PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tico Cortez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Couture's entrance music is Mama said knock you out. A fine choice. 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.

Couture
vs
Cortez

175 cm
30
156 lbs
28 - 8 - 2

173 cm
27
149 lbs
12 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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Brute
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Brandon Couture!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Tico Cortez!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cortez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Couture has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cortez misses with a hook
and Couture counters with a left and a right that stings Cortez.
Couture chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cortez can pounce on him.
Cortez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cortez throws a chopping leg kick but Couture manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Couture lands a nice looking body shot.
Couture moves out of range of the body kick.
Cortez throws a leg kick but Couture sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Couture uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cortez.
Cortez scoring well with a low kick there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cortez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Couture stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cortez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Couture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cortez.
Cortez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cortez thows a body shot but no joy.
Cortez throws an overhand right that lands on Couture's shoulder, as Couture tries to avoid the shot.
Tico Cortez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cortez lands with an uppercut that bounces Couture off the cage and back into range.
A jab from Cortez misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Couture. Cortez does a little dance to reset his feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Couture.
Couture ducks under a wild hook from Cortez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Couture moves out of range of the body kick from Cortez.
A head kick misses from Cortez.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cortez.
Cortez attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Couture lands with an overhand left.
Cortez tries a head kick but it misses.
Cortez blocks a leg kick.
Cortez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cortez wants it to stay on the feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cortez throws a big shot that misses.
Cortez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cortez tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Couture throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Couture shoots and misses
and Cortez counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cortez throws a hook but Couture blocks it.
Couture lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Couture looks to score with a jab to the body but Cortez is just out of range.
Cortez moves out of range as Couture throws a body kick.
Couture walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cortez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Couture at a distance.
Cortez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Couture looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cortez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Cortez throws the left hand but Couture avoids the punch easily.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortez throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Couture counters with a good low kick that Cortez was not able to check.
Couture lands a nice shot to the body.
Cortez lands a jab to the nose.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Couture fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cortez.
Couture misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cortez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tico Cortez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A big left from Cortez misses.
Couture shoots in for a takedown but Cortez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tico Cortez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cortez takes a swing at Couture's ribcage but misses.

Cortez clinches up with Couture and pushes him back against the cage.
Cortez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cortez.
Couture blocks a body shot from Cortez.
Couture takes a shot to the head.
Cortez blocks an uppercut.
Couture tries to work over Cortez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Couture is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cortez is defending well.
Cortez gets through Couture's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Couture breaks from the clinch.
Cortez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Couture.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cortez. Couture does a little dance to reset his feet.
Couture takes a swing at Cortez's ribcage but misses.

Cortez forces Couture back against the cage and clinches.
Cortez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Coutures head.
Cortez tries to work over Couture's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cortez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cortez tries to work over Couture's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cortez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Cortez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A cross from Cortez lands.
Cortez throws a wild body kick that Couture sees coming a mile off.
Couture takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cortez is able to avoid easily.
Cortez defending well as Couture loads up on a big left hand.
Couture cracks the inside of Cortez's front leg.
Cortez lands a jab to the nose.
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!
Cortez throws a head kick that misses.
Couture is looking to wear down Cortez with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cortez throws a low kick but Couture moves out of range easily.
Cortez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Couture paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Couture avoids the head kick by Cortez.
Couture avoids the body shot from Cortez.
Cortez lands with a good body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Couture counter with a right hand.
Cortez scores with a decent looking hook.
Cortez cracks Couture with an open hand slap.
Cortez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Couture throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cortez does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cortez digs a good hook to Couture's body.

Cortez has managed to clinch.
Cortez prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cortez blocks a body shot from Couture.
Cortez misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Couture digs a right hand into Cortez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cortez's gas tank.

