PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filip Olic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson Couture has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Couture
vs
Olic

180 cm
26
145 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

164 cm
21
147 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jackson Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Filip Olic!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Olic misses with an uppercut. Couture saw that one coming.

Couture instigates a clinch.

Olic breaks from the clinch.

Couture has Olic up against the cage in a clinch.
Olic drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Couture gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Olic will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Couture up against the cage.
Couture drops down looking for an ankle pick but Olic pulls his leg out and moves away.

Couture has taken the fight to the clinch.

Olic breaks the clinch.
Couture fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Couture fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Olic, pushing him back against the cage.
Olic is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Olic has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Couture avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Olic keeps control of Couture as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Olic is trying to drag Couture to the mat but Couture just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Jackson Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Filip Olic.
Olic's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Couture wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Couture can't get the takedown.

Olic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Couture, as that shot connected.
Olic catches Couture with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Couture dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Olic forces Couture back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to land a knee to the head but Olic blocks with his arms.
Olic has Couture pressed against the cage, preventing Couture from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Olic manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Couture is trying to break free.
Olic taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Olic wants a takedown.
Couture is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Couture jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Olic walks away with a smile on his face. Couture gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Couture has taken the fight to the clinch.
Olic tries for a takedown. No joy.
Couture tries to break free but Olic pushes him back against the cage.
Couture just leaning against Olic, taking a breather.

Couture manages to pull guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Couture doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Couture knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Olic on the ground.
Couture is looking to stand up but Olic isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olic wants to pass the guard but Couture is keeping the position.
Couture thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Olic looking to pass the guard.
Couture is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Couture is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Olic is controlling him.
Olic wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.

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 wants to stand but Olic is controlling the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Olic looks to clinch
and Couture counters with a two punch combo.
Jackson Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot by Couture.
Olic shoots in but Couture avoids the takedown attempt easily.

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

Olic turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Olic manages to end up in side control.
Couture is trying to buck Olic off.
Couture trying to remain calm as Olic controls from the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture prevents Olic from moving into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jackson Couture will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Olic moves in looking to clinch but Couture pushes him off.
Olic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Couture really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Olic throws a sloppy body shot
and Couture counters with a good, hard body kick but Olic shrugs it off.
Olic closes the distance and clinches up with Couture, looking for a takedown. Olic pushes Couture against the cage but Couture circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Couture fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Olic has Couture up against the cage in a clinch.

Olic successfully pulls guard.
Couture showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Olic manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Couture manages to get himself to full guard.
Couture will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Olic from controlling successfully.
Couture wants to get back to his feet but Olic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Olic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Olic trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Couture preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Olic landing some decent shots from guard.

Couture is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Olic slows down the pace here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Olic prevents a takedown attempt there.

Olic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Olic misses with a wild combination.
Couture scores with a kick to the midsection.

Olic clinches.

Couture manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Olic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Couture with a lazy takedown attempt

and Olic counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Couture is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Olic gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Olic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Couture shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Olic defends it nicely.
Olic thows a body shot but no joy.
Olic connects with a single shot there.
Couture circles away from the clinch attempt.
Olic tries to clinch up but Couture circles away and keeps his distance.
Couture bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Olic wants to clinch.
Olic misses with a combination
and Couture counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Couture misses with a jab, cross combination.
Olic dodges the punch combination from Couture.
Jackson Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Couture shoots in looking for a takedown but Olic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Couture's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Olic is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Olic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Olic gets a clinch.
Couture has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Couture wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Filip Olic 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!

Good exchange - Olic coming out on top.

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

Couture manages to pull guard.
Olic wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Olic throws a big right hand that misses.
Couture is looking to stand up but Olic isn't so interested in that idea.
Olic working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Olic scoring with some ground and pound.
Olic trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Olic postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Olic from controlling successfully.
Olic postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Olic trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Couture wants to get back to his feet but Olic passes into half guard.

That's two 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.

Olic is working for a submission of some sort.
Olic prevents Couture from standing back up.

Olic is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Couture defends it well.
Olic is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Olic working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is trying to escape back to his feet but Olic uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Olic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Couture is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Olic asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Couture bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Couture closes the distance and clinches.

Olic has hold of one of Couture's legs. Couture is fighting the takedown attempt but Olic gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Olic chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Olic missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Olic lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Olic trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Olic landing with the ground and pound.
Olic is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Olic looking to sit in guard and control but Couture gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Couture would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Filip Olic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Olic 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight for Filip Olic!
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Filip Olic!
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Filip Olic!

Filip Olic wins by unanimous decision!