PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arkady Balagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurtis Couturier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Couturier comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Forever Angel kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Balagan
vs
Couturier

182 cm
23
195 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

176 cm
23
189 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.
{R.W} Four Aces Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arkady Balagan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurtis Couturier!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balagan fails with a takedown attempt.

Balagan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Balagan throwing strikes from guard but Couturier blocks nicely.
Balagan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Couturier swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Couturier controlling Balagan's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couturier keeping moving, preventing Balagan from controlling successfully.
Balagan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Couturier is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kurtis Couturier was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Couturier throws a body shot but no joy.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Balagan.
A swing and a miss from Couturier.
Couturier misses with a hook.
Kurtis Couturier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Balagan with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arkady Balagan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Couturier as Balagan shoots in.
Balagan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Couturier manages to avoid it.

Balagan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Balagan throwing strikes from guard but Couturier blocks nicely.
Balagan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Couturier is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Couturier pulls Balagan in close to prevent any damage.
Balagan 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.
Balagan lands a couple of digs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balagan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Couturier avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Couturier looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balagan is looking to work some ground and pound but Couturier has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couturier working a defensive guard here.
Balagan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Couturier seems keen to control Balagan's posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balagan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kurtis Couturier wasn't active enough on the ground.
Couturier misses with a looping left.
Balagan misses with a body shot.
Couturier throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Balagan.
Couturier scores with a nice head shot.
Nice shot lands for Couturier.
Couturier looks to score with a jab to the body but Balagan is just out of range.
Couturier missing with a left hand there. Balagan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balagan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Couturier as he jumps to the side.
Couturier moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balagan swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Couturier clinches up against the cage.

Couturier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Balagan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Couturier working a defensive guard here.
Balagan throwing strikes from guard but Couturier blocks nicely.
Balagan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Balagan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Couturier wants to control but Balagan postures up.
Balagan lands a few punches from side control.
Balagan connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Couturier some visible discomfort.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couturier managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Balagan.
Couturier is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balagan is putting a hurting on Couturier here, landing some big shots from side control.
Balagan lands an elbow.
Couturier is not content to let Balagan control the position.
Balagan in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Couturier struggling a bit here.
Couturier trying his best to control but Balagan has mounted him.
Couturier just holding on.

Balagan looking to secure an arm triangle but Couturier defends it well.
Couturier is in a horrible position here. Balagan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Couturier is squirming around, avoiding Balagan's attempts to control the action.
Balagan with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arkady Balagan dominated that 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.

Balagan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Couturier manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Couturier has Balagan pulled in close to control his posture.
Balagan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Couturier works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Balagan trying to control but Couturier is working from the bottom.
Arkady Balagan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Balagan throwing strikes but missing.
Couturier keeping full guard, as Balagan tries to pass.
Couturier will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Couturier working a defensive guard here.
Balagan trying to control but Couturier is working from the bottom.
Couturier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kurtis Couturier.

Couturier has closed the distance and engaged Balagan in a clinch.
Balagan is trying to pull guard but Couturier turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balagan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Couturier walks away with a smile on his face. Balagan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Couturier rushes Balagan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Couturier lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Balagan jumps guard but Couturier stands there with Balagan around his waist. Balagan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arkady Balagan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balagan's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Balagan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Couturier smiles and moves away.
A big left from Couturier misses.
Balagan ducks under a wild hook from Couturier.

Couturier gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Balagan fails to pull guard.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Couturier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Couturier scores with a nice short uppercut.
Couturier pushes Balagan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Couturier lands a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balagan is trying to pull guard but Couturier turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Balagan being controlled against the cage.
Couturier scores with a shot to the side of Balagan's head.
Couturier lands a hook to the side of the head.
Good body shot from Couturier.
Balagan tries to pull guard but Couturier forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Couturier lands a hook to the side of the head.
Couturier has a couple of punches blocked by Balagan.
Balagan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Couturier lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Couturier.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Couturier.
Couturier stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Still in the clinch, Couturier scores with a nice short uppercut.
Couturier lands with a short shot to the head.
Balagan jumps guard but Couturier stands there with Balagan around his waist. Balagan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Couturier misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Couturier scores with a shot to the side of Balagan's head.
Balagan jumps guard but Couturier stands there with Balagan around his waist. Balagan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Balagan jumps guard but Couturier turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Couturier working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Couturier holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Balagan blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couturier softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Couturier taking a breather.
Couturier lands a shoulder strike.
Balagan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Couturier tries to throw a body punch but Balagan avoids it by throwing Couturier back against the cage.
Balagan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Couturier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Balagan's elbow.
Balagan is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Couturier to keep the fight standing.
Couturier lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Couturier working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Balagan tries to pull guard but Couturier forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Balagan takes a shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurtis Couturier 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!

Couturier is looking to clinch but Balagan is avoiding it.
Couturier misses with an uppercut. Balagan saw that one coming.
Balagan shoots in for a takedown but Couturier shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Couturier throws a nice looking combination but Balagan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Balagan slips under a jab from Couturier.
Balagan takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Couturier missing with a left hand there. Balagan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Balagan takes one to the chin there.
Balagan misses with a body shot.
Couturier throws a jab but it's blocked by Balagan.

Couturier rushes Balagan and presses him up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Couturier.
A shot in the inside from Couturier.
Balagan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Balagan tries to pull guard but Couturier won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arkady Balagan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Couturier lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Couturier.
Couturier throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Balagans head.

Couturier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Balagan takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The fighters circling - Couturier throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Balagan slips a jab from Couturier.
Couturier lands with an uppercut that bounces Balagan off the cage and back into range.
Couturier lands a really nice looking cross but Balagan seems unphased.
Balagan shoots for a double leg takedown but Couturier sprawls well. He's pushed Balagan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Couturier throws out a loose jab but Balagan uses good head movement to avoid it.

Couturier clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Couturier lands with a short shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Couturier.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Couturier takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A left hand lands to the body for Couturier.
Kurtis Couturier seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balagan takes a shot to the head.
Couturier misses with a short punch on the inside.
The referee calls for Couturier to work.
Balagan is trying to pull guard but Couturier has him pressed against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Couturier creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Couturier tries to throw a body punch but Balagan avoids it by throwing Couturier back against the cage.
Couturier works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Couturier misses with some punches.
Balagan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Balagan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Couturier smiles and moves away.
Couturier keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balagan looking to score a takedown here. Couturier is defending well but Balagan drives through and ends up in Couturier's guard.
Balagan throws a big elbow that misses.
Balagan lands a couple of elbows.
Couturier looking to control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Couturier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Couturier is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Balagan is aware though and is defending well.
Couturier is trying to control the position but Balagan postures up.
Balagan postures up and lands a big shot to Couturier's brow.
Balagan trying to control but Couturier is working from the bottom.
Balagan is looking to work some ground and pound but Couturier has wrist control.
Balagan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Couturier's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Balagan trying to control the position from guard on top but Couturier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balagan postures up.
Couturier looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Balagan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Couturier has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Balagan has managed to get both his arms back between Couturier's legs - danger averted.
Balagan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Balagan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Balagan throws a big elbow that misses.
Balagan postures up and lands a big shot to Couturier's brow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Couturier keeping moving, preventing Balagan from controlling successfully.
Couturier looking to control.
Couturier has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Balagan postures up in Couturier's guard and throws a big left but Couturier blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurtis Couturier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Couturier has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurtis Couturier!
Our winner, Kurtis Couturier, 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.