PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Dale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dale
vs
Couture

183 cm
19
217 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
25
259 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Junior Dale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chuck Couture!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dale doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dale wants to improve his position but Couture is controlling well.

Couture gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Couture moves into range and clinches up with Dale.
Couture fails to pull guard.

Couture decides to pull guard.
Couture manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dale manages to get himself to full guard.
Couture looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dale not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Dale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Couture gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Couture shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Couture controlling the pace for now.
Couture seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Dale is holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dale is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Couture raining down hammerfists from mount.
Couture lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Couture sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Dale wants to get back to his feet.
Couture can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dale is looking to escape.
Dale really wants to buck Couture off and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dale wants to control but Couture is having none of it.
Couture trying to control but Dale is having none of it.

That's four 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.
Dale really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Couture throwing strikes here but Dale is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Couture there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Couture working for a guillotine from mount but Dale is in no mood to give up.

Couture jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Dale is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Dale and Couture has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Couture decides to stand up, so the ref orders Dale to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Couture dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dale avoids the body shot from Couture.
Dale could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Couture throws a one two combo.

Couture looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Dale!
Dale is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Couture tries to control but Dale wriggling away.
Dale is wriggling around trying to escape.
Couture looking to finish with strikes here!

Couture is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Dale is surviving well by controlling Couture's body position as best he can.
Couture can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dale is looking to escape.
Couture is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Couture raining down shots from the mount!
Dale keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Dale wants to hold on but Couture pushes him away.

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.
Dale is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Couture looking to control and managing it successfully.

Couture is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Dale to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Dale shrugs it off.
Dale taking shots to the head.
Dale really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Couture is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Dale has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Dale!
Couture has Dale pulled in close to control his posture.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Dale from controlling successfully.
Dale might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Dale avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Dale got a little sloppy there for a moment and Couture has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dale has managed to get both his arms back between Couture's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Couture keeping full guard, as Dale tries to pass.
Couture is trying to keep Dale in close.
Dale has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Couture throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Couture seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Couture wants to sweep here but Dale controlling him for the moment.
Couture trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Couture showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Couture decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dale is trying to stand up here but Couture is controlling him well.
Couture is trying to control the action in half guard but Dale is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dale is trying to get back to full guard.

Couture seems to be looking for submissions.

Couture decides to stand and escape the position.

Couture bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Dale is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dale keeps working.
Couture tries to advance to mount but Dale denies him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dale tries to bench press Couture off him but Couture keeps the position.
Couture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dale keeps working.

Couture stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Dale tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dale doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Dale slaps away a takedown attempt from Couture, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dale has his takedown stuffed

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

Couture stands up and beckons Dale to his feet.
Dale tries to clinch

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown. Dale fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture wants to control from the top but Dale keeps moving.

Dale throws his legs up looking for a submission but Couture uses it to pass to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dale keeps working.
Dale wants to control but Couture postures up.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Dale is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dale wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's four 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 stands up.
Couture lands with a nice combination. Dale backs away looking to recover.
Couture has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dale tries for a takedown but Couture circles away easily

and Couture counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Couture gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Couture closes the distance and pushes Dale back into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Couture decides to pull guard.
Couture is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Junior Dale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chuck Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Couture is pulling down on Dale's head. It's preventing any offense from Dale, at least for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chuck Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Couture has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chuck Couture!