|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kendall Clarke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodney Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kendall Clarke has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
 |
|
 |
| 198 cm
22
193 lbs
2 - 2 - 0 |
|
176 cm
23
192 lbs
4 - 1 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
|
Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful |
|
| |
|
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kendall Clarke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodney Couture!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Franklyn Lucas.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Clarke was covering up waiting for the punch and Couture finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Clarke tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clarke looking for a guillotine here but Couture defends easily.
Clarke is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Couture trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Clarke tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clarke is working hard here to advance position.
Couture lands a couple of elbows.
Couture landing some decent shots from guard.
Couture wants to control from the top but Clarke keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Clarke is on top in guard.
Couture wants to stand but Clarke is controlling the position.
Couture is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Couture looking to hit a scissor sweep but Clarke is one step ahead there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Couture looking to control.
Couture is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Couture is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Couture pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Clarke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarke with a poor takedown
and Couture counters with a nice uppercut.
A shot to the body from Clarke misses
and Couture counters with a good low kick that Clarke was not able to check.
Clarke misses with a wild combination.
Clarke looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Couture!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Couture is trying desperately to improve position.
Clarke avoids the attempt from Couture to control.
Clarke goes for an armbar but Couture turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Couture.
Clarke manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Couture manages to get himself to full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture wants to sweep here but Clarke controlling him for the moment.
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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Clarke manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Clarke escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Couture gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Clarke keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Couture throws a big right hand that misses.
Clarke working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Couture doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Couture manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Couture chips away with some ground and pound.
Couture has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Clarke is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Clarke is looking for a triangle but Couture pushes his legs off easily.
Couture loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Clarke really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Clarke keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Clarke is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Couture is aware though and is defending well.
Couture is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Couture with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Clarke wants to sweep here but Couture controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rodney Couture dominated that round.
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 throws a leg kick which misses Clarke's front leg but catches the back leg as Clarke tries to avoid it.
Clarke scores with a sloppy right hand. Couture should have avoided that one.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Couture.
Couture misses with a leg kick.
Couture fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Clarke avoids it really well and circles away.
Kendall Clarke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Couture misses.
Kendall Clarke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Couture.
Couture misses with an uppercut. Clarke saw that one coming.
Couture ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Clarke moves away.
Clarke wants to clinch but Couture slips to the side
and Couture counters with a takedown into side control.
Couture throwing strikes but Clarke manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Couture is not content to let Clarke control the position.
Couture is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture manages to get to full guard.
Clarke will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Couture scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Clarke changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Couture looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rodney Couture has got the better of the ground game so far.
Clarke landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clarke is looking to take a break and control but Couture is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Couture is looking to reverse the position.
Clarke misses with the ground and pound.
Clarke working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Clarke's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Couture is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Clarke pulls his head out easily.
Couture is looking to improve his position.
Clarke is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Couture moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Couture manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Couture throwing strikes here but Clarke is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Clarke can't escape the position.
Couture with the ground and pound from mount.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke is in all sorts of trouble here.
Couture with good strikes from the mount here!
Clarke is in a horrible position here. Couture smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Couture landing strikes from the mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarke is desperately trying to improve his position but Couture has a good base and remains in mount.
Couture postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Clarke looks a forlorn figure.
Clarke is looking to get to half guard.
Couture lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture lands with some strikes.
Clarke can't escape the position.
Couture pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rodney Couture showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Clarke's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Clarke finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Couture. Clarke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Clarke shoots and misses
and Couture counters with a nice uppercut.
Clarke doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Couture tries to land a leg kick but Clarke saw it coming and moves away.
Clarke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Couture.
Couture scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Couture wants to control but Clarke is keeping him busy.
Couture scoring with punches and elbows.
Couture scoring with punches and elbows.
Clarke is trying to get back to half guard.
Couture works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Couture scoring with punches from side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture lands a nice forearm strike.
Clarke tries to buck Couture off but Couture is having none of it.
Couture working the ground and pound.
Couture lands a few punches from side control.
Couture in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Clarke defending against the ground and pound.
Couture taking a breather here.
Couture working away.
Couture throws a strike aimed at the side of Clarke's head but Clarke avoids it well.
The ground and pound from Couture seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Couture tries to move to mount but Clarke blocks the move with his legs.
Couture cracks Clarke with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Couture lands a nice forearm strike.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture landing a few strikes.
Clarke is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Couture drops an elbow to the side of Clarke's head.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Clarke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Clarke works his way to full guard. Good work.
Couture wants to control from the top but Clarke keeps moving.
Clarke working for a triangle but Couture defends it easily.
Couture cracks Clarke with a solid left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clarke bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Couture's guard.
Clarke trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke postures up.
Couture preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Couture has Clarke pulled in close to control his posture.
Clarke throws and elbow that misses. Couture uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Clarke's guard. Nice move by Couture!
Couture postures up in Clarke's guard and throws a big left but Clarke blocks it.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Clarke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clarke trying to keep a closed guard but Couture is proving a slippery customer.
Couture stands up over Clarke, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Couture with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rodney Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Clarke looking for a sweep. Not yet Clarke, not yet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Couture throwing strikes from guard but Clarke blocks nicely.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Clarke keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Couture throwing strikes but missing.
Couture won't allow Clarke to sweep him here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clarke is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kendall Clarke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clarke looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rodney Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodney Couture!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
81% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
