PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kurtis Couturier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eero Niinimaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Couturier might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Forever Angel. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Couturier
vs
Niinimaa

176 cm
25
189 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

178 cm
26
193 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Four Aces Nutrition
Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurtis Couturier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eero Niinimaa!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couturier throws a hook but Niinimaa avoids it easily.
Niinimaa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Niinimaa slips a jab and a cross from Couturier.
Niinimaa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Niinimaa throws a combination. Couturier tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Couturier stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Couturier wants it to stay on the feet.
Couturier throws a predictable looking body shot
and Niinimaa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Niinimaa misses with a few strikes there.
Kurtis Couturier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Niinimaa tries to keep at a distance but Couturier has taken the fight into the clinch.
Couturier tries to throw a body punch but Niinimaa avoids it by throwing Couturier back against the cage.

Niinimaa breaks from the clinch.
Couturier tries to close the distance and clinch but Niinimaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Niinimaa thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Couturier if he has to take too many more of those.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niinimaa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinimaa keeps the fight on the outside.
Niinimaa throws a low kick but Couturier moves out of range easily.
Couturier tries to clinch but Niinimaa moves out of range.
Couturier fails with an attempt to clinch.
Couturier doesn't manage to clinch there - Niinimaa circles away.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Niinimaa lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Couturier has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Couturier and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Couturier takes the fight into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Couturier prevents Niinimaa from breaking the clinch.
Couturier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niinimaa's efforts to push away.
Couturier lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Niinimaa is trying to maintain a safe position but Couturier gets an underhook and turns Niinimaa into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Couturier fails to land.
Still in the clinch, Couturier scores with a nice short uppercut.

Niinimaa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couturier tries to clinch there but Niinimaa circles away.
Couturier connects with a looping right hand.

Couturier gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Niinimaa is trying to push Couturier away but Couturier has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've been informed that Niinimaa has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Niinimaa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Niinimaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Niinimaa.
Kurtis Couturier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eero Niinimaa.
Couturier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Niinimaa misses with a takedown attempt - Couturier sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Couturier is looking to clinch but Niinimaa is avoiding it.
Couturier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Niinimaa throws a quick inside leg kick.

Couturier clinches up against the cage.
Couturier lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Couturier blocking some punches.
Couturier lands a nice shot to the body.
Niinimaa wants to break free but Couturier has control.

Niinimaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Couturier moves into range and connects with a jab.
Couturier takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Couturier tries to clinch up
and Niinimaa counters with a two punch combo.
Nice takedown defense from Niinimaa. No joy for Couturier on that attempt.
Niinimaa lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Niinimaa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couturier tries to clinch but Niinimaa is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa cracks a nice hook into Couturier's ribs.
Couturier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Niinimaa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Niinimaa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Couturier wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A swing and a miss from Couturier.
Niinimaa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Niinimaa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Couturier throws out the jab.
Couturier looks to clinch
and Niinimaa counters with a two punch combo.
Couturier moves to clinch but Niinimaa breaks away
and Niinimaa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Couturier lands a lovely overhand right.

Couturier forces Niinimaa back against the cage and clinches.
Couturier misses with some punches.
Couturier lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Niinimaa is looking to control Couturier's arms but Couturier gets an underhook and turns him. Now Niinimaa has his back to the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kurtis Couturier will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Couturier throws a jab when Niinimaa was well out of range.
Niinimaa throws a series of strikes that have Couturier backpedaling.
Couturier scores with a nice right hand.
Niinimaa fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Couturier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Niinimaa counters with a body kick.
Niinimaa tries a low kick but Couturier avoids it.
Eero Niinimaa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Niinimaa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Couturier.
Couturier is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Niinimaa.
As Couturier backs off Niinimaa throws a huge counter combo but Couturier manages to avoid it all.
Couturier is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couturier tries to clinch but Niinimaa moves out of range.

