PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Coutinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Dover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Coutinho comes to the cage accompanied by Brazil Samba. Dover comes into a darkened arena with his song building. God's Away On Business kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Coutinho
vs
Dover

189 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
19
216 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Coutinho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ben Dover!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Coutinho or perhaps it was just good defense by Dover which made him look bad.
Coutinho takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Dover throws a shot to the body.
Coutinho shoots in looking for a takedown. Dover tries to sprawl out of it but Coutinho keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dover manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Coutinho avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coutinho looks for a takedown but Dover sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Coutinho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Coutinho looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dover is fending him off so far but Coutinho persists. Nope, Dover circles away and we're back to standing.
Coutinho has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover stuffs the takedown attempt from Coutinho. Coutinho gets slowly back to his feet.
Coutinho on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Dover. Dover obviously looking to wear him down.
Dover misses with a double jab.
Dover connects with a solid leg kick.
Dover lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Dover looks to throw the jab but Coutinho is out of range.
Coutinho tries to close the distance and clinch but Dover swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Dover as Coutinho shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coutinho looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dover is fending him off so far but Coutinho persists. Nope, Dover circles away and we're back to standing.
Dover stuffs the takedown.
Coutinho is breathing heavily.
Dover scores with a three punch combo!
Coutinho misses with a takedown attempt - Dover sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Coutinho fails with the takedown.
Dover getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Dover stuffs the takedown attempt from Coutinho. Coutinho gets slowly back to his feet.
Dover misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Coutinho. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Coutinho shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A jab from Dover finds it's way through Coutinho's defenses.
Dover works Coutinho's body with a nice hook.
Dover misses with a series of wild punches.
Dover cracks a nice hook into Coutinho's ribs.
Dover's corner calls for a 1-2. Dover obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Dover stuffs the takedown attempt from Coutinho. Coutinho gets slowly back to his feet.
Dover's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Dover duly obliges.

Coutinho is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coutinho showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dover.
Coutinho shoots in for a double leg but Dover sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dover lands with an overhand left.
Dover ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dover scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dover lands a nice looking kick to the body. Coutinho takes a step back to recover.
Dover explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A nice inside leg kick there by Dover. That's going to slow Coutinho down.
Dover cracks Coutinho with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Coutinho gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Coutinho fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dover scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rodrigo Coutinho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Coutinho needs to keep his hands up - Dover had a free shot at his head there.
Coutinho slips a jab and a cross from Dover.
Coutinho wants to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Dover. No joy for Coutinho on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coutinho shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Coutinho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Coutinho misses with a combination
and Dover connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Coutinho fails with the takedown
and Dover counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dover bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Coutinho with a lazy takedown attempt
and Dover counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coutinho tries for a takedown but Dover circles away easily
and Dover counters with a good, hard body kick but Coutinho shrugs it off.
Dover scores with a body shot.
Coutinho drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Coutinho drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Coutinho takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Dover scores with a jab to the jaw.
Coutinho takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Dover tries a head kick but it misses.
Dover throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coutinho has his takedown stuffed
and Dover makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Dover lands a head kick!
Ben Dover is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Coutinho tries for a takedown but Dover circles away easily
and Dover counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dover lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Oh Coutinho is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jab, jab by Dover - just one landing.
Nice body punch from Dover.
Dover connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Coutinho seems to have got his legs back now.
Dover lands with a hook. Coutinho tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dover scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Coutinho tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Dover throws a quick inside leg kick.
Dover connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Coutinho has his takedown stuffed
and Dover counters with a stiff right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Coutinho takes a kick to the side of the head.
Dover drops Coutinho with a left right combo! Dover follows him down to the ground into side control.
Coutinho is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dover bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Coutinho stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Dover.
Coutinho takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Dover goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Coutinho walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Dover cracks Coutinho with an open hand slap.
Dover cracks the inside of Coutinho's front leg.
Coutinho with a poor takedown
and Coutinho takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dover throws out a powerful jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Coutinho misses with a takedown
and Dover counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coutinho has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Coutinho is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Dover lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Coutinho at a distance.
Rodrigo Coutinho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dover throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Coutinho.
Dover connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Dover looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Coutinho avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dover swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Coutinho counters with a slapping leg kick.
Coutinho tries for a takedown but Dover circles away easily
enabling Dover to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Coutinho. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover lands the left hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Dover.
Coutinho takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Dover lands with a thumping leg kick.
Dover cracks the inside of Coutinho's front leg.
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!
Dover throws out a powerful jab.
Dover lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Coutinho backs up against the cage.
Donk. Dover catches Coutinho right on the button with a cross.
Coutinho has his takedown stuffed
and Dover counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Coutinho thinking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coutinho takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Dover misses with a series of wild punches.
Coutinho shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Dover counter with a right hand.
Dover dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Dover tests Coutinho's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Dover lands a two punch combo.
Dover scores with a sloppy right hand. Coutinho should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover lands a head shot.
Dover with a nice cross.
Dover lands a jab to the nose.
Dover lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Dover scores with a crisp jab that stopped Coutinho in his tracks.
Nice straight punches there by Dover. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dover.
Dover closes the distance and lands a one-two.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Coutinho with a lazy takedown attempt
and Dover counters with a straight right hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Dover.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Dover comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dover 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 24:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 24:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Dover!