PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Couza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Douglas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Douglas is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Celebration of the lizard. Ronaldo Couza has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Couza
vs
Douglas

195 cm
28
278 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

195 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ronaldo Couza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Douglas!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Douglas shoots in and drives through. Couza sprawls well.
Couza tries for a takedown but Douglas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Douglas misses with a few strikes there.
Couza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Douglas circles away quickly and effectively.
Couza lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Couza.
Douglas throws a shot from downtown. Couza moves away and avoids it.
A jab from Douglas misses.
Couza looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Douglas shoots and misses

and Couza counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Couza is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Douglas wants to get back to his feet.

Douglas pushes Couza off and gets back to his feet.
Douglas tries to clinch but Couza moves away

and Couza counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Couza.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Douglas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Couza 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Douglas trying to keep a closed guard but Couza is proving a slippery customer.
Douglas wants to stand and escape but Couza is having none of it.
Couza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Couza is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Douglas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Couza is looking to work some ground and pound but Douglas has wrist control.
Couza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Douglas can do anything to dispel that myth.
Couza content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Douglas manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Douglas falls off balance throwing a combination
and Couza counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Douglas tries to bum rush Couza with a series of wild strikes but Couza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Douglas shoots in for a takedown but Couza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ronaldo Couza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Douglas.
A head kick by Douglas misses

and Couza counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Douglas's guard now.
Douglas looks gassed!
Couza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Douglas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Couza drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Couza jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Douglas pushes Couza off and scrambles back to his feet.
Douglas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Douglas fails with the takedown

and Couza counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Couza thows a big elbow that misses.
Couza won't allow Douglas to get back to his feet.
Douglas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Douglas wants to stand and escape but Couza is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Douglas trying to keep a closed guard but Couza is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Couza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Douglas pulls Couza in close to prevent any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Couza stopping the sweep attempt from Douglas.
Couza prevents Douglas from getting back to his feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Douglas hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Douglas lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Douglas.
Couza ducks under a wild hook from Douglas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Douglas tries to clinch
and Couza counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Douglas is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Douglas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Douglas gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Couza drops his hands momentarily and Douglas takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Couza misses with the combination.
Douglas tries to clinch but Couza moves away
enabling Couza to counter with a crisp jab.
Couza throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Douglas.
Douglas misses with a combination

and Couza counters with a shoot takedown. Douglas fights it but they end up in guard.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couza postures up in Douglas's guard and throws a big left but Douglas blocks it.

Douglas wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Douglas goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Douglas has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Douglas there as he acknowledges the shot.
Douglas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Douglas misses with a low kick.
Douglas cracks Couza with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Couza throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Douglas was covering up waiting for the punch and Couza finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Couza won't allow Douglas to get back to his feet.
Couza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Douglas has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Couza off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Douglas closes the distance but Couza moves to the side

and Couza counters with a nice double leg into side control. Douglas won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Douglas is looking for a sweep.
Douglas takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Douglas is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Couza throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Couza throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Douglas has one foot on Couza's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Douglas misses with a hook to the body
and Couza counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Douglas lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ronaldo Couza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Douglas misses with a double jab.
Douglas takes a swing at Couza's ribcage but misses.
Douglas misses with a few strikes there.
A swing and a miss from Douglas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couza with a jab.
A jab from Douglas misses.
Douglas wants to clinch

and Couza counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Douglas is trying to stand.
Douglas makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Douglas.

Couza drops back, looking for a kneebar! Douglas looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Douglas looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Douglas!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Douglas looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Couza is avoiding damage well.
Douglas lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Douglas working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Couza takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Douglas decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Couza takes a jab right on the kisser.

Douglas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Douglas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Couza defending well though.
Douglas is taking a breather. Couza 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.
Douglas seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
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!
Douglas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Douglas is trying to control the action in half guard but Couza is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Douglas decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Douglas throws a series of punches but Couza avoids them all with ease.
Douglas with a poor takedown

so Couza counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Douglas trying to keep a closed guard but Couza is proving a slippery customer.

Couza drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Couza jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Douglas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Douglas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Douglas slips a nice elbow through Couza's hands, connecting with Couza's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Douglas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Douglas lunges at Couza with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Couza's hand.
Douglas scoring well with a low kick there.
Douglas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Douglas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James Douglas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couza looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Douglas swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Douglas tries to clinch but Couza is having none of it.
Couza dives in and grabs Douglas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Douglas pushes down on Couza's head and hops out.
Douglas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Douglas tries to clinch but Couza is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Douglas lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Couza takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Douglas throws a nice looking combination but Couza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Douglas misses with a straight right.
Couza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Douglas.
Douglas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Douglas.
Couza circles away from the clinch attempt.
Couza lands a jab-cross combination.
A left and a right from Douglas both land. Nice combination.
Couza avoids the head kick by Douglas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couza defending well as Douglas loads up on a big left hand.
Couza defending well as Douglas loads up on a big left hand.
Douglas tries to bum rush Couza with a series of wild strikes but Couza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Couza shoots in for a takedown but Douglas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Couza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Douglas loads up on a big right hand but Couza slips the punch.
Douglas fails with the takedown
and Couza counters with a series of strikes. Douglas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Douglas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Couza pinned against the cage. Couza gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ronaldo Couza has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Douglas.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Couza!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couza lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Douglas backs up against the cage.
Douglas throws a left and a right that both miss

so Couza counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couza postures up in Douglas's guard and throws a big left but Douglas blocks it.
Douglas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Couza is one step ahead there.

Douglas wriggles free and stands up.
Couza uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Douglas.
Couza has a takedown stuffed.
Douglas misses with a few strikes there.
Douglas lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Douglas throws a looping overhand right but Couza ducks down to avoid it.
Douglas falls off balance throwing a combination

and Couza counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Couza seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Couza missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Douglas is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Couza's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Couza's back!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Douglas controlling the positon.
Douglas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Douglas throwing wild punches that miss their target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Douglas struggling to land strikes to the head as Couza covers up.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Douglas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Douglas has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Douglas!