PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Charles Couture (ranked 4984 p4p, 4439 weight class) and Emberson Cabral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Charles Couture looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Couture
vs
Cabral

176 cm
22
185
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
18
199
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charles Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Emberson Cabral!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture shoots in looking for a takedown. Cabral tries to sprawl out of it but Couture keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cabral manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cabral misses with a looping left.
Couture closes the distance and clinches up with Cabral, looking for a takedown. Couture pushes Cabral against the cage but Cabral circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cabral throws a right and a left that Couture avoids nicely.
Couture closes the distance and clinches up with Cabral, looking for a takedown. Couture pushes Cabral against the cage but Cabral circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charles Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Couture keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cabral misses with a lunging right hand

and Couture moves into the clinch.
Couture tries for a takedown but Cabral manages to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabral wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Couture has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cabral is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Couture is looking to take this one to the mat.
Couture is breathing heavily.
Cabral has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.
Cabral working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture keeps control of Cabral as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Couture breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cabral cracks Couture with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A nice combination there by Cabral.
Emberson Cabral seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couture tries to clinch but Cabral moves out of range.
Cabral looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cabral connects with a body shot.
Couture looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cabral throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cabral scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Couture defending well as Cabral loads up on a big left hand.
Couture lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture shoots in for a takedown but Cabral shows good takedown defense.
Cabral is looking for the big counter here.
Couture ducks under a wild hook from Cabral.
As Cabral tries to get set, Couture tries to push him back and clinch up but Cabral manages to avoid the attempt.
Couture takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture closes the distance and clinches up with Cabral, looking for a takedown. Couture pushes Cabral against the cage but Cabral circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cabral scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cabral throws a series of strikes that have Couture backpedaling.
Couture shoots in for a takedown but Cabral shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cabral throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Couture moves forwards but Cabral connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cabral thows a left - swing and a miss!
A right-left combo lands from Cabral.
Cabral is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A combination from Cabral does no damage.
Couture appears to be looking for a big counter.
Cabral tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Couture was well out of range. Poor timing from Cabral.
As Cabral tries to get set, Couture tries to push him back and clinch up but Cabral manages to avoid the attempt.
Cabral lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Nice sprawl there from Cabral as Couture shoots in.
Cabral misses with a looping right.
Couture takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture ducks under a wild hook from Cabral.
Cabral misses with an uppercut

and Couture counters by moving into the clinch.
Cabral is looking to control Couture's arms but Couture gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cabral has his back to the cage.
Cabral is trying to push Couture away but Couture has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cabral wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Couture has him pressed against the cage.
Couture has Cabral pressed against the cage, preventing Cabral from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Couture tries to score a body lock takedown but Cabral shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Couture lands an elbow just above Cabral 's eye.
Cabral doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cabral stops a takedown attempt from Couture.
Couture has Cabral pressed against the cage, preventing Cabral from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cabral has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.
Cabral trying to stall but Couture improves his position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Couture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Couture's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cabral misses with a looping right.
Cabral scores with a three punch combo!
Couture closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Emberson Cabral is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Couture fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cabral swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cabral throws the left hand but Couture avoids the punch easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cabral stuffs the takedown attempt from Couture. Couture gets slowly back to his feet.
Cabral paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cabral scores with a nice strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cabral is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Couture.
The fighters circling - Cabral throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Couture shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cabral but Cabral pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Couture lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cabral has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Couture fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cabral to the ground. Couture is now in Cabral's guard.
Couture prevents Cabral from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabral bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Couture's guard.

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cabral trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabral throwing strikes from guard but Couture blocks nicely.
Cabral trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cabral won't allow Couture to sweep him here.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Couture manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Cabral misses with a punch to the body.
Cabral is trying to break the clinch but Couture is controlling him.
Cabral is looking to break free of the clinch but Couture has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cabral is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cabral tries to break the clinch but Couture is controlling the position.
Cabral wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cabral wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Couture turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Cabral is looking to reverse the position.
Cabral is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Cabral really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Couture. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cabral is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabral is pushing Couture's head away, looking to escape. Couture manages to hold on to the position though.
Cabral is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cabral is trying to buck Couture off.
Cabral is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cabral is trying to control Couture's posture but Couture avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cabral is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Couture creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cabral sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cabral tries to buck Couture off but Couture is having none of it.
Cabral is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cabral keeps trying to improve his position.
Cabral is not content to let Couture control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cabral fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cabral throws out a loose jab but Couture uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cabral lands with a shot to the body.
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 Charles Couture will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Cabral rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Couture moves into the clinch.
Couture is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cabral is defending well.
Couture is working for takedown but Cabral is calmly controlling the position for now.
Couture jumps guard but Cabral turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charles Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cabral tries to break the clinch but Couture is controlling the position.

Couture is trying to trip Cabral. He has hold of a leg but Cabral is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Couture persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Cabral trying to control the position.
Cabral looking for a sweep. Not yet Cabral, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabral looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Couture puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Cabral is looking for a sweep. Couture is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cabral manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Couture keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Cabral looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabral is trying to break the clinch but Couture is controlling him.
Cabral misses with a punch on the inside.
Cabral has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Couture blocks an uppercut.
Cabral has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.

Couture manages to pull guard.
Couture preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cabral wants to stand but Couture has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cabral wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Cabral wants to get up but he can't break Couture's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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.
Couture avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cabral postures up in Couture's guard and throws a big left but Couture blocks it.
Cabral is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Charles Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cabral displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Couture.
A countering left hand to the body from Cabral misses.
Cabral fails to land with a series of punches.
Couture takes one to the side of the head.
Cabral swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Couture slips a jab from Cabral.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Couture there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cabral misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Couture.
Cabral throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A punch combination from Cabral misses.
Couture keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cabral paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Couture shoots in but Cabral avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cabral fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cabral darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cabral lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cabral keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cabral.
Cabral fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cabral throws a body shot but no joy.
Couture keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cabral.
Couture darts in looking for a takedown but Cabral gets double underhooks and turns Couture into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Cabral's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cabral is trying to break the clinch but Couture is controlling him.
Couture taking a breather.
Cabral wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cabral wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cabral has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.

Couture pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cabral lands a two punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emberson Cabral comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cabral has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emberson Cabral!