PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Badbriel Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ignacio Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Cruz
vs
Couture

170 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Badbriel Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ignacio Couture!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Eddie Farnsworth and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz throws a right and a left that Couture avoids nicely.
Couture throws a shot from downtown. Cruz moves away and avoids it.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Couture.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Couture.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
Couture showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cruz.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Couture slips a jab and a cross from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a double jab.

Couture moves into the clinch successfully.
Cruz is looking to break free of the clinch but Couture has double underhooks.

Couture breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Couture tries to clinch up.
Cruz moves into range and connects with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture shoots in and drives through. Cruz sprawls well.
Cruz lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Couture backs up against the cage.
Cruz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cruz.
Cruz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Cruz.
Couture misses with a jab, cross combination.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
Badbriel Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Couture wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.
Couture slips a jab and a cross from Cruz.
Couture slips a jab and a cross from Cruz.

Couture shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Couture showed some decent athleticism there.
Couture looks gassed!

Couture gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
Cruz with a jab.
Cruz lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Couture backs up against the cage.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Cruz connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Couture's hands.
Couture is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Couture misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz swinging wilding here.
Cruz avoids the head kick by Couture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Cruz misses with a few strikes there.
Couture throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cruz misses with a few strikes there.
Cruz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cruz lands a nice shot that snaps Couture's head back.
Couture wants to clinch.
Couture doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Couture takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cruz misses with a combination

so Couture counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cruz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Couture on the ground.
Couture working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Couture working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Couture postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Couture stands up from Cruz's guard - Couture perhaps looking for a knockout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Couture shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Badbriel Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ignacio Couture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz swinging wilding here.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Couture.
Cruz scores with a sloppy right hand. Couture should have avoided that one.
Cruz swinging wilding here.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cruz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice takedown defense from Cruz. No joy for Couture on that attempt.
Cruz throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Couture dodges the punch combination from Cruz.
Couture tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.

Couture moves into the clinch.
Cruz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cruz takes a shot to the head.

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 breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Decent striking displayed by Couture there.
Cruz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Couture drives through with a takedown into guard.
Couture won't allow Cruz to get back to his feet.
Couture has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Couture throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture won't allow Cruz to get back to his feet.
Couture missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Couture is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Couture trying to control but Cruz is working from the bottom.
Cruz wants to stand and escape but Couture is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Couture tries for a takedown but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Cruz as Couture shoots in.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.
A right-left combo lands from Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ignacio Couture dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Couture showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cruz.
Couture tries a head kick but it misses.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Couture moves out of range.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Couture avoids them all with ease.
Cruz works over Couture's head and body with a nice combination.
Couture throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Badbriel Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Couture does no damage.
Cruz throws a one two combo.
Cruz throws a series of strikes that have Couture backpedaling.
Cruz scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A combination from Cruz does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Couture is breathing heavily.
Cruz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Couture avoids it well.
Cruz lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Couture shoots in for a takedown but Cruz shows good takedown defense.
Cruz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cruz's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Cruz duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cruz.
A right-left combo lands from Cruz.
Cruz works over Couture's head and body with a nice combination.
Cruz checks a leg kick.
Cruz looks to land a combination. Couture sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cruz is working the combinations to good effect here.
Cruz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cruz lands a lovely overhand right.

Couture has managed to clinch.

Couture breaks the clinch.
Couture takes one to the chin there.

Couture closes the distance and clinches.
Cruz wants to break free but Couture has control.

Couture breaks from the clinch.
Cruz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Couture.
Couture changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cruz tries to avoid it but Couture manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cruz to the ground. Cruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cruz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Couture shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Couture gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Cruz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Couture has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Couture gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Couture slips a jab and a cross from Cruz.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Couture.
Cruz tests Couture's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cruz throws a one two combo.
Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cruz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Couture throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cruz.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Couture bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A left and a right from Cruz both land. Nice combination.
Cruz lands a jab-cross combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Cruz scores with a four punch combination!
Cruz blocks a head kick by Couture.
Cruz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Couture takes the fight into the clinch.
Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Couture has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz can't break the clinch.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.
Couture is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Badbriel Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ignacio Couture.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.
Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Couture won't allow it.
Couture keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cruz tries to break the clinch but Couture is controlling the position.

