PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kurtis Couturier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Couturier comes to the cage accompanied by Forever Angel. McDonald has chosen Hamburger as his entrance music. Kurtis Couturier is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Couturier
vs
McDonald

176 cm
28
189 lbs
14 - 6 - 2

183 cm
28
200 lbs
13 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

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 14 - 6 - 2, 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 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conor McDonald!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couturier on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Couturier shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
McDonald slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Couturier throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Couturier scores with a leg kick.
Couturier is looking to slow McDonald down with leg kicks.
McDonald checks the leg kick nicely there.
McDonald is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
McDonald lands with an uppercut that bounces Couturier off the cage and back into range.

Couturier darts in and clinches McDonald up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McDonald.
McDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McDonald goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Couturier lands a shot to the body.
Couturier blocking some punches.
Couturier prevents McDonald from breaking the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Couturier scores with a nice short uppercut.
Couturier lands with a light punch inside.
A short left from Couturier.
Couturier struggles to land a body shot inside as McDonald controls his hands.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McDonald connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald walks into a left hand.
Couturier with a jab.

It looks like Conor McDonald has been cut.
Couturier waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McDonald.
Couturier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Couturier goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Couturier has taken the fight to the clinch.
Couturier has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Couturier makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Couturier scores with a shot to the side of McDonald's head.
McDonald has a couple of punches blocked by Couturier.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McDonald.
McDonald fails to pull guard.
Couturier tries to work over McDonald's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couturier misses with a short punch on the inside.
Couturier scores with a hook to the body.
Couturier working some nice short punches in the clinch.
McDonald tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Couturier's elbow.
Couturier swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Couturier lands a hook that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
Couturier working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald throws a head punch that misses.
McDonald lands with a light punch inside.
Couturier swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McDonald tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Couturier blocking some punches.
McDonald lands on the inside with an uppercut.
McDonald lands a shot to the body.
McDonald tries a body shot but Couturier blocks it.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McDonald slips a jab from Couturier.
McDonald misses the shot to the body.
McDonald throws an overhand right that lands on Couturier's shoulder, as Couturier tries to avoid the shot.
Couturier throws a leg kick which misses McDonald's front leg but catches the back leg as McDonald tries to avoid it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Couturier.
Couturier misses with a hook. McDonald ducked under it nicely.
Couturier lands a really nice looking cross but McDonald seems unphased.

McDonald instigates a clinch.
McDonald has a couple of punches blocked by Couturier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couturier struggles to land a body shot inside as McDonald controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McDonald.
Couturier tries a body shot but McDonald blocks it.
McDonald lands a right hand that snaps the head of Couturier backwards.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kurtis Couturier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDonald takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Couturier swinging wildly here.
Couturier lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Couturier moves away from the strike by McDonald.
McDonald slips a jab and a cross from Couturier.
Couturier misses with a left hand
and McDonald counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McDonald swings for the body but Couturier moves out of range.
McDonald tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Couturier tries to land a leg kick but McDonald saw it coming and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald scores with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Couturier throws a quick inside leg kick.
McDonald connects with a nice looking jab.
Couturier staying out of range there.
Couturier is looking to counter punch.
McDonald scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
McDonald throws a big shot that misses.
Couturier scores with a jab. McDonald acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
McDonald has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Couturier fails with the takedown.
McDonald scores with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McDonald moves forwards but Couturier connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Couturier avoids a kick to the body.
Couturier misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurtis Couturier dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Conor McDonald's cut.
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.

McDonald throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Couturier tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and McDonald counters with a low kick, right behind Couturier 's knee.
McDonald slips a jab from Couturier.
McDonald appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Couturier fails to land with a series of punches.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McDonald! But no joy.
McDonald throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Couturier counters with a one-two to the body.
McDonald takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Couturier uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McDonald.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Couturier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McDonald throws a looping overhand right but Couturier ducks down to avoid it.
Couturier thinks about countering with a body kick.
McDonald throws a hook but Couturier avoids it easily.
Couturier tries to close the distance and clinch up but McDonald swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McDonald jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couturier slips a straight right by McDonald.
McDonald bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Couturier swinging wildly here.
A big left from Couturier misses.
Couturier connects with a single shot there.

