PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Couture
vs
Stevenson

168 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
137 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Just Fight

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson misses with a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Stevenson. Those never looked like landing.
Couture swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Couture throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stevenson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Couture swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Couture misses with a wild body shot.
Couture throws a right and a left that both miss.
Couture dodges the punch combination from Stevenson.
Couture takes a jab right on the kisser.
Stevenson misses with a wild combination.
Couture stuffs the takedown attempt from Stevenson. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
Stevenson shoots in looking for a takedown but Couture manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stevenson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ryan Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Couture.
Sloppy strikes from Couture. Those never looked like landing.
Couture lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stevenson circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Couture.

Stevenson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Couture bucks up and tries to throw Stevenson off but instead Stevenson has got his back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Couture is trying to get back to his feet but Stevenson has full control of the position and if anything, Couture has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Couture is breathing heavily.
Stevenson is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Craig Stevenson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Stevenson checks the leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Stevenson, right into the meat.

Stevenson moves into the clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Couture moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Couture lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stevenson circles away quickly and effectively.
Stevenson shoots in for a double leg but Couture sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ryan Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Stevenson.
Stevenson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Couture staying out of range there.
Couture moves into range and connects with a jab.
Couture fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stevenson manages to avoid it.
No joy there for Couture, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Stevenson feints and as Couture raises his hands in defense, Stevenson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stevenson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevenson stops Couture from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Couture throws a series of punches but Stevenson avoids them all with ease.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Couture paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevenson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stevenson shoots for a takedown but Couture saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Stevenson as he connects with a hook.
Stevenson scores with a punch to the head.
Stevenson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Stevenson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Couture moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevenson.
Couture fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stevenson moves in looking to clinch but Couture pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Stevenson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Couture as he avoids it easily.
Stevenson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stevenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Couture.
Craig Stevenson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stevenson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevenson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stevenson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Couture throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stevenson.
Stevenson avoids a punch combination nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Couture.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch but Couture swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stevenson scores with a punch to the head.
Stevenson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Couture will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Couture throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stevenson.
Stevenson looks to land a combination but Couture avoids it well.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Couture sprawls well. Couture wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
Ryan Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Stevenson.
Stevenson fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson lands with a right hand.
Couture fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Stevenson on the side of the head.
Stevenson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Stevenson fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture takes one to the chin there.
Couture throws a one two combo.
Stevenson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Couture tries to avoid it but Stevenson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Couture to the ground. Couture escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Couture misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stevenson shoots in but Couture avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Couture is looking to slow Stevenson down with leg kicks.
Couture throws a series of punches but Stevenson moves out of range.
Stevenson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevenson dodges the punch combination from Couture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Couture is having none of it.
Ryan Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Couture lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Couture stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Couture wants it to stay on the feet.
Stevenson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Couture jabs Stevenson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Stevenson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Couture lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stevenson circles away quickly and effectively.
Couture misses with a double jab
and Stevenson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Stevenson lands a two punch combo.
Ryan Couture is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevenson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Couture pinned against the cage. Couture gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stevenson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Couture fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stevenson dives in and grabs Couture's left leg, looking for a takedown. Couture pushes down on Stevenson's head and hops out.
Couture throws a right hand that Stevenson ducks under and follows up with a left that Stevenson also avoids with ease.
A cross from Stevenson lands.
Jab from Stevenson.
Couture displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevenson.

Couture clinches up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A frustrated look appears on Couture's face as he tries to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Couture wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ryan Couture will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stevenson, as that shot connected.
Couture throws a sloppy head kick and Stevenson moves out of range easily.
Horrible takedown by Stevenson or perhaps it was just good defense by Couture which made him look bad.
Couture throws a right and a left that Stevenson avoids nicely.
Couture changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Stevenson darts in and clinches Couture up against the cage.
Couture wants to break the clinch but can't.

Stevenson decides to pull guard.
Couture would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Couture has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Couture wants to stand and escape but instead Stevenson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Stevenson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson is standing up over Couture. Couture looks to escape but Stevenson dives into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture is trying to escape the position but Stevenson is controlling the position.
Couture tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Stevenson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that Stevenson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Couture is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson content just to control the position here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Craig Stevenson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stevenson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Couture stuffs the takedown attempt from Stevenson. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
Couture slips a jab and a cross from Stevenson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Stevenson finds it's way round the side to connect with Couture's head.
Stevenson connects with a looping right hand.
Stevenson tries to clinch up.
Stevenson tries to bum rush Couture with a series of wild strikes but Couture uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A jab from Stevenson does it's job there.
Couture stuns Stevenson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Couture throws a right and a left that Stevenson avoids nicely.
Stevenson throws a nice looking combination but Couture bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Couture throws a nice looking combination but Stevenson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Couture takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Stevenson ducks under a wild hook from Couture.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Stevenson closes the distance and pushes Couture back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Couture takes an elbow to the forehead.
Couture tries to circle away but Stevenson has him pinned against the cage.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson stalks Couture and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Couture's face. Couture staggers backwards, shaken.
Stevenson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Couture avoids it really well and circles away.
Ryan Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Stevenson.
Couture showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stevenson.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Stevenson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Stevenson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stevenson 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Stevenson!
Craig Stevenson got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'