PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Youressen Flamini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ranndy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Flamini
vs
Couture

200 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very confident

:: Happy Pills ::

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Youressen Flamini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ranndy Couture!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Flamini closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Flamini stands up.
Flamini throws a body kick that misses.

Flamini gets a takedown into half guard.

Flamini decides to stand up.
Flamini scores with a kick to the midsection.
Flamini fails in his attempt to clinch.

Couture shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Couture wants to control the pace but Flamini is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flamini avoids a series of strikes thrown by Couture.
Flamini is breathing heavily.
Flamini keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Couture looking to control but Flamini is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Couture is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Couture wants to clinch but Flamini slips to the side

and Flamini counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Couture's guard now.
Couture trying to keep a closed guard but Flamini is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flamini stopping the sweep attempt from Couture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flamini controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Youressen Flamini has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Flamini as Couture shoots in.

Flamini shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Couture is trying to get back to full guard.
Couture is looking to get back to is feet but Flamini passes into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flamini tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Couture being controlled for a moment.

Flamini stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Youressen Flamini dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Couture walks into a left hand.
Couture looks for a takedown but Flamini sprawls well.
Couture doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Flamini moves into the clinch.

Flamini breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Couture.
Couture leaves Flamini with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Flamini is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture tries to clinch up but Flamini circles away and keeps his distance.

Flamini clinches up with Couture and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture lands with a left to the head.

Flamini's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Flamini ducks under a wild hook from Couture.

Couture shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Flamini's guard.
Couture postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Couture slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Flamini kicks Couture off and gets to his feet.
Flamini lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture can't get the takedown.
Youressen Flamini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ranndy Couture.

Flamini breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Youressen Flamini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Couture throws a hook but Flamini blocks it.

Flamini moves into range and clinches up with Couture.

Flamini's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Flamini misses with the combination.
Couture misses with a two punch combination.
Couture wants to clinch but Flamini slips to the side

and Flamini decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Couture's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flamini wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Couture is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Flamini stands and steps away. Couture gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Flamini throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Couture.
Couture dives in and grabs Flamini's left leg, looking for a takedown. Flamini pushes down on Couture's head and hops out.
Flamini changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Couture tries to avoid it but Flamini manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Couture to the ground. Couture escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Couture ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Couture is looking to clinch but Flamini is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Couture looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Flamini is fending him off so far but Couture persists. Nope, Flamini circles away and we're back to standing.
Flamini doesn't manage to clinch there - Couture circles away.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt.
Flamini misses with a wild combination.
Flamini displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Couture.
Flamini misses with a takedown attempt - Couture sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Flamini falls off balance throwing a combination

and Couture counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Couture.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flamini trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Youressen Flamini will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Couture tries to bum rush Flamini with a series of wild strikes but Flamini uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A head kick misses from Couture.
Nice body kick from Flamini.

Couture gets tackled into the cage by Flamini. Flamini maintains the clinch.
Flamini with a knee to the head.
Flamini is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Couture gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Couture is trying to force a seperation but Flamini has the dominant position.

Flamini breaks from the clinch.
Couture doesn't manage to clinch there - Flamini circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture fails with the takedown.
Couture misses with a takedown attempt

and Flamini counters with a nice double leg into side control. Couture won't be happy with that.
Flamini is looking to take a break and control but Couture is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flamini working away.
Couture prevents Flamini from improving position.
Flamini will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Couture manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Flamini working over Couture with some ground and pound. Couture looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Couture looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Couture manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Flamini trying to stand up but can't free himself from Couture's guard.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Flamini from controlling successfully.
Youressen Flamini overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Flamini wants to get up but he can't break Couture's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Couture looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Couture is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Flamini defends well.
Flamini trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Couture not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Flamini prevents Couture from getting back to his feet.

Flamini stands up from Couture's guard - Flamini perhaps looking for a knockout.
Flamini getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Couture fails to land the takedown.
Youressen Flamini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ranndy Couture.
Couture throws a left and a right that both miss
and Flamini counters with a nice uppercut.
Couture lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ranndy Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Youressen Flamini is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Flamini moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Youressen Flamini showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Flamini has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Youressen Flamini!