PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave Hook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and john couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hook
vs
couture

210 cm
22
300 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Hook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, john couture!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hook scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
couture tries to kick Hook off but Hook keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
couture is trying to get back to full guard.
couture is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hook's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hook's back!
couture trying to control momentarily.
couture really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hook. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hook rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
couture not landing any meaningful shots this time.
couture wants to take a breather but Hook is having none of it.
Hook works his way to full guard. Good work.

Hook looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hook is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and couture defends well.

Hook throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! couture escapes and throws Hook's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
couture controls the position.
couture trying to control the position but Hook is working away.
Hook tries to buck couture off but couture is having none of it.
couture tries to advance to mount but Hook denies him.
Hook is looking to regain half guard here but couture keeps moving and retains side control.
couture wants to control but Hook is keeping him busy.
couture working the head with strikes.
Hook manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
couture is doing well to control the position and prevent Hook from advancing to side control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
couture is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
couture wants to improve his position but Hook is controlling well.

Hook is looking for a kimura but couture is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hook to get the leverage.

Hook wants to work for an arm triangle but couture is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Hook is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. couture doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hook.
Hook is breathing heavily.
couture moves into full guard.

couture looking for a guillotine here but Hook defends easily.

Hook drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and couture dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hook keeping moving, preventing couture from controlling successfully.
couture is looking to stand up but Hook won't let him.

couture got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hook has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, couture has managed to get both his arms back between Hook's legs - danger averted.
couture trying to control but Hook is working from the bottom.
couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hook has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but couture can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hook is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
couture is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
couture tries to stand but Hook is controlling from the bottom.
couture trying to control but Hook is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hook misses with a takedown attempt - couture sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

couture shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than couture was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but john 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.

couture tries for a takedown but Hook circles away easily

and Hook counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in couture's guard now.
couture controls Hook momentarily but Hook frees himself.

Hook is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
couture looking for a sweep. Not yet couture, not yet.

Hook drops back, looking for a kneebar! couture looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. couture looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from couture!

couture stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hook doesn't succeed with the takedown

and couture counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hook!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hook is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
couture sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
couture throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hook is squirming around, avoiding couture's attempts to control the action.
couture should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
couture content just to control the position here.
Hook is trying to escape the mount.
couture sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hook is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two 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.
couture wants to control the pace but Hook is squirming around nicely.
Hook keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
couture tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hook working to try and regain half guard.
Hook is working hard here to advance position.
couture controlling his opponent.

couture stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

couture clinches.
couture can't get the takedown.
couture leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hook tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. couture smiles and moves away.
Hook doesn't succeed with the takedown

and couture holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Hook. That's going to take a lot out of him.

couture breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hook has his takedown stuffed

and couture counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hook's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
couture 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.
couture must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hook keeping moving, preventing couture from controlling successfully.

Hook looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

couture drops back looking for a leg! Hook is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hook manages to kick couture off! couture jumps back into Hook's guard.
couture wanted to stand there but Hook had control of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hook looking for submissions from the bottom but instead couture passes into half guard.

Hook looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

john couture showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

couture fails with the takedown

and Hook counters with a single leg into guard. couture didn't expect that.
Hook postures up.
Hook won't allow couture to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if couture can do anything to dispel that myth.

Hook drops back looking for a leg! couture is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and couture manages to kick Hook off! Hook jumps back into couture's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as couture holds on and takes a little breather.

Hook thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hook tries to free his leg and advance position but couture is retaining full guard.

Hook is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! couture is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! couture has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
couture stays in close to Hook's body and controls the position.
couture wants to stand but Hook is controlling his posture from full guard.
john couture has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hook working for a triangle but couture defends it easily.

couture decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hook, up you get!
Hook tries for a takedown but couture circles away easily

and couture counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

couture lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
couture wants to pass the guard but Hook is defending well.
Hook wants to get back to full guard but couture has passed into side control.
couture controlling his opponent.
Hook tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - couture has eaten all the pies!
Hook avoids a series of strikes thrown by couture.
Hook avoids a series of strikes thrown by couture.
couture controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by couture there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
couture looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hook tries to get back to half guard but can't.
couture controlling his opponent.

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.
Poor strikes thrown by couture there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Hook working to try and regain half guard.

couture with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Hook blocking the ground and pound.
Hook regains half guard.
couture trying to control the action but Hook is working from the bottom.

Hook actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to john couture.
Well couture has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... john couture!