PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Couza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Couza
vs
Vera

195 cm
29
278 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

215 cm
28
270 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ronaldo Couza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Christian Vera!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vera moves to clinch but Couza breaks away
and Couza counters with a stiff right hand.
Couza shoots for a takedown but Vera saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vera tries to clinch
and Couza counters with a three punch combo that has Vera backing up. Vera nods at Couza to acknowledge the strikes.
Vera misses with a takedown

and Couza counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vera can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vera avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couza.
Couza throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Couza throwing shots but Vera is blocking nicely.
Vera is trying to control but can't.
Vera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Couza wants to pass the guard but Vera is defending well.
Couza misses with a head shot. Vera uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Couza's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Couza scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Couza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Couza throws and elbow that misses. Vera uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Couza's guard. Nice move by Vera!
Vera stops Couza from standing up.
Couza looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ronaldo Couza just wasn't active enough.
Couza shoots for a takedown but Vera saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vera lands a head kick. Couza smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Vera looks to clinch
and Couza counters with a series of strikes. Vera will be more careful next time no doubt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vera tries to clinch but Couza moves away

so Couza counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Couza with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Vera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Couza landing with the ground and pound.
Couza is fighting to break Vera's control of his arms but Vera is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Couza throws and elbow that misses. Vera uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Couza's guard. Nice move by Vera!
Couza wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Couza is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ronaldo Couza wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Vera darts in trying to clinch

and Couza counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Vera!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couza working Vera over with strikes here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Couza thowing shots but they're missing.
Couza throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Couza sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vera wants to control but Couza is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Couza cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Vera manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Couza dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vera darts in trying to clinch
and Couza counters with a one-two to the body.
Vera wants to clinch but Couza slips to the side

and Couza holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Couza drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vera pulls his leg out and moves away.

Vera darts in and clinches Couza up against the cage.
Vera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Vera lands a knee to the head.
Couza tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vera tries a knee to the head but Couza blocks it.
Vera tries to land a knee to the head but Couza blocks with his arms.
Couza wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Couza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couza changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vera fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ronaldo Couza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vera wants to clinch but Couza slips to the side

and Couza counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vera won't be happy with that.
Vera sneaks back into half guard.
Vera is looking to control Couza's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vera avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vera is looking to control Couza's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vera avoid being mounted?
Couza thows a huge punch but Vera dodges it nicely.
Vera keeping hold of Couza's head, controlling as best he can.
Vera manages to get to full guard.
Couza might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Couza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vera bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Couza's guard.
Vera showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Christian Vera hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Couza blocks a head kick by Vera.

Vera clinches.
Vera with a knee to the head.
Couza tries to circle away but Vera has him pinned against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Vera obliges.
Vera misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Couza has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vera lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Vera lands a good knee to the midsection. Couza won't want to take too many of those.
Vera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vera.
Vera tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vera tries to land a knee to the head but Couza blocks with his arms.
Couza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vera prevents Couza from breaking the clinch.
Couza drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vera gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Vera with a knee to the head.
Couza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Couza looking for a takedown.
Couza takes a shot to the head.
Vera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vera lands a knee to the body.
Couza tries to score a body lock takedown but Vera shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Couza looking for a takedown.
Vera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Couza has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vera with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Couza turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Couza is trying to ground and pound but Vera uses the momentary lack of control by Couza to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera wants to control but Couza is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Couza.

Couza is looking for a kimura but Vera is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Couza to get the leverage.
Couza wants to pass the guard but Vera is defending well.
Couza thows a huge punch but Vera dodges it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Couza.

Couza is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Vera still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Vera has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
You can see the frustration on Couza's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Vera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Vera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vera closes the distance but Couza moves to the side
letting Couza counter with a right hand.
Vera closes the distance but Couza moves to the side

and Couza counters by moving into the clinch.
Couza jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vera walks away with a smile on his face. Couza gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Couza gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Couza tries to score a body lock takedown but Vera shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Vera prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Couza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vera connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Ronaldo Couza has been cut.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vera.
Vera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Couza takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Vera.
Vera misses with a knee to the head.
Vera is trying to stall.
Vera looking to throw knees to the head but Couza is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera scores with a knee to the head.
Vera working Couza over with knees to the body.
Vera looking to throw knees to the head but Couza is blocking nicely.
Christian Vera seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Couza wants a takedown.
Vera landing knees to the head.
Vera misses with a knee to the head.
Vera tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Couza is trying to push Vera away but Vera has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Couza jumps into guard, dragging Vera to the mat.
Couza is trying to control the position but Vera postures up.

Ronaldo Couza has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Vera closes the distance looking to clinch

and Couza counters with a shoot takedown. Vera fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vera looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Vera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Couza.
Couza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Couza being controlled here momentarily.

Couza postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Vera is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Couza, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couza can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vera controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ronaldo Couza.
Vera doesn't manage to clinch there - Couza circles away.

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.
Vera tries to clinch but Couza is having none of it.
Couza shoots in and drives through. Vera sprawls well.
Vera closes the distance but Couza moves to the side
and Couza counters with a straight right hand.
Vera wants to clinch but Couza slips to the side
and Couza counters with a head kick.
Vera tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Couza counters with a left and a right that stings Vera.
Vera tries to clinch there but Couza circles away.
Vera wants to clinch
enabling Couza to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Christian Vera.
I think Vera has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Christian Vera!