Couture escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Couture fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cortez avoids it really well and circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cortez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Couture.
Couture takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cortez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Couture thuds his shin into the meat of Cortez's side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tico Cortez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cortez misses with a low kick.
Cortez throws out a loose jab but Couture uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cortez swings for the body but Couture moves out of range.
A jab from Cortez does it's job there.
Couture with a poor takedown
and Cortez counters with an inside leg kick.
Cortez scoring well with a low kick there.
Cortez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cortez ducks under a wild hook from Couture.
Cortez tries to move into range but Couture moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cortez thows a body kick. Couture tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Cortez lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Cortez.
Couture swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Couture throws a right and a left that both miss.
Couture thows a body shot but no joy.
Cortez doesn't manage to clinch there - Couture circles away.
Cortez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Couture momentarily.
Cortez throws out a powerful jab.
Cortez moves in looking to clinch but Couture pushes him off.
Tico Cortez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice shot by Couture.
Couture throws an off balance right hand
letting Cortez counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cortez scores with the left hand. Couture knows he should have avoided that one.
Cortez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cortez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Couture uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cortez.
A low kick from Cortez is predictable there
and Couture cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Couture needs to keep his hands up - Cortez had a free shot at his head there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Couture throws a hook to the side of Cortez's head but Cortez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cortez lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Couture looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Couture working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cortez prevents the takedown attempt.
Cortez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cortez can't find room to land a body shot as Couture controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Couture creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Cortez.
Couture tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cortez smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cortez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cortez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez scores with a punch to the head.
Cortez tries to clinch up but Couture circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Couture scoring well with a low kick there.
Donk. Couture catches Cortez right on the button with a cross.

Cortez moves into the clinch successfully.
Cortez misses with a knee to the head.
Cortez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture blocking some punches.
Cortez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Couture's elbow.
A short body shot lands from Couture as the two fighters clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cortez connects with a jab.
Couture throws the left hand but Cortez avoids the punch easily.
Cortez misses with a left hand
and Couture makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Couture misses with a looping right.
Couture misses with a few strikes there.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Couture, right into the meat.
Couture displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cortez throws out the jab.
Couture bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cortez misses with a body shot
and Couture counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cortez misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Couture throws a low kick but Cortez avoids it.
Cortez throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Cortez lands with a hook. Couture tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Couture keeps the fight on the outside.
Cortez throws a hook but Couture avoids it easily.
Couture takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cortez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cortez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Couture counters with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cortez.
Couture looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Couture showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cortez.
Couture scores with a one two! Cortez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Cortez looks to land a left hand but Couture moved out of range nicely.
Cortez feints and then cracks Couture's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Couture down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Couture throws a wild body kick that Cortez sees coming a mile off.
Couture is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick and Couture moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez connects with a looping right hand.
Cortez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Couture. Cortez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Couture ducks under a wild hook from Cortez.
Cortez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cortez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Couture staying out of range there.
Couture scores with a kick to the midsection.
Couture blocks a low kick nicely.
Cortez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Couture under the eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cortez.
Cortez loads up on a big right hand but Couture slips the punch.
Couture paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A punch combination from Couture misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Cortez misses the target.
Cortez with a nice cross.
Couture takes one on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cortez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Couture on the side of the head.
Cortez looks to land a body kick but Couture moved away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tico Cortez dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cortez lands a nice shot to the body.
Cortez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cortez is looking to clinch but Couture is avoiding it.
Cortez looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cortez takes a jab right on the kisser.

Cortez forces Couture back against the cage and clinches.

Couture has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Cortez uses from the top position.
Cortez wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Cortez won't allow Couture to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cortez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Couture is keeping the position for now.
Cortez trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.

Tico Cortez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Cortez throws a sloppy head kick and Couture moves out of range easily.
Cortez tries to land a body kick
and Couture counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Couture lands a nice looking body shot.
Couture tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cortez throws a jab when Couture was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cortez lands a slapping body shot.
Cortez takes a swing at Couture's ribcage but misses.
An inside leg kick from Cortez misses.
Brandon Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cortez motions for Couture to come forward. Cortez throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cortez, right into the meat.
Cortez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Couture.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cortez. Couture does a little dance to reset his feet.
Couture lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cortez's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cortez throws a series of punches but Couture avoids them all with ease.

Cortez takes the fight into the clinch.

Couture's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cortez throws a good cross that connects.
Cortez scores with a kick to the midsection.
Cortez throws a looping overhand right but Couture ducks down to avoid it.
Cortez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cortez throws a nice outside leg kick.
Crunch! Cortez slams his shin into Couture's torso.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cortez throws an overhand right that lands on Couture's shoulder, as Couture tries to avoid the shot.
Couture avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cortez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The fighters circling - Couture throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
No joy there for Cortez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Couture throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cortez.

It looks like Tico Cortez has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cortez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Couture. That did some damage!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cortez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Couture has time to react.
Cortez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cortez lands a nice looking body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tico Cortez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cortez 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 45:50
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 45:50
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tico Cortez!
Tico Cortez is the new featherweight champion!
Tico Cortez decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.