Couture breaks from the clinch.
Cruz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Couture takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Couture moves out of range.
Cruz throws a right hand that Couture ducks under and follows up with a left that Couture also avoids with ease.
Cruz scores with a one two! Couture had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Couture darts in and clinches Cruz up against the cage.

Couture ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Couture no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cruz wanted to stand there but Couture had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Couture has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Cruz off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Cruz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Couture shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture prevents Cruz from getting back to his feet.

Cruz has his feet on Couture's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Couture moves out of range.
Cruz displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Cruz blocks a head kick by Couture.
Cruz looks to land a combination. Couture sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cruz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cruz throws a nice looking combination but Couture bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruz scores with a one two! Couture had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Cruz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ignacio Couture showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Couture dodges the punch combination from Cruz.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch but Cruz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz misses with a series of wild punches.
Cruz looks to land a combination but Couture avoids it well.
Cruz misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cruz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Couture moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Couture is looking to clinch but Cruz is avoiding it.
Couture misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz misses with the combination.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss

and Couture counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Couture.

Couture manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruz lands a jab-cross combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz misses with a combination

and Couture counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Couture.

Couture escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Couture takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cruz lands with a hook. Couture tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture slips a jab and a cross from Cruz.
Cruz cracks Couture with a good jab.
Cruz lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Couture tries to clinch but Cruz moves out of range.
Couture fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cruz throws out a powerful jab.
Couture throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cruz counters with a two punch combo.
Cruz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Couture sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cruz lands with a nice combination. Couture backs away looking to recover.
Couture throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cruz scores with a decent looking hook.
A combination from Couture does no damage.
Cruz lands with an uppercut that bounces Couture off the cage and back into rage.

Couture rushes Cruz and presses him up against the cage.

Couture breaks from the clinch.

Couture has managed to clinch.

Couture breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Couture forces Cruz back against the cage and clinches.
Couture lands a body shot in the clinch.
Couture misses with a knee strike.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.
Cruz prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Couture has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Couture has him pressed against the cage.
Couture keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Couture has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz is trying to break the clinch but Couture has him pressed against the cage.
Couture keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cruz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cruz is looking to break free of the clinch but Couture has double underhooks.
Cruz wants to get back to striking at distance but Couture won't allow it.
Couture keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Couture manages to break the clinch.
Cruz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cruz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cruz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Cruz goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Couture takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Couture is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a combination

and Couture counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Couture keeps control of Cruz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Couture is trying to break the clinch but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Couture wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cruz has him pressed against the cage.
Cruz prevents a takedown attempt there.
Badbriel Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ignacio Couture.
Couture lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Couture breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cruz clobbers Couture with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Couture fails with an attempt to clinch.
Couture is looking to clinch.
Couture avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Couture wants to clinch up but Cruz keeps it at a distance.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Couture has taken the fight into the clinch.

Couture escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cruz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Couture wants to clinch.
Couture pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt.
Cruz lands an overhand right.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cruz.

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 head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.

Couture closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Couture lands in his opponent's guard.
Couture wanted to stand there but Cruz had control of the position.

Couture gets to his feet. Cruz looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Couture throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Couture avoids nicely.
Cruz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cruz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Some wild striking there from Cruz.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cruz displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Cruz lands a right hook to the body.
Cruz lands a two punch combo.
Cruz misses with a two punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ignacio Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Couture 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Ignacio Couture!
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight for Ignacio Couture!
Judge John Roberts scores the fight for Ignacio Couture!

Ignacio Couture wins by unanimous decision!