PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tebato Nakara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andy Couture could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tebato Nakara's chin.

Couture
vs
Nakara

178 cm
25
169 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

177 cm
24
169 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Tebato Nakara!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakara lands with a nice body punch.
Nakara throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Couture sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Couture ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nakara moves away.
Nakara wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Couture misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Couture.
Nakara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Couture misses with an uppercut.
Couture shoots in for a double leg but Nakara sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Nakara tries to sprawl but Couture drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nakara is staying active underneath Couture, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nakara keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Nakara is refusing to be controlled, as Couture sits in half guard.
Nakara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakara trying to control here.
Nakara makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nakara.
Nakara trying to keep a closed guard but Couture is proving a slippery customer.
Nakara is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nakara gets tackled into the cage by Couture. Couture maintains the clinch.
Nakara keeps control of Couture as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakara has Couture pressed against the cage.
Couture wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Nakara has him pressed against the cage.

Couture drags the fight down to the ground.
Couture is trying to keep Nakara in close.
Nakara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Couture swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakara is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Couture trying to keep a closed guard but Nakara is proving a slippery customer.
Nakara distracts Couture with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Andy Couture just wasn't active enough.
Nakara looks to throw the jab but Couture is out of range.
Couture looks to land a right hand but Nakara moved out of range.
Couture takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Couture will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nakara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nakara stuns Couture with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Couture takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nakara throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Couture's waist but Couture gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nakara off to one side.
Couture lands a two punch combo.
Nakara misses with a hook

and Couture holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Couture drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture tries to pull guard but Nakara holds him up against the cage and eventually Couture drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture misses with some punches.
Couture prevents the takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Couture pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Couture with a poor takedown
and Nakara counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice sprawl there from Nakara as Couture shoots in.
Nakara looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Couture is fending him off so far but Nakara persists. Nope, Couture circles away and we're back to standing.
Nakara is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nakara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nakara throws a looping overhand right but Couture ducks down to avoid it.
Nakara keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Couture stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tebato Nakara will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nakara lands with an uppercut that bounces Couture off the cage and back into range.
Couture fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nakara throws the left hand but Couture avoids the punch easily.
Couture misses with a takedown attempt - Nakara sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nakara has his takedown stuffed
and Couture counters with a left and a right that stings Nakara.
Nakara with a jab.
Nakara keeps the fight on the outside.
Couture lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nakara circles away quickly and effectively.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nakara.
Couture misses with a looping right.
Nakara might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch but Nakara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Couture fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nakara counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture darts in trying to clinch
and Nakara connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Andy Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couture misses with a takedown
and Nakara counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nakara tests Couture's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Couture clinches up with Nakara and pushes him back against the cage.
Nakara stops a takedown attempt from Couture.

Couture manages to break the clinch.
Couture looks to land a right hand but Nakara moved out of range.
Nakara throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Couture moves in looking to clinch but Nakara pushes him off.
Nakara lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Couture misses.
Nakara throws a good cross that connects.
Nakara ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Nakara gets a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Couture is trying to get back to full guard.
Nakara thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nakara seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Nakara is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Couture sees it coming and defends easily.
Couture is pressing down on Nakara's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakara is looking to advance position but Couture has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Nakara manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Couture throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nakara tries to roll over but Couture keeps him under control.
Nakara wants to control but Couture is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Couture is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Nakara is defending well.
Nakara is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture thows a huge punch but Nakara dodges it nicely.

Nakara has one foot on Couture's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nakara misses with a hook
and Couture counters with a stiff right hand.

Nakara drives through with a takedown into Couture's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Couture is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Nakara trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Couture wants to stand but Nakara is controlling the position.
Couture bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nakara's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Couture being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tebato Nakara 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! This is the final round!

Couture ducks under a wild hook from Nakara.
Couture fails in his attempt to clinch.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nakara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tebato Nakara seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nakara scores with a jab.
Couture scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A left lands for Nakara.
Couture shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nakara as he jumps to the side.

Couture darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Couture scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nakara wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakara trying to control here.
Nakara tries to get to full guard but Couture has control of the leg.
Nakara keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nakara manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nakara wants to sweep but no luck.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakara swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Couture is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nakara is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nakara has escaped and now he's on top!
Tebato Nakara has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakara stays in close to Couture's body and controls the position.
Nakara trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Couture has momentary wrist control but Nakara slips an elbow through the middle.
Nakara postures up and lands a big shot to Couture's brow.
Nakara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Couture is keeping the position for now.
Nakara in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tebato Nakara is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakara is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Nakara from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Couture controls Nakara momentarily but Nakara frees himself.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tebato Nakara wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nakara lands a head shot.
Couture fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Nakara.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nakara.
Nakara jabs Couture right on the nose. Couture blinks but takes it well.

Couture has Nakara up against the cage in a clinch.
Couture tries for a takedown but Nakara manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nakara blocking some punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture wants a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakara tries to score a body lock takedown but Couture shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Andy Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tebato Nakara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nakara winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tebato Nakara!