PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Barbosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Couture comes into the arena with Mama said knock you out blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Couture
vs
Barbosa

175 cm
36
166 lbs
35 - 13 - 2

165 cm
26
144 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Just Fight (Everything 7$)

Meet the Future
Merciless Gladiators

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 35 - 13 - 2, fighting out of London, Brandon Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hector Barbosa!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barbosa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Couture manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Barbosa keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Couture unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Barbosa leaning his opponent against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Barbosa has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Barbosa manages to break the clinch.
Couture swings for the body but Barbosa moves out of range.
Barbosa tries to land a leg kick but Couture saw it coming and moves away.
Couture blocks a jab.
Barbosa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Couture tries to avoid it but Barbosa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Couture to the ground. Couture escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Barbosa misses with a head kick.
We've been hearing reports that Couture has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Barbosa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barbosa paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Couture misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Barbosa counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Couture!
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!
An elbow from Barbosa crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Barbosa is staying tight to Couture's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Barbosa is chipping away with strikes.
Couture takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Couture is looking to reverse the position.
Barbosa working the ground and pound.
Couture is trying to improve his position.
Barbosa working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture is not content to let Barbosa control the position.
Couture tries to escape but Barbosa is in control.
Barbosa is looking to take a break and control but Couture is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barbosa scoring with punches and elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Couture is working to avoid the ground and pound but Barbosa connects with a decent elbow.
Barbosa landing strikes.
Couture is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa trying to control the position but Couture is working away.
Barbosa throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Couture is not content to let Barbosa control the position.
Barbosa misses with the ground and pound.
Couture is trying to control Barbosa's posture but Barbosa avoids it.
Barbosa working the ground and pound.
Barbosa scoring with punches and elbows.
Barbosa throws an elbow but Couture slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture is not content to let Barbosa control the position.
Barbosa scores with punches from side control.
Barbosa cracks Couture with an elbow. That is naaassty.
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!
Barbosa misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Couture manages to get back to half guard.
Barbosa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Couture is refusing to be controlled, as Barbosa sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Couture manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Barbosa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Couture tries to avoid it but Barbosa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Couture to the ground. Couture escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Barbosa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barbosa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Couture.
Barbosa stuns Couture with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Barbosa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Barbosa attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Couture blocks a low kick nicely.

Barbosa gets the takedown into side control.
Barbosa grinds an elbow into Couture's temple.
Couture is looking for a sweep.
Barbosa postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Barbosa landing a few strikes.
Barbosa trying to control the position but Couture is working away.
Couture tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa wants to control but Couture is keeping him busy.
Barbosa working the ground and pound from side control.
Barbosa creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Couture sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Couture is trying to buck Barbosa off.
Barbosa lands an elbow.
Barbosa throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Barbosa taking a breather here.
Barbosa in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barbosa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Barbosa is looking to take a break and control but Couture is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Couture tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Barbosa working Couture over with strikes here.
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!
Barbosa with the ground and pound from mount.
Barbosa unloading with bombs!
Barbosa trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Couture?
Barbosa lands a couple of good shots and Couture has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Hector Barbosa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Couture is covering up but some of the strikes from Barbosa are getting through and doing damage.
Barbosa lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Couture hold on?!
Barbosa connects with a big shot to the side of Couture's head.
You can see the frustration on Couture's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Barbosa. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Barbosa punches Couture on the ear.
Barbosa wants to control but Couture is keeping busy.
Couture looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Couture tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Couture wants to get back to his feet.
Barbosa controlling from the back.
Barbosa is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Barbosa gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Barbosa gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Barbosa apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Barbosa is looking to slow Couture down with leg kicks.
Barbosa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barbosa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Couture doesn't seem bothered though.
Barbosa misses with a low kick.
Couture fails in his attempt to clinch.

Barbosa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Couture manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Barbosa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barbosa feints and then cracks Couture's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Couture down.
Barbosa with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Brandon Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Couture thuds a left hand into Barbosa's body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barbosa.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barbosa.
Couture scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Couture tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbosa was well out of range. Poor timing from Couture.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barbosa.
Couture on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Couture blocks a head kick by Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbosa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Couture's sensitive parts.
Couture keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Couture defending well as Barbosa loads up on a big left hand.
Hector Barbosa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barbosa misses with a low kick.
Couture tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbosa was well out of range. Poor timing from Couture.
Couture is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barbosa.
Barbosa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Couture.
Couture has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a leg kick which misses Couture's front leg but catches the back leg as Couture tries to avoid it.
Barbosa swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Couture.
Barbosa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Brandon Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barbosa throws a head kick that half lands.
Barbosa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Couture has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barbosa.
Couture walks into a straight right hand from Barbosa.
Barbosa shoots in for a double leg but Couture sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Brandon Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hector Barbosa.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Couture on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barbosa. Barbosa obviously looking to wear him down.
Barbosa connects with a high kick.
A head kick misses from Barbosa.
Couture has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barbosa.
A good leg kick by Barbosa.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barbosa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbosa tried to score with a low kick but Couture checks it.
Couture jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Couture displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barbosa.
Hector Barbosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couture tries to clinch but Barbosa is having none of it.
Barbosa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Couture closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Couture is looking to wear down Barbosa with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Barbosa connects with a high kick.
Couture has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barbosa.
Couture moves out of range of the body kick.
Barbosa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Couture's calf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Barbosa.
Barbosa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Barbosa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hector Barbosa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Barbosa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Barbosa works Couture's body with a nice hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barbosa fails with an attempt to clinch.

Barbosa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Couture was covering up waiting for the punch and Barbosa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Couture preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barbosa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Barbosa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Barbosa 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hector Barbosa!
Our winner, Hector Barbosa, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.