Couturier takes the fight into the clinch.
Couturier lands a hook to the side of the head.
Niinimaa is trying to break free.
Kurtis Couturier has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Couturier effectively controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinimaa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Couturier working hard to break the clinch.
Couturier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niinimaa's efforts to push away.
Niinimaa tries to stall but Couturier uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Niinimaa trying to control the position but instead, Couturier has worked for underhooks and has pushed Niinimaa into the cage.
Niinimaa tries to break free but Couturier pushes him back against the cage.
Couturier trying to control the position but instead, Niinimaa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Couturier into the cage.
Niinimaa tries to break free but Couturier pushes him back against the cage.
Couturier lands a hook to the side of the head.

Niinimaa breaks the clinch.

Couturier is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Niinimaa's half guard.
Niinimaa tries to roll over but Couturier keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Niinimaa trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Niinimaa tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Couturier has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Niinimaa tries to reverse the position but Couturier maintains control.
Niinimaa wants to control but Couturier is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinimaa is in all sorts of trouble here.
Niinimaa tries to hold on but Couturier pushes him away.
Niinimaa is trying desperately to improve position.
Niinimaa wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Niinimaa tries to hold on but Couturier pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Niinimaa wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Niinimaa trying to control the position but Couturier manages to sink in the hooks.
Good control from Couturier.
Couturier gets his hands free as Niinimaa looks to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A lull in the action here.
Niinimaa trying to get back to his feet but Couturier is in full control for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Couturier struggling to keep hold of the position.
Couturier gets his hands free as Niinimaa looks to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurtis Couturier dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Niinimaa takes one to the chin there.
Couturier throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Niinimaa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Couturier misses with a straight left.
Couturier avoids a punch combination nicely.
Couturier shoots in but no luck this time.
Couturier tries to clinch up but Niinimaa circles away and keeps his distance.
Couturier closes this distance looking for a takedown but Niinimaa circles away.
Couturier needs to keep his hands up - Niinimaa had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couturier checks the leg kick nicely there.
Niinimaa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Niinimaa is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinimaa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Couturier's waist but Couturier gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Niinimaa off to one side.
Couturier darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Couturier wants to clinch.
Couturier misses with a left hand
and Niinimaa counters with a one-two to the body.
Couturier looks to throw the jab but Niinimaa is out of range.
Niinimaa circles away from the clinch attempt.
It seemed like Niinimaa was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Couturier has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Niinimaa.
Couturier looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurtis Couturier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couturier is looking to clinch.
Niinimaa moves out of range as Couturier strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couturier shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Niinimaa sprawls well. Niinimaa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Couturier gets slowly back to his feet.
Couturier tries to clinch up.
Sloppy strikes from Niinimaa. Those never looked like landing.

Couturier gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Couturier tries to throw a body punch but Niinimaa avoids it by throwing Couturier back against the cage.
Niinimaa blocks an uppercut.
Niinimaa slows down the pace here.
Niinimaa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Niinimaa is trying to force a seperation but Couturier has the dominant position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Couturier as Niinimaa tries to tie him up.
Niinimaa is trying to maintain a safe position but Couturier gets an underhook and turns Niinimaa into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couturier tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Niinimaa tries to break the clinch but Couturier is controlling the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Couturier.

Niinimaa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Couturier stuffs the takedown attempt from Niinimaa. Niinimaa gets slowly back to his feet.
Niinimaa throws a left and a right that both miss
and Couturier counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab lands there for Couturier.
Couturier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Niinimaa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Niinimaa throws a sloppy head kick and Couturier moves out of range easily.
Couturier blocks a head kick by Niinimaa.
Niinimaa finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Couturier moves in looking to clinch but Niinimaa pushes him off.
Niinimaa thinks about the counter body kick.
Niinimaa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Couturier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couturier scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Eero Niinimaa has been cut.

Niinimaa gets tackled into the cage by Couturier. Couturier maintains the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Couturier.

Niinimaa is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Niinimaa is trying to stall.
Couturier being controlled against the cage.

Niinimaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Niinimaa scoring well with a low kick there.
Couturier is looking to clinch.
Good leg kick by Niinimaa there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Couturier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Despite the aggression on Niinimaa's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Couturier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Niinimaa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Niinimaa fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Eero Niinimaa.
I think Couturier has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurtis Couturier!
A victorious Kurtis Couturier thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.