PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Couture (ranked 408 p4p, 27 weight class) and Eric Frost (ranked 65 p4p, 4 weight class). Frost is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Procreation (of the Wicked). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Couture
vs
Frost

183 cm
27
172
12 - 7 - 0

170 cm
27
160
16 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

BANZAI NUTRITION

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raphael Couture!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Eric Frost!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture throws a looping overhand right but Frost ducks down to avoid it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Frost.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Couture struggling a bit here.
Couture is trying to improve his position.
Frost tries to advance to mount but Couture denies him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frost is staying tight to Couture's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Couture is looking to regain half guard here but Frost keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture trying to remain calm as Frost controls from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture is trying to improve his position.
Frost controlling the position.
Couture struggling a bit here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two 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.
Frost just content to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Frost uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Couture.
Couture swings widly with a right hand

and Frost counters with a nice double leg into side control. Couture won't be happy with that.
Frost tries to move to mount but Couture blocks the move with his legs.
Frost is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Couture will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Couture struggling a bit here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Couture is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Couture is working hard here to advance position.
Frost is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Couture will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Couture swings widly with a right hand

and Frost decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Couture's guard.
Frost slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Couture is pulling down on Frost's head to control his posture.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Frost dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Couture with a hook.
Couture feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Frosts jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Frost shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Frost content to stall in guard here.
Eric Frost has got the better of the ground game so far.
Frost pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Couture is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture working a defensive guard but Frost manages to pass into side control anyway.
Couture is looking to regain half guard here but Frost keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture is trying to escape the position but Frost is controlling the position.
Couture struggling a bit here.
Couture is looking for a sweep.
Frost controls the position.
Couture stops Frost from passing to mount.
Frost takes a little break here. Couture wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two 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.
Frost working away.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Frost controls the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Couture misses with a hook

so Frost counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Frost has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Frost 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frost trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
My spies in FIGHT FOUNDERS (CA) inform me that Frost has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Frost controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Couture working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Frost drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Frost just content to control the position.
A control attempt from Couture but he's now mounted!
Couture reaches up to try and control the position but Frost seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Couture rolls and tries to escape and now Frost has his back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Frost really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Couture.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Frost showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Couture's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Couture throws a right hand that misses

and Frost counters with a shoot takedown. Couture fights it but they end up in guard.
Frost's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Couture looking to hit a scissor sweep but Frost is one step ahead there.
Frost wants to pass the guard but Couture is keeping the position.
Frost is still trying to improve position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frost sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Couture misses with a right hand

so Frost counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Couture working a defensive guard here.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Frost. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Frost controls from within his opponent's guard.
Couture looking to hit a scissor sweep but Frost is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture working a defensive guard here.
Frost controls from within his opponent's guard.
Couture working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frost is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Raphael Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couture misses with a hook

and Frost counters with a single leg into guard. Couture didn't expect that.
Frost trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Couture has control of Frost's left arm, preventing Frost from doing any damage.
Frost is stalling in the full guard.
Frost stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Couture swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture trying to control the position.
Frost sitting in guard, not really doing much.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Couture is trying to hold Frost in close to prevent damage but Frost has managed to pass into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Couture preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Frost really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Frost scores with a takedown into Couture's guard.
Couture is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Frost sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Frost is continuing to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frost is looking to advance position but Couture has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Couture wants to stand but Frost is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Frost looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Frost staying busy and making it hard for Couture to control.
Couture is not going to allow Frost to sit and survive in this position.
Couture tries to keep control of the position but Frost is staying busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture wants to control the position but Frost frees himself and scrambles - Couture manages to regain control in side control.
Couture controlling the position.
Couture wants to control but Frost is keeping him busy.
Frost is looking for a sweep.
Couture tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frost is looking to regain half guard here but Couture keeps moving and retains side control.
Couture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Frost keeps working.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Frost staying out of range there.
Couture swings widly with a right hand

and Frost counters with a single leg into guard. Couture didn't expect that.
Frost showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Frost slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frost remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Frost dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Couture gets caught napping as Frost dives in and scores a takedown. Couture manages to retain guard.
Couture not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Frost trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Couture wants to sweep but no luck.
Couture trying to keep a closed guard but Frost is proving a slippery customer.
Raphael Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frost slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Frost sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Frost feints the counter takedown.
Couture misses with a lunging right hand

and Frost counters with a takedown into side control.
Frost tries to advance to mount but Couture denies him.
Frost working away.
Frost tries to advance to mount but Couture instead regains half guard.
Frost is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frost tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Frost avoids the attempt from Couture to control.
Frost sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Frost takes Couture's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Couture is in trouble.
Frost has good solid back control here.

Frost tightening his grip on Couture, looking for the choke.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Couture's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Frost comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Frost 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 45:50
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 45:50
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Frost! Eric Frost retains his welterweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Eric Frost thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.