PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Laurel Aitken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan Couture has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Couture
vs
Aitken

187 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Laurel Aitken!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aitken fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aitken throws a low kick but it's checked well by Couture.
Aitken fails to land with a series of punches.
Aitken dodges the punch combination from Couture.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Aitken!
Aitken tries a head kick but it misses.
Aitken throws a series of punches but Couture moves out of range.
Aitken lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Couture backs up against the cage.
Couture avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Aitken.
Couture dodges the punch combination from Aitken.

Couture closes the distance and clinches.
Couture creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Couture breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aitken moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Couture is rocked!
Aitken lands with a nice combination. Couture backs away looking to recover.
Oh Couture is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Couture gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Couture breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Aitken misses with a takedown attempt - Couture sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Couture seems to have got his legs back now.
Aitken moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Aitken rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Couture moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Couture avoids a punch combination nicely.
Aitken stalks Couture and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Couture's face. Couture staggers backwards, shaken.
Aitken misses with a series of wild punches.
Couture wants to clinch up but Aitken keeps it at a distance.

Aitken tries to keep at a distance but Couture has taken the fight into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Couture throws an elbow but misses.
Aitken wants a takedown.
Aitken fails to pull guard.
Ryan Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Laurel Aitken.
Aitken looking for a takedown.
Aitken looks gassed!
Couture is stalling here.

Couture has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Aitken clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Aitken is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Couture off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Couture has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aitken breaks Couture's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Aitken from controlling successfully.
Couture manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Couture looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Aitken is looking to improve his position but Couture isn't that keen on the idea.
Couture throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Aitken sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Aitken trying to hold on to Couture's head to control him but Couture postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aitken gets back to full guard.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Aitken is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture pushes down on Aitken's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Couture works his foot free and advances to mount.
Aitken is squirming around, avoiding Couture's attempts to control the action.
Couture with the ground and pound from mount.
Couture 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 going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Couture is trying to take his opponent's back.
Aitken regains half guard.
Couture is looking to advance position but Aitken won't allow it.
Aitken regains full guard. Nicely done.
Couture preventing the sweep.
Couture throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture passes into half guard.
Couture seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aitken does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Couture is trying to work for a kimura but Aitken is defending well.
Aitken is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aitken is pressing down on Couture's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Aitken has an active guard here but Couture has managed to pass into half guard.
Couture throwing shots but Aitken is blocking nicely.
Aitken is not content to let Couture control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aitken is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Couture's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Couture's back!

Aitken has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Couture has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Aitken looking for the RNC.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Laurel Aitken dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Couture blocks a head kick by Aitken.
Aitken dodges the punch combination from Couture.
A right-left combo lands from Aitken.
Aitken slips a jab and a cross from Couture.
Couture tries to clinch up but Aitken circles away and keeps his distance.
Ryan Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aitken misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aitken closes the distance but Couture moves to the side

and Couture holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Aitken drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Couture gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Couture misses with some punches.
Aitken tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Couture smiles and moves away.
Couture moves out of range of the body kick from Aitken.
Aitken misses with a series of wild punches.
Couture tries to clinch there but Aitken circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aitken misses with a combination

and Couture moves into the clinch.
Couture taking a breather.
Aitken jumps guard but Couture stands there with Aitken around his waist. Aitken gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ryan Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Laurel Aitken.
Couture stops a takedown attempt from Aitken.
Aitken fails to pull guard.
Aitken fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Aitken is breathing heavily.
Aitken tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Couture smiles and moves away.
Couture tries to clinch there but Aitken circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Couture looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aitken fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Laurel Aitken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couture misses with the combination.
Aitken tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Couture swivels and escapes.

Aitken tries to keep at a distance but Couture has taken the fight into the clinch.
Aitken tries to pull guard but Couture won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Couture manages to break the clinch.
Couture thows a body shot but no joy.
Couture throws a hook but Aitken blocks it.
Aitken misses with a takedown attempt - Couture sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Couture misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Couture dodges the punch combination from Aitken.
The fight stays on the outside here - Couture looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Couture instigates a clinch.
Couture stalling the fight.
Couture with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aitken tries to pull guard but Couture won't allow it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Couture stops a takedown attempt from Aitken.
Aitken wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Aitken jumps guard but Couture stands there with Aitken around his waist. Aitken gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Couture stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Couture stops a takedown attempt from Aitken.
Couture is pressed up against the cage. Aitken has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Couture down to the mat. Couture avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aitken doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Couture moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is pressed up against the cage. Aitken has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Couture down to the mat. Couture avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Aitken.
Aitken lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Aitken.
Laurel Aitken seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aitken fails with a takedown attempt.
Aitken lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Couture backs up against the cage.
A head kick misses from Aitken.
Aitken throws a nice looking combination but Couture bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Couture slow jab from Aitken misses its intended target.
Couture misses with a few strikes there.

Couture shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Aitken is desperately trying to improve his position but Couture has a good base and remains in mount.
Couture controlling the position easily from mount.
Aitken is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Aitken wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aitken breaks Couture's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Couture has a closed guard, preventing Aitken from standing up.

Aitken drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Couture manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Aitken has Couture in his guard.

Aitken is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Couture looking to pass the guard.

Aitken had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Couture is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Aitken Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Couture's back instead.
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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Couture trying to control the action but Aitken just sinks the hooks in.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aitken throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Aitken is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Couture has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Couture dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A right-left combo lands from Aitken.
Aitken falls off balance throwing a combination

and Couture moves into the clinch.
Couture wants to break the clinch but can't.
Aitken changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Couture fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Couture circles away from the clinch attempt

and Couture moves into the clinch.
Aitken drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Couture gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Aitken has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Couture is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ryan Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Laurel Aitken.
Aitken fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Aitken fails to pull guard.
Aitken is working for takedown but Couture is calmly controlling the position for now.

Aitken escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Couture moves in looking to clinch but Aitken pushes him off.
Couture tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aitken looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Couture is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aitken fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aitken tries to clinch up but Couture circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aitken throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Couture misses with a double jab.
Aitken throws a right hand that Couture ducks under and follows up with a left that Couture also avoids with ease.

Couture closes the distance and clinches.
Couture stalling in the clinch but Aitken improves position.
Aitken tries to pull guard but Couture holds him up against the cage and eventually Aitken drops back down to his feet.
Aitken is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Aitken can't break the clinch.
Aitken drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Couture has had enough of the clinch but Aitken keeps him there for the moment.
Aitken drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Couture prevents a takedown attempt there.
Couture prevents Aitken from breaking the clinch.
Aitken lands a nice uppercut.
Aitken fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Aitken tries to pull guard but Couture won't allow it.
Aitken fails to pull guard.
Couture with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Couture controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aitken tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Couture smiles and moves away.
Aitken swats away the attempt to clinch by Couture.
Aitken throws a head kick but Couture moves out of range.

Couture darts in and clinches Aitken up against the cage.

Couture breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Couture moves into the clinch.

Couture breaks the clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Aitken checks a leg kick.
Aitken rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Couture moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Couture is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Couture scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Aitken struggling a bit here.
Couture advances nicely into full mount.
Aitken is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aitken holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Couture tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Aitken slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Aitken wants to control but Couture is keeping busy.
Aitken moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Aitken is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Couture rolls with it to try and escape but Aitken cranks on the arm and Couture is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Laurel Aitken!