.
Couture tries to circle away but Sousa has him pinned against the cage.

Couture decides to pull guard.
Couture has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Couture is on top in guard.
Couture landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture passes Sousa's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Couture is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sousa sees it coming and defends easily.
Sousa has hold of Couture's hands but Couture slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Couture keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Couture there.
Couture passes to side control.
A lull in the action here as Couture stalls from top position.

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.
Couture lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Couture tries to advance to mount but Sousa denies him.

Couture is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sousa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Couture has knee on belly and moves into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Couture has closed the distance and engaged Sousa in a clinch.

Couture gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Sousa is working an open guard so Couture takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Couture closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
MIchael Couture overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Couture takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Couture passes to full mount!
BOOM! Couture connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sousa is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Couture has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sousa's face.
Couture sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Sousa is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Couture locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Sousa is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). MIchael Couture!