McDonald gets a double leg takedown into Couturier's guard.
McDonald connects with a couple of short punches.
McDonald landing some decent shots from guard.
McDonald is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Couturier keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
Couturier trying to keep a closed guard but McDonald is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDonald got a little sloppy there for a moment and Couturier has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McDonald has managed to get both his arms back between Couturier's legs - danger averted.
McDonald is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
McDonald loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Couturier has his hands on McDonald's head, controlling the position.
McDonald with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
McDonald content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonald stands up over Couturier, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Couturier is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McDonald in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Couturier working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McDonald doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McDonald manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald scoring with punches to the head and body.
McDonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Couturier has wrist control.
Couturier looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
McDonald postures up and lands a big shot to Couturier's brow.
McDonald is fighting to break Couturier's control of his arms but Couturier is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Couturier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald content to stall in guard here.
Couturier is pulling down on McDonald's head to control his posture.
Couturier wants to stand but McDonald is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Couturier wants to sweep here but McDonald controlling him for the moment.
McDonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Couturier has wrist control.
McDonald missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McDonald distracts Couturier with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Couturier managing to control the position.
McDonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McDonald loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonald postures up in Couturier's guard and throws a big left but Couturier blocks it.
Couturier looking to hit a scissor sweep but McDonald is one step ahead there.
Couturier preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conor McDonald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Conor McDonald's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Couturier avoids the head kick by McDonald.
McDonald walks into a stiff left hand from Couturier.
McDonald takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Couturier scores with a leg kick.
Couturier is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
McDonald pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kurtis Couturier is winning the standup battle so far.
McDonald throws a leg kick but Couturier sees it coming and checks it nicely.
McDonald throws a body punch but Couturier moves out of range.
Couturier fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couturier uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McDonald.
McDonald takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
McDonald staying out of range there.
McDonald goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald lands a jab.
McDonald lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Couturier at a distance.
Jab from McDonald.
Couturier wants to clinch.
McDonald takes a kick to the side of the head.
McDonald uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Couturier.
Couturier lands a jab to the nose.
Couturier moves out of range of the body kick from McDonald.
Couturier went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
McDonald throws a leg kick but Couturier moved away.
It looked like Couturier wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couturier throws a nice looking combination but McDonald bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McDonald ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Couturier throws a shot from downtown. McDonald moves away and avoids it.
McDonald has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from McDonald there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McDonald connects with a leg kick. Couturier looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Couturier misses with a low kick.
Couturier scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Couturier fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Couturier's jab looks to have found its range, popping McDonald under the eye.
McDonald misses with a low kick.
Couturier throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McDonald with a jab.
Couturier throws a leg kick but McDonald sees it coming and checks it nicely.
McDonald scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couturier stuffs the takedown.
Couturier takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Nice defenses there by Couturier.
McDonald throws a head kick that misses.
Couturier moves in looking to clinch but McDonald pushes him off.
McDonald looks to land a left hand but Couturier moved out of range nicely.
McDonald throws a lazy right hand but Couturier sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Couturier throws an overhand right that lands on McDonald's shoulder, as McDonald tries to avoid the shot.
Couturier tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and McDonald counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Some wild striking there from Couturier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald lands a lovely overhand right.
Couturier throws a combination that misses
and Couturier takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Couturier throws a shot from downtown. McDonald moves away and avoids it.
Couturier looks to land a right hand but McDonald moved out of range.
Couturier lands the left hand.
Nice jab there from Couturier.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Couturier swings for the body but McDonald moves out of range.
Couturier throws a solid leg kick but McDonald takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Couturier.
McDonald moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice defenses there by McDonald.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McDonald! But no joy.
McDonald lands a really nice looking cross but Couturier seems unphased.
Couturier misses with the combination.
McDonald is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kurtis Couturier.
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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kurtis Couturier!
A very excited looking Kurtis Couturier made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
The defeated Conor McDonald had this to say: 'I need a Big Mac... '.