PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Philippe Coutinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Non Ultra Steve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Non Ultra Steve was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Coutinho
vs
Ultra Steve

175 cm
19
154 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

150 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Philippe Coutinho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Non Ultra Steve!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve misses with a body shot

and Coutinho counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Steve looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Coutinho has picked Steve up and slammed him! Steve can't keep hold of the triangle and Coutinho manages to pass to side control!
Steve really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Coutinho. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Steve tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Coutinho wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Coutinho tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Coutinho passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Steve!
Coutinho postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Steve looks a forlorn figure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steve is looking to get to half guard.
Steve 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.
Coutinho scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Steve is desperately trying to improve his position but Coutinho has a good base and remains in mount.
Coutinho dominating with strikes here.
Coutinho manages to capitalize on a mistake by Steve to take his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coutinho keeps control of the position easily here as Steve tries to buck him off.

Coutinho has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Coutinho is punishing Steve with some ground and pound.
Coutinho has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Coutinho really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Steve.

Coutinho tightening his grip on Steve, looking for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Steve's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Steve showing good submission defense here.
Steve is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Coutinho lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Coutinho.
Good control from Coutinho.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Coutinho has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Steve fending off the submission attempt from Coutinho.
Coutinho is landing with strikes. Steve can't take much more of this.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Coutinho has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Steve has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Coutinho has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Steve's body.
Steve turns into Coutinho and is now in his guard.
Coutinho striking off his back but it's not causing Steve any problems.
Coutinho seems keen to control Steve's posture.

Coutinho throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Steve has eaten all the pies!

Steve got a little sloppy there for a moment and Coutinho has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Steve has managed to get both his arms back between Coutinho's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coutinho seems keen to control Steve's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Coutinho is on top in guard.
Coutinho slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Coutinho is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Steve has escaped the position, nice work there.
Coutinho advances to full mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Steve keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philippe Coutinho dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Coutinho uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steve.

Coutinho shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Steve is trying to defend but Coutinho finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Coutinho stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Steve to get to his feet.

Coutinho changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Steve looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Coutinho takes a little break here. Steve wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Steve looking for a sweep but Coutinho has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Coutinho controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve tries to improve his position but instead Coutinho has taken his back!

Coutinho is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Steve defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Steve is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Coutinho scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Steve wants to escape the position.
Good control from Coutinho.

Coutinho has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Coutinho keeps control of the position as Steve tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steve is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Coutinho is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Steve is defending well though. Coutinho let's go of the attempt for now.
Coutinho is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coutinho has the hooks in. Steve is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Coutinho throwing damaging strikes from the back! Steve could be in trouble here!
Steve tries to roll but Coutinho sticks to his back.
Philippe Coutinho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Coutinho is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Steve has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Coutinho is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
I would not like to be Steve right now.
Coutinho keeps control of the position as Steve tries to break free.
Coutinho punishes Steve with strikes from the back mount.
Steve tries to escape but Coutinho has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Coutinho is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Steve can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steve showing good submission defense here.

Coutinho is looking for the choke from the back position but Steve is controlling his hands well.
Steve is trying to break free.
Steve is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Coutinho looking for the choke but no joy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Coutinho is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You can see the frustration on Steve's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philippe Coutinho dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Coutinho gets the takedown into side control.

Coutinho decides to stand back up.

Coutinho scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Coutinho working Steve over with strikes.

Coutinho is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Steve defends it well.

Steve looking for submissions off his back.
Coutinho will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Coutinho passes to full mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Coutinho landing punches.
Coutinho is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Steve can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Steve wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve is in bad spot here.

Coutinho is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Coutinho trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Steve doesn't escape.

Coutinho tightening his grip on Steve, looking for the choke.

Steve showing good submission defense here.

Coutinho is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Steve has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coutinho slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Coutinho is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Coutinho gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Coutinho gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Coutinho apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Coutinho drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steve can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Coutinho controls the pace.

Steve looking for subs off his back but Coutinho has passed one foot through into half guard.

Coutinho is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Steve is just riding it out for now. Coutinho eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coutinho works his foot free and advances to mount.
Coutinho tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Steve keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Coutinho working for a submission but Steve is keeping him at bay.
Coutinho lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Coutinho is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Steve to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Steve shrugs it off.
Steve looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Coutinho controlling well, preventing Steve from escaping the position.
I would not like to be Steve right now.
Steve is really stuck here.
Steve is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Coutinho.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steve tries to escape but Coutinho has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Non Ultra Steve has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Philippe Coutinho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Coutinho is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Steve has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steve is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Philippe Coutinho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Coutinho has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Philippe Coutinho!