PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Couture (ranked 2964 p4p, 2867 weight class) and Nate Robinson (ranked 319 p4p, 309 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Couture
vs
Robinson

183 cm
25
172
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
178
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Raphael Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nate Robinson!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Couture gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Couture prevents Robinson from breaking the clinch.

Couture jumps guard and drags Robinson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Couture definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Robinson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Couture is pulling down on Robinson's head to control his posture.
Couture working a defensive guard here.
Robinson looking to pass the guard.
Robinson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Couture pushes Robinson up against the cage in a clinch.
Couture stalling in the clinch.
Couture lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Robinson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Couture can't fight it off and eventually Robinson manages to take the fight to the floor. Couture looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Couture has control of Robinson's left arm, preventing Robinson from doing any damage.
Robinson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Couture is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Couture moves nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture trying to control the action but Robinson is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Robinson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Couture tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Couture wants to control but Robinson is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Couture is trying to get an arm triangle but Robinson is defending well.

Couture is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Robinson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Robinson struggling a bit here.
We've been informed that Robinson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Robinson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Robinson trying to control but Couture postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Couture thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Robinson's head.
Couture prevents Robinson from standing back up.
Couture passes into side control, despite Robinson's attempt to control the position.

Couture is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Robinson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Robinson is trying to control Couture's posture but Couture avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Couture is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Robinson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Robinson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Couture is looking to reverse the position.
Robinson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Couture keeps working.
Couture prevents Robinson from improving position.
Couture gets back to half guard.
Couture tries to get to full guard but Robinson has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Robinson wants to work for an arm triangle but Couture is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Couture is looking for a sweep. Robinson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture trying to control but Robinson postures up.

Robinson is looking for a kimura here.
Robinson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Couture makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Couture.

That's two 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.
Robinson trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Robinson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Couture trying to keep a closed guard but Robinson is proving a slippery customer.
Couture is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Raphael Couture is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Couture wants to clinch.
Couture moves to clinch but Robinson breaks away

and Robinson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robinson wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Couture is controlling Robinson's posture.
Nate Robinson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Couture looking for a sweep. Not yet Couture, not yet.
Couture not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Robinson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Couture swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Couture trying to keep a closed guard but Robinson is proving a slippery customer.
Robinson tries to free his leg and advance position but Couture is retaining full guard.

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.
Couture has his hands on Robinson's head, controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Raphael Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Robinson slips under a jab from Couture.
Robinson moves forwards but Couture connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Couture gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Robinson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Couture lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A short body shot lands from Couture as the two fighters clinch.
Robinson is breathing heavily.
Couture lands a shot to the body.
Couture lands a shoulder strike.
Couture manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nate Robinson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Couture moves into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Couture scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Robinson lands a takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Couture controlling Robinson's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Robinson's guard.

Robinson working a defensive guard here.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Robinson is keeping the position.
Robinson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Couture avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Robinson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Robinson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Robinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture pushing down on Robinson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Couture passes to side control.
Robinson is trying to control Couture's posture but Couture avoids it.

Couture has hold of Robinson's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Robinson seems comfortable defending it but Couture has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Robinson is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Robinson is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Couture couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Raphael Couture!