PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Alvarez might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Daddy Yankee - Gasolina. Ricardo Alvarez could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to John Couture's chin.

Alvarez
vs
Couture

186 cm
26
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

175 cm
26
212 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Alvarez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Couture!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alvarez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alvarez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Couture lands with a right hand.

It looks like Ricardo Alvarez has been cut.
Alvarez takes one on the button.
Alvarez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Couture throws out the jab.
Alvarez with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Couture to score with a decent uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alvarez moves out of range of the strikes.
Alvarez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Couture.
John Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Couture.
Alvarez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Couture throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez slips a jab and a cross from Couture.
Couture loads up on a big right hand but Alvarez slips the punch.
Couture swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Couture throws a series of punches but Alvarez moves out of range.
Couture misses with the combination.
Couture lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alvarez circles away quickly and effectively.
Couture tries to clinch there but Alvarez circles away.
Couture throws a right and a left that Alvarez avoids nicely.
Alvarez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Ricardo Alvarez's cut is getting worse.
Alvarez slips a jab and a cross from Couture.
Couture displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alvarez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Couture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture misses with a series of wild punches.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Alvarez. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Alvarez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The fighters circle momentarily. Couture darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Alvarez drives through with a takedown into Couture's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Alvarez postures up.
Couture really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alvarez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alvarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Alvarez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Couture works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alvarez throws a big right hand that misses.
Alvarez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Alvarez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Alvarez postures up in Couture's guard and throws a big left but Couture blocks it.
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alvarez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Couture works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is trying to keep Alvarez in close.
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alvarez throws a big elbow that misses.
Alvarez connects with a couple of short punches.
Couture has momentary wrist control but Alvarez slips an elbow through the middle.
Alvarez throwing strikes from guard but Couture blocks nicely.
Alvarez throwing strikes from guard but Couture blocks nicely.
Couture trying to control the position.
Alvarez landing with the ground and pound.
Couture looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alvarez is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Couture is keeping the position.
Alvarez throws a big right hand that misses.
Alvarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Couture tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Alvarez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alvarez working some strikes from top position.
Alvarez lands a couple of elbows.
Alvarez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Alvarez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Couture tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Alvarez is in close to Couture's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Couture working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alvarez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Couture will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Alvarez's cut.
That's time! Alvarez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Couture misses with a double jab.

Alvarez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Couture's guard.
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alvarez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Alvarez stopping the sweep attempt from Couture.
Alvarez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Alvarez throws a big right hand that misses.
Alvarez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Alvarez landing some decent shots from guard.
Alvarez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez is working Couture over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Alvarez postures up in Couture's guard and throws a big left but Couture blocks it.
Ricardo Alvarez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alvarez landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez won't allow Couture to sweep him here.
Alvarez throwing strikes from guard but Couture blocks nicely.
Alvarez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Couture is trying to control the position but Alvarez postures up.
Couture can't keep his opponent in guard - Alvarez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Couture can do anything to dispel that myth.
Alvarez drops an elbow to the side of Couture's head.
Couture tries to roll over but Alvarez keeps him under control.
Alvarez throwing shots but Couture is blocking nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Alvarez lands a nice short elbow.
Alvarez working the head and body with strikes.
Alvarez thows a huge punch but Couture dodges it nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Couture avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Alvarez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Alvarez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Alvarez drops an elbow to the side of Couture's head.
Alvarez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Alvarez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Couture wants to control but Alvarez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Alvarez throwing shots but Couture is blocking nicely.
Alvarez throwing shots but Couture is blocking nicely.
Alvarez is thwarting Couture's attempts to control the position.
Alvarez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Alvarez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Alvarez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Couture gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez landing with the ground and pound.
Couture looking for a sweep. Not yet Couture, not yet.
Couture preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alvarez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Alvarez landing with the ground and pound.
Alvarez works over Couture with some ground and pound from guard.
Alvarez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Couture is keeping the position for now.
Couture utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarez stands up over Couture, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Alvarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez throws a big elbow that misses.
Alvarez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Alvarez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Alvarez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Couture's head.
Couture is pulling down on Alvarez's head. It's preventing any offense from Alvarez, at least for the moment.
Alvarez stands up over Couture, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Alvarez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Couture's head.
Couture wants to sweep but no luck.
Alvarez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Couture's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Alvarez postures up in Couture's guard and throws a big left but Couture blocks it.
Alvarez preventing the sweep.
Couture utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Alvarez throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Alvarez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Alvarez's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Couture misses with a looping left.
Horrible takedown by Alvarez or perhaps it was just good defense by Couture which made him look bad.
Couture lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Couture moves into the clinch.
Alvarez wants a takedown.
A left hand lands to the body for Couture.
Couture is working Alvarez over against the cage.
Couture digs a right hand underneath Alvarez's ribcage. Alvarez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Couture breaks from the clinch.
Couture lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Alvarez backs up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A jab lands there for Couture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Couture as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture swinging wildly here.
Couture fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Alvarez walks into a left hand.
Couture lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Couture misses with a jab, cross combination.
Couture bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Alvarez's head.

Ricardo Alvarez's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Couture will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alvarez ducks under a wild hook from Couture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Couture lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alvarez circles away quickly and effectively.
Couture slaps away a takedown attempt from Alvarez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Couture counters with a crisp one two that drops Alvarez! Couture thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Alvarez to his feet! Alvarez is in big trouble!

Alvarez is rocked!
Alvarez dodges the punch combination from Couture.
Oh Alvarez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Couture throws a right and a left that both miss.
Couture connects with a right that clearly hurt Alvarez. He's backed up against the cage with nowhere to go as Couture proceeds to tee off with vicious combinations till Alvarez collapses and taps out under the pressure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Couture!
John Couture is the new light heavyweight champion!