PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Welding (ranked 3180 p4p, 353 weight class) and Randall Couture (ranked 4267 p4p, 455 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Welding
vs
Couture

197 cm
25
236 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
233 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Patrick Welding!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randall Couture!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Welding.
Couture looks to land a right hand but Welding moved out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Couture misses the target.
Welding lands a jab to the nose.
Welding throws a poor cross that misses

and Couture counters by clinching up.
Welding misses with a short punch on the inside.
Couture stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Couture goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Welding.
Welding prevents a body shot from Couture.
Welding taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welding misses with a hook from the clinch.
Couture lands a shoulder strike.
Couture works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Welding doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Couture tightens his grip and picks Welding up, before dumping him to the ground. Welding manages to land in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Couture accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture throwing strikes but missing.

Couture stands up and waves to Welding to follow him.
Couture moves away from the strike by Welding.

Couture pushes Welding up against the cage in a clinch.
Couture lands a hook to the side of the head.
Couture lands a nice shot to the body.
Couture is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Welding.
Welding tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Couture's elbow.
Couture misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Couture keeps control of Welding as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Welding misses with a short punch on the inside.
Couture misses with a hook to the ribs.
Couture tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Couture.
A nice right hand lands inside from Couture.
Couture is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Welding is defending well.
Welding tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Couture's elbow.
Welding wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Welding misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Couture doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Welding is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Patrick Welding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randall Couture.
Couture blocks a body shot from Welding.
Couture drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Couture fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Welding wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Couture stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Welding trying to stall but Couture improves his position.
Couture gets through Welding's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Welding swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Couture blocking some punches.
Welding is looking to break free of the clinch but Couture has double underhooks.

Welding's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Couture throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Welding on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Couture uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Welding.
A big left from Couture misses.
Welding comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Welding clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welding has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Couture lands a body shot in the clinch.
Couture scores with a shot to the side of Welding's head.
Welding misses with some punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A bit of stalling here from Welding.
Welding tries to stall but Couture uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Welding wants to get back to striking at distance but Couture won't allow it.
Welding presses Couture against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Welding has a couple of punches blocked by Couture.

Welding manages to break the clinch.
Patrick Welding is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Couture misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Welding.
Couture connects with a crisp jab.
Couture takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Couture slips a straight right by Welding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randall Couture dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Welding looks to land a left hand but Couture moved out of range nicely.

Couture moves into the clinch.
Couture can't find room to land a body shot as Welding controls the action.
Welding can't break the clinch.
Couture's coach down at Roosters Coop was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Couture's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Couture throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Welding blocking some punches.
Couture has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Couture lands a nice shot to the body.
Welding fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Couture.
Randall Couture seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Couture is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Welding is defending well.
Couture tries to throw a body punch but Welding avoids it by throwing Couture back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welding struggles to land a body shot inside as Couture controls his hands.

Welding's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Couture works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Couture throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Couture looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Welding seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welding keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Welding lands an overhand right.
Welding misses with a straight right.
Welding uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Couture.
Welding lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Couture backs up against the cage.
Patrick Welding is winning the standup battle so far.

Couture changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Welding looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Welding explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Couture slips under a jab.
Couture digs a good hook to Welding's body.
Couture throws a shot from downtown. Welding moves away and avoids it.
Welding takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Couture misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Welding fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Couture, pushing him back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Couture.
Couture pushes Welding back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Welding is looking to break free of the clinch but Couture has double underhooks.
Still in the clinch, Welding scores with a nice short uppercut.
Couture scores with a nice hook to the head.
Couture digs a right hand into Welding's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Welding's gas tank.
Couture lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Couture.
Couture lands a body shot.
Couture tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Welding's elbow.
A shot in the inside from Welding.
Couture works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Welding is trying to force a seperation but Couture has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Couture misses with some punches.
Welding lands a nice uppercut.
Couture lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Couture has a couple of punches blocked by Welding.
Welding stalling in the clinch but Couture improves position.
Couture scores with a shot to the side of Welding's head.
Couture tries a body shot but Welding blocks it.
Couture has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Welding avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Patrick Welding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randall Couture.
A head punch on the inside from Couture fails to land.
Couture misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Welding fails to land.
Couture goes for a takedown in the clinch but Welding prevents it.
Couture prevents a body shot from Welding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welding can't find room to land a body shot as Couture controls the action.

Welding manages to break the clinch.
Couture moves to clinch but Welding breaks away
and Welding counters with a straight right hand.
A jab from Couture misses.

Welding darts in and clinches Couture up against the cage.
Couture is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Welding pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Couture working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Couture misses with the head strike.
Welding is trying to push Couture away but Couture has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nice body punch from Couture.
Couture goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Couture doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Welding looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Randall Couture will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Welding's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Couture dips to his left and cracks Welding with an uppercut!
Welding throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Couture counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Couture misses with an uppercut. Welding saw that one coming.
A left lands for Welding.
Welding avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
It looked like Welding was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Couture misses with a right hand
and Welding counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Couture scores with a crisp jab that stopped Welding in his tracks.
Welding moves out of range of the strikes.

Welding moves into the clinch.
Welding tries to break free but Couture pushes him back against the cage.
Couture tries a body shot but Welding blocks it.
Couture lands a body shot in the clinch.
Couture lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Welding's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Welding misses with a hook from the clinch.
Welding has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.

Couture turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Welding parries the strikes from Couture easily there. Couture is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Welding to escape.
Couture trying to control the action but Welding is working from the bottom.
Couture scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Couture are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Welding taking a bit of punishment here - Couture scoring with strikes.
Couture is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Welding will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Welding regains half guard, as Couture was trying to land strikes.
Welding blocking the ground and pound attempt from Couture.
Couture is controlling the pace.
Couture lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands with a punch from half guard.
Couture not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Couture looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Welding slips a jab from Couture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Welding scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Couture drives through with a takedown into guard.

Welding kicks Couture off and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Welding sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Welding misses with the combination.
Welding throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Couture.
Welding gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Welding lands with a right hand.
A left and a right from Couture both land. Nice combination.
Welding throws a nice looking combination but Couture bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Patrick Welding has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture throws out a loose jab but Welding uses good head movement to avoid it.

Couture clinches up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randall Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Couture 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randall Couture!