PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavierntreal Couture (ranked 1237 p4p, 731 weight class) and Eli Vaughn (ranked 86 p4p, 23 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
Vaughn

211 cm
27
300
8 - 6 - 0

192 cm
26
250
13 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Pulling Guard

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavierntreal Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eli Vaughn!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Saam Ante and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vaughn on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A low kick from Couture is predictable there

and Vaughn decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Couture's guard.
Vaughn lands a couple of elbows.
Couture seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Vaughn postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vaughn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Couture works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vaughn with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vaughn looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Couture tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Vaughn from controlling successfully.
Vaughn slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vaughn is looking to work some ground and pound but Couture has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaughn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Couture knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vaughn on the ground.
Couture has momentary wrist control but Vaughn slips an elbow through the middle.
Vaughn throws a big elbow that misses.
Vaughn trying to move into half guard but instead Couture has managed to sweep!

Vaughn working for a triangle but Couture defends it easily.
Vaughn wants to sweep here but Couture controlling him for the moment.
Vaughn working a defensive guard here.
Vaughn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vaughn controlling Couture's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaughn wants to sweep here but Couture controlling him for the moment.
Vaughn is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Couture has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vaughn is proving hard to escape from.
Couture has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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

Vaughn trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vaughn advances position into side control!
Couture definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Vaughn tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Vaughn is staying tight to Couture's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Vaughn working the ground and pound but Couture is defending the strikes.
Couture is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaughn throws an elbow but Couture slips to the side and avoids it well.
Vaughn working the head with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Couture's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Vaughn lands a nice forearm strike.
Vaughn working away.
Couture is working to avoid the ground and pound but Vaughn connects with a decent elbow.
Couture is trying to improve his position.
The ground and pound from Vaughn seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vaughn is trying to ground and pound but Couture uses the momentary lack of control by Vaughn to regain half guard.
Couture on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Couture tries to get out of the position.
Vaughn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Vaughn dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Couture shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Couture misses the shot to the body.
And Vaughn tries to counter it with a takedown but Couture pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Couture displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vaughn.
Couture is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
An inside leg kick from Couture misses.

Couture has taken the fight to the clinch.
Couture scores with a hook to the body.
A short left from Couture.
A short uppercut from Couture.
Couture comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Eli Vaughn has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture lands a nice uppercut.
Couture misses with a body punch.
Couture dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Vaughn can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaughn tries for a takedown. No joy.
Xavierntreal Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eli Vaughn.
Couture content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Couture.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Couture.
Vaughn tries for a takedown but Couture manages to get underhooks.
Vaughn goes for a takedown attempt but Couture pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Couture stuns Vaughn with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Xavierntreal Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couture looks to land a body kick but Vaughn moved away.
Vaughn drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Couture defends it well.
Vaughn takes a jab right on the kisser.
Vaughn circles away from the clinch attempt

and Vaughn counters with a single leg into guard. Couture didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Couture pulls Vaughn in close to prevent any damage.
Vaughn is pushing down on Couture's leg trying to pass to half guard. Couture is fighting to maintain full guard but Vaughn has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nice strikes from Vaughn there.
Vaughn working over Couture with some ground and pound. Couture looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vaughn sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Couture defending well though.
Vaughn thows a huge punch but Couture dodges it nicely.
Vaughn missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vaughn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Couture's head.
Vaughn winds up and cracks Couture with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Eli Vaughn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Couture blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vaughn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaughn looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Couture with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Vaughn prevents Couture from improving his position.
Vaughn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vaughn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Couture's head.
Vaughn is just content to waste time from the top position. Couture takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Vaughn lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vaughn is working Couture over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Couture utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vaughn's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Couture avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaughn not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Vaughn scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vaughn is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Vaughn lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vaughn postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Couture preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vaughn won't allow Couture to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Vaughn drives through with a takedown into Couture's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Vaughn stands up over Couture, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vaughn landing with the ground and pound.
Vaughn keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Couture's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eli Vaughn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Eli Vaughn's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Couture darts in trying to clinch

and Vaughn counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Vaughn.
Xavierntreal Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture keeping moving, preventing Vaughn from controlling successfully.
Vaughn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vaughn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Couture works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vaughn connects with a couple of short punches.
Vaughn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vaughn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vaughn trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vaughn in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaughn stands up over Couture, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vaughn throws a big elbow that misses.
Vaughn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vaughn throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vaughn lands a couple of digs.
Couture has momentary wrist control but Vaughn slips an elbow through the middle.
Vaughn trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Vaughn landing some decent shots from guard.
Vaughn postures up in Couture's guard and throws a big left but Couture blocks it.
Vaughn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Vaughn dodges the punch combination from Couture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture swings for the body but Vaughn moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Couture.
Couture avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vaughn shoots in but Couture avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vaughn shoots in for a double leg but Couture sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Couture half committed to a counter leg kick.
Couture ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vaughn moves away.
Couture fails with an attempt to clinch.
Couture tries to land a body kick

and Vaughn counters with a shoot takedown. Couture fights it but they end up in guard.
Vaughn stands up over Couture, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vaughn landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vaughn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaughn scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vaughn working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Couture's head.
Vaughn is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Vaughn distracts Couture with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vaughn is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vaughn lands a couple of elbows.
Vaughn throwing strikes but missing.
Vaughn distracts Couture with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vaughn 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaughn lands a couple of digs.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Vaughn from controlling successfully.
Vaughn loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vaughn postures up and lands a big shot to Couture's brow.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vaughn's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Couture wants to sweep here but Vaughn controlling him for the moment.
Vaughn is working Couture over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eli Vaughn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vaughn 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eli Vaughn!