PBP Commentary

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

Pudziadowski
vs
Couture

205 cm
24
280 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

184 cm
22
278 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

WAR Combat Gear
Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mariusz Pudziadowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, R Couture!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Radbod Blank and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pudziadowski tries for a takedown but Couture sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
R Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couture throws a head kick but Pudziadowski moves out of range.
Couture leaves Pudziadowski with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Couture lands a head kick!
Pudziadowski blocks a head kick by Couture.
Couture tries a head kick but it misses.
Couture thows a left - swing and a miss!
Couture gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Pudziadowski counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Pudziadowski scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pudziadowski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pudziadowski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Couture works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pudziadowski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pudziadowski thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pudziadowski stands and throws Couture's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pudziadowski looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Couture is avoiding damage well.
Pudziadowski throwing strikes but Couture manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Pudziadowski sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Pudziadowski wants to improve his position but Couture is controlling well.
Couture is taking a breather. Pudziadowski says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two 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 wants to control but Pudziadowski is keeping him busy.
Couture looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Pudziadowski missing with punches from the bottom.
Pudziadowski trying to control but Couture postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pudziadowski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pudziadowski is pressing down on Couture's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pudziadowski has control of Couture's left arm, preventing Couture from doing any damage.
Pudziadowski is trying to keep Couture in close.
Pudziadowski is pulling down on Couture's head to control his posture.
Pudziadowski looking for a sweep. Not yet Pudziadowski, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mariusz Pudziadowski dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pudziadowski blocks a head kick by Couture.
Pudziadowski avoids the head kick by Couture.
Couture misses with a head kick.
Couture misses with the combination.
Horrible takedown by Pudziadowski or perhaps it was just good defense by Couture which made him look bad.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Couture tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Couture lands with a kick to the temple. Pudziadowski shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Pudziadowski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pudziadowski blocks a head kick by Couture.
Pudziadowski staying out of range there.
Pudziadowski fails with the takedown
and Couture counters with a big head kick but Pudziadowski shrugs it off.
R Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pudziadowski takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Couture misses with a takedown

and Pudziadowski counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pudziadowski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pudziadowski not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pudziadowski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pudziadowski thows a huge punch but Couture dodges it nicely.
Pudziadowski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Couture defending well though.
Pudziadowski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pudziadowski with the ground and pound but Couture uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Pudziadowski is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Pudziadowski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pudziadowski trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Pudziadowski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Couture swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pudziadowski thows a big elbow that misses.
Pudziadowski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pudziadowski throws a strike but Couture rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pudziadowski is pulling down on Couture's head. It's preventing any offense from Couture, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pudziadowski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Couture manages to get himself to full guard.
Couture not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pudziadowski wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Couture pulls Pudziadowski in close to prevent 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.
Pudziadowski throwing strikes from guard but Couture blocks nicely.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Pudziadowski from controlling successfully.
Couture keeping full guard, as Pudziadowski tries to pass.
Pudziadowski is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

R Couture showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Couture tries for a takedown but Pudziadowski circles away easily

and Pudziadowski counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pudziadowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Couture trying to control the position.
Pudziadowski will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Couture working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pudziadowski.
Couture working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pudziadowski.
Pudziadowski throws and elbow that misses. Couture uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pudziadowski's guard. Nice move by Couture!
Pudziadowski wants to sweep here but Couture controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pudziadowski keeping full guard, as Couture tries to pass.
Couture preventing the sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Couture throws a lazy head kick

and Pudziadowski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Couture's guard.
Pudziadowski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pudziadowski throwing strikes from guard but Couture blocks nicely.
Pudziadowski looking to sit in guard and control but Couture gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mariusz Pudziadowski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pudziadowski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pudziadowski is pulling down on Couture's head to control his posture.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Pudziadowski is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture trying to control but Pudziadowski is working from the bottom.
Pudziadowski 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 referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pudziadowski fails with a takedown attempt.
Couture misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four 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 tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Couture.
Pudziadowski misses with a takedown attempt - Couture sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Couture fails with the takedown

and Pudziadowski counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Couture avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pudziadowski.
Pudziadowski misses with a head shot. Couture uses the momentum to regain guard.
Pudziadowski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pudziadowski trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mariusz Pudziadowski showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pudziadowski has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mariusz Pudziadowski!