PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Felipe Couture (ranked 4323 p4p, 4201 weight class) and Edson Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Couture
vs
Da Silva

194 cm
25
185
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
185
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Felipe Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Edson Da Silva!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Couture, looking for a takedown. Da Silva pushes Couture against the cage but Couture circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Da Silva defending well as Couture loads up on a big left hand.
Da Silva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Couture swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Da Silva misses with a body shot.
Couture fires out a quick counter leg kick but Da Silva just manages to avoid it.
Da Silva moves out of range as Couture strikes.
Da Silva feints the counter takedown.
Da Silva slips a jab from Couture.
Couture uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Da Silva.
Couture swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Couture moves away from the strike by Da Silva.
Da Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Couture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Silva pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Couture pivots, looking for a leg kick but Da Silva is out of range and Couture settles back down.
Da Silva darts in looking for a takedown but Couture gets double underhooks and turns Da Silva into the cage.
The fighters circling - Couture throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Da Silva appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Couture.
Couture feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Da Silva tries for a takedown but Couture circles away easily

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Felipe Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edson Da Silva.
Couture wants to free his trapped foot but Da Silva is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Da Silva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Couture is working away from the top position though.
Couture will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Da Silva looking for submissions off his back.
Da Silva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture wants to stand but Da Silva has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Couture is fighting to break Da Silva's control of his arms but Da Silva is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Da Silva working a defensive guard but Couture passes into half guard.
Da Silva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Couture performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Couture tries to pass the half guard into mount. Da Silva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is thwarting Da Silva's attempts to control the position.
Couture wants to get back to his feet.
Da Silva missing with punches from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Da Silva tries to roll over but Couture keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Da Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Couture moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Da Silva throws a lazy head kick

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Da Silva wants to improve his position but Couture is controlling well.
Couture controlling the action here.
Couture wants to stand up but Da Silva is controlling the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Couture dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Da Silva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Couture.
Da Silva drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Couture defends it well.
Da Silva misses with a double jab.
Couture wants to slow Da Silva down by chopping away at his legs.
Couture attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Da Silva tries to clinch there but Couture circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Couture on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Da Silva keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Couture.
Da Silva flicks out a counter leg kick but Couture steps away.
Couture is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Da Silva can do to turn this around?
Couture uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Da Silva.
Da Silva throws out a loose jab but Couture uses good head movement to avoid it.
Couture throwing a counter right hand but Da Silva manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Silva throws a hook but Couture avoids it easily.
It looked like Couture wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Da Silva is looking to clinch.
Da Silva shoots in but Couture avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Felipe Couture is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva throws a jab when Couture was well out of range.
Edson Da Silva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Da Silva checks a low kick from Couture.
Da Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
Couture thows a leg kick but Da Silva checks it

and Da Silva counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Da Silva.
Couture can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Da Silva controls the pace.
Da Silva preventing the sweep.
Couture is working hard here to advance position.
Couture knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Da Silva on the ground.
Da Silva wants to pass the guard but Couture is keeping the position.
Couture has his hands on Da Silva's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Felipe Couture overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Da Silva looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Couture missing with a left hand there. Da Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Da Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Couture, looking for a takedown. Da Silva pushes Couture against the cage but Couture circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Felipe Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edson Da Silva.
Couture misses with a looping right.
Da Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Couture circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva looks to land a combination but Couture avoids it well.
Da Silva wants to clinch up but Couture keeps it at a distance.
Couture is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Da Silva.
Da Silva uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Couture.
Da Silva fails with the takedown
and Couture counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Da Silva is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Couture.
Couture was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A big right from Da Silva misses.
Da Silva throws a low kick, looking for Couture's leg but Couture calmly moves out of range.
Couture swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Couture lands a leg kick that knocks Da Silva off balance momentarily.
Da Silva slips a straight right by Couture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Couture throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Da Silva avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Da Silva attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Couture throwing a counter right hand but Da Silva manages to avoid it.
Couture keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Da Silva tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
Da Silva fails to land the takedown.
It looked like Couture wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Da Silva shoots for a takedown but Couture saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Felipe Couture is winning the standup battle so far.
Couture jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Couture keeps the fight on the outside.
Edson Da Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couture finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Felipe Couture will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Da Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Couture sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Da Silva throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Couture counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Couture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Da Silva has control of Couture's left arm, preventing Couture from doing any damage.
Couture has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Couture stopping the sweep attempt from Da Silva.
Couture trying to stand up but can't free himself from Da Silva's guard.
Couture wants to stand and escape but instead Da Silva has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture wants to sweep here but Da Silva controlling him for the moment.
Da Silva tries to free his leg and advance position but Couture is retaining full guard.
Da Silva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Da Silva drops back looking for a leg! Couture is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Couture manages to kick Da Silva off! Da Silva jumps back into Couture's guard.
Da Silva slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Couture pulls Da Silva in close to his closed guard and prevents Da Silva from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Da Silva slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Da Silva passes into half guard.
Da Silva not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Da Silva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Da Silva seems to be working for a kimura but Couture defends the submission attempt.
Da Silva slows the pace down in half guard.
Da Silva is trying to control. Couture wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Da Silva is pressing down on Couture's thigh, looking to free his foot. Couture is holding on for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Da Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Couture.
Couture keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Couture slips a jab and a cross from Da Silva.
Couture is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Da Silva.
As Couture backs off Da Silva throws a huge counter combo but Couture manages to avoid it all.
Couture throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Da Silva sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Da Silva wants to counter with a clinch but Couture pushes him away.
Da Silva tries to clinch there but Couture circles away.
Couture is looking to counter punch.
Da Silva throws a hook but Couture blocks it.
A little feinted left hand from Couture on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Da Silva is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Couture motions for Da Silva to come forward. Couture throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Da Silva misses with a looping left.
Couture wants to slow Da Silva down by chopping away at his legs.
Da Silva misses with an uppercut. Couture saw that one coming.
Couture is looking to counter punch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Couture looks to land a right hand but Da Silva moved out of range.
Edson Da Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Felipe Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Da Silva slips under a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edson Da Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Couture has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28

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