PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Raver (ranked 5194 p4p, 5045 weight class) and Devin Couture (ranked 548 p4p, 541 weight class). Devin Couture has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Raver
vs
Couture

185 cm
18
210
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
192
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

MKFC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paul Raver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Devin Couture!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Raver defends well and Couture ends up having to push Raver into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Raver shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Couture defends it nicely.
Couture wants to counter with a clinch but Raver pushes him away.
Couture tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Couture tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Couture takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Raver shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Couture eats them both and turns towards Raver to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice sprawl there from Couture as Raver shoots in.
Couture with a lazy takedown attempt
and Raver counters with a nice uppercut.
Raver scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Couture doesn't seem bothered though.
Raver scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Couture fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Raver manages to avoid it.
Couture tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Raver swivels and escapes.
Paul Raver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Devin Couture.
Danga de danga de dang - Raver scores with a four punch combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture tries to move into range but Raver moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Raver will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raver misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Couture.
Raver fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Couture on the side of the head.
Raver shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Couture eats them both and turns towards Raver to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Raver keeps the fight on the outside.
Couture shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Raver as he avoids it easily.

Raver looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Couture tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Raver throws a big elbow that misses.
Raver lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Couture wants to hit a sweep here but Raver passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Couture there!
Raver landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Couture tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Couture wants to hold on but Raver pushes him away.
Couture is wriggling around trying to escape.
Raver working the ground and pound effectively.
Raver tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Raver looking to finish with strikes here!
Raver lands a couple of good shots and Couture has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Raver has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Couture has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture wants to control his opponent's hands but Raver gets his hands free.
I really don't envy Couture right now.
Couture is trying to get back to his feet but Raver has full control of the position and if anything, Couture has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Raver throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Raver is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Couture defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Raver 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.

Raver has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Couture is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raver biding his time, looking for the opening.
Raver is striking from the back but Couture escapes and manages to recover to half guard.
Couture really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raver. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Raver content to control rather than advance.
Raver thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Couture's head.
Raver trying to control the action but Couture is working from the bottom.
Couture punching from the bottom.
Couture avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Raver.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Raver dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Couture shoots in and drives through. Raver sprawls well.
Paul Raver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Couture gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Raver looking to sit in guard and control but Couture gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Couture slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Raver has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Couture is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Raver.
Raver takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raver is being controlled here.

Couture working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Paul Raver overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raver trying to remain calm as Couture controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raver is not content to let Couture control the position.

Couture decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Couture stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Raver.
Raver looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Raver lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Paul Raver is winning the standup battle so far.
Raver fails with the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Couture is defended easily by Raver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raver lunges at Couture with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Couture's hand.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Paul Raver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Devin Couture.

Couture looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Raver looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Couture passes into half guard.
Couture throwing shots but Raver is blocking nicely.
Raver has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Couture is working away from the top position though.
Couture is keen to just control but Raver is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raver tries to roll over but Couture keeps him under control.
Couture is trying to control the action in half guard but Raver is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Couture is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Raver trying to control but Couture postures up.
Couture tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Raver.
Raver trying to control from the bottom.
Raver manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Raver not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Couture wants to get up but he can't break Raver's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Couture must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Raver lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Raver in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Raver is looking to work some ground and pound but Couture has wrist control.
Raver is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Couture looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raver is one step ahead there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Devin Couture will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Raver checks a leg kick.
Couture shoots in for a double leg but Raver sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Raver - that will leave a mark!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Couture enables Raver to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Couture manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Raver throws a big right hand that misses.
Raver missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Raver prevents Couture from getting back to his feet.
Raver throws a strike but Couture rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Raver not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Raver is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Couture can do to turn this around?

Raver looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Couture is defending well. Raver quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Couture has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Raver celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Paul Raver!
An out of breath Paul Raver thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.