PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Stroud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stroud comes to the cage accompanied by Vallenfyre - Iconoclast. 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.

Stroud
vs
Couture

178 cm
23
168 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

178 cm
23
168 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Stroud!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Couture!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Stroud.
Stroud misses with a straight left.
Couture with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stroud counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Couture wants to clinch.
Couture is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stroud sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
No joy there for Stroud, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Couture slips a jab and a cross from Stroud.
Stroud lands a glancing blow to the side of Couture's head.
Couture looks to land a combination but Stroud avoids it well.
Nice sprawl there from Stroud as Couture shoots in.
Tom Stroud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Couture.
Couture changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stroud tries to avoid it but Couture manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stroud to the ground. Stroud escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Couture looks to score with a jab to the body but Stroud is just out of range.

Couture shoots in and bounces Stroud off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Stroud looking to hit a scissor sweep but Couture is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroud keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Stroud pulls Couture in close to prevent any damage.
Couture missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Couture accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stroud looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stroud working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Couture.
Stroud is trying to keep Couture in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tom Stroud.
Couture throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stroud's waist but Stroud gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Couture off to one side.
Couture shoots for a double leg takedown but Stroud sprawls well. He's pushed Couture's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stroud misses with a looping left.
Stroud tries to clinch up.
Stroud misses with a body shot.
Stroud works over Couture's head and body with a nice combination.
Some wild striking there from Stroud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Couture moves into the clinch successfully.
Stroud is trying to break the clinch but Couture is controlling him.

Stroud escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Couture changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stroud looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Couture scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Stroud to see if he's OK.
Couture cracks Stroud with a big elbow.
Stroud is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stroud defending against the ground and pound.
Couture sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Stroud is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Stroud manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture prevents Stroud from improving his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stroud moves into full guard.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Stroud is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Couture in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tom Stroud will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stroud, as that shot connected.
Tom Stroud seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stroud swinging wildly here.
Stroud stuffs the takedown attempt from Couture. Couture gets slowly back to his feet.
Couture closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Couture shoots for a takedown but Stroud saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stroud thows a left - swing and a miss!
Couture shoots in looking for a takedown but Stroud manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Couture's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tom Stroud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Couture.
Stroud lands a nice looking body shot.
Stroud will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tom Stroud is winning the standup battle so far.
A combination from Stroud does no damage.
Couture avoids the head kick by Stroud.
Couture shoots in and drives through. Stroud sprawls well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stroud throws a hook but Couture blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroud tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Couture was well out of range. Poor timing from Stroud.
Tom Stroud is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stroud gets the takedown into side control.
Stroud in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Stroud trying to control the position but Couture is working away.
Stroud working the ground and pound from side control.
Couture takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Stroud trying to control the position but Couture is working away.
Stroud lands a nice forearm strike.
Stroud controlling from side mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Couture on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroud throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Couture works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Couture trying to control from the bottom.
Stroud throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stroud is trying to control the action in half guard but Couture is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stroud prevents Couture from improving his position.
Couture trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroud lands with a punch from half guard.
Couture wants to control but Stroud is keeping busy.
Stroud prevents Couture from improving his position.
Stroud landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Stroud is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Stroud is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Couture has managed to free his arm - good work.
Stroud missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Stroud working the ground and pound effectively.
Stroud scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Stroud lands a nice shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stroud is landing with some decent strikes but Couture is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Couture is rocked!
Couture tries to lock up and control but Stroud gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Couture is still in real trouble! Can Stroud finish him?
Stroud landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stroud is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Couture is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stroud avoids the attempt from Couture to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Stroud dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Couture closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Couture seems to have recovered his senses.
Couture is looking to stall here but Stroud recovers full guard.
Couture is looking to pass into half guard but Stroud pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Stroud is in guard.
Couture throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Tom Stroud overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stroud won't allow Couture to sweep him here.
Couture doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Couture has momentary wrist control but Stroud slips an elbow through the middle.
Stroud with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Stroud from controlling successfully.
Couture preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Couture escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stroud gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stroud distracts Couture with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stroud loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Stroud from controlling successfully.
Stroud postures up and lands a big shot to Couture's brow.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Stroud's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Stroud trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Couture working a defensive guard here.
Stroud with a nice head shot there.

Couture looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stroud throws a strike but Couture rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroud bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Couture's guard.
Stroud wants to stand but Couture has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stroud is working Couture over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Couture bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stroud's guard.
Couture pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stroud is keeping the position for now.
Stroud is trying to keep Couture in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroud looking to hit a scissor sweep but Couture is one step ahead there.
Couture throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture postures up.
Stroud wants to get back to his feet but Couture is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Stroud showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Stroud 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Stroud!
After winning the bout, Tom Stroud thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.