PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jose Fuego (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fuego comes into the arena with País Tropical blaring out of the sound system. Couture is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Pride Theme. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Fuego
vs
Couture

183 cm
30
185 lbs
7 - 10 - 0

182 cm
30
198 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Fuego!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fedor Couture!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Couture rushes Fuego and presses him up against the ropes.
Couture is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Couture lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fuego.
We've been hearing reports that Fuego has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Couture lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fuego.
Couture lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fuego backwards.
Couture keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fuego's efforts to push away.
Couture scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Couture lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fuego wants to take the fight to the mat but Couture manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Couture prevents a takedown attempt there.
Fuego is breathing heavily.
Fuego drops down looking for an ankle pick but Couture pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Fuego. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Couture shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fuego is trying to defend but Couture finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Couture tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fuego knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Fuego taking some punishment here, with Couture in his half guard.

Fuego is defending against the submission attempts here by Couture.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fuego manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands a couple of digs.
Couture is looking to stand up but Fuego won't let him.
Fuego trying to control the position.
Couture has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fuego is proving hard to escape from.
Fuego looking for a sweep. Not yet Fuego, not yet.
Couture looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Fuego is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Couture really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fuego. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is in close to Fuego's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Couture wants to stand but Fuego is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Couture slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Fuego tries to sprawl but Couture drives through with a takedown into half guard.
It looks like Couture is going to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture prevents Fuego from improving his position.
Fuego is trying to maintain the position but Couture is very close to passing his half guard.
Couture keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Fuego is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Couture scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Couture takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Well, if Couture is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
It looks like Couture might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Couture dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Couture tries to bum rush Fuego with a series of wild strikes but Fuego uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fuego misses with a takedown attempt

and Couture holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Fuego is trying to drag Couture to the mat but Couture just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Fuego wants to get back to striking at distance but Couture won't allow it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Couture will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fuego up against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fuego tries to break free but Couture pushes him back against the ropes.
Couture has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Couture misses with an elbow strike.
We've been informed that Couture has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good body shot from Couture.
Couture leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Couture.
Couture continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Fuego wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Couture scores with a shot to the side of Fuego's head.
Couture prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Fuego. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fuego being controlled against the ropes.
Fuego misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture is struggling to control the position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Couture.
Couture tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Couture manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Fuego being controlled against the ropes.
Couture throws an elbow that misses.
Couture pushes Fuego back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Fuego is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuego lands with a right to the head.
Oh Fuego is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Couture creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Fuego is working for takedown but Couture is calmly controlling the position for now.
Couture throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Couture lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Fuego to his knees! Couture keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Fedor Couture!
Fedor Couture decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.