PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James has chosen Super Freak as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rick James is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Couture
vs
James

225 cm
25
259 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
21
268 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chuck Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rick James!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture avoids the head kick by James.
Couture shoots and misses

and James counters by moving into the clinch.
Couture wants to break free but James has control.

Couture breaks from the clinch.
Chuck Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Couture misses.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Couture looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Couture tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
Couture looks to clinch
and James counters with a two punch combo.
Couture darts in trying to clinch
and James counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture with a poor takedown

and James counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Couture decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
James slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Couture knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Couture really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
James 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James throwing strikes but missing.
James is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rick James was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Couture shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Couture keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture fails with the takedown

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

James has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Couture clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
James scores with punches from the back.

It looks like Chuck Couture has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

James is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Couture is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rick James!