PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Methuselah Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tj Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Couture comes to the cage accompanied by wait, nvmnd! thats just the tapping of his cane as he walks.. 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
Thomas

225 cm
33
290 lbs
26 - 22 - 1

225 cm
38
255 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Cynical Truth Vegas

Cynical Truth Vegas
//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

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 26 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Methuselah Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tj Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomas misses with a straight left.
Couture lands a body shot.
Couture throws a half hearted mid kick.
Couture pivots, looking for a leg kick but Thomas is out of range and Couture settles back down.
Couture lands with an uppercut that bounces Thomas off the cage and back into range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Couture.
Couture throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thomas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Couture does a little dance to reset his feet.
Couture looks to land a body kick but Thomas moved away.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Couture manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Couture, as that shot connected.
Couture misses with a straight left.

Thomas gets a clinch.
Thomas misses with a body punch.
A short uppercut from Couture.
Couture misses with a punch to the body.
Our sources have told us that Couture has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Thomas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas has a couple of punches blocked by Couture.
Thomas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thomas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Couture lands an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Thomas.
Thomas lands with a short shot to the head.
Thomas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Couture blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thomas avoids a kick to the body.

Thomas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Couture's guard.
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!
Couture trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Couture is keeping the position.
Couture working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Couture throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Couture throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Thomas has passed into side control.
You can see the frustration on Couture's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Couture is looking to reverse the position.

Thomas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Who's going to make the next move?
Couture manages to get back to half guard.
Couture is trying to get back to full guard.
Thomas wants to pass to mount but Couture is defending the position.
Couture is trying to control but can't.
Couture flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Couture manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thomas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thomas passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Couture is looking to reverse the position.
Couture sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Couture tries to roll over but Thomas keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thomas.
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!
Thomas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Couture defending well though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Couture keeps working.
Couture tries to roll over but Thomas keeps him under control.
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 Methuselah Couture will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thomas avoids the head kick by Couture.

Thomas gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Couture blocks an elbow strike from Thomas.
Couture blocking some punches.
Couture lands a body shot.
Thomas throws a head punch that misses.
Thomas misses with a punch on the inside.
Thomas tries to work over Couture's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thomas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thomas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Couture's elbow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Couture lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Couture's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thomas pushes off an throws an elbow but Couture leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Couture blocking some punches.
Thomas lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Thomas lands with a right to the head.
Couture blocks an elbow strike.
Thomas throws a head punch that misses.
Nice elbow from Thomas.
Thomas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tj Thomas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
With the fighters up against the cage, Thomas throws an elbow but misses.

Couture gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Thomas regains guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Couture tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Couture preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Couture trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas working a defensive guard but Couture passes into half guard.
Methuselah Couture overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Couture looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thomas with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Thomas gets full guard.
Couture wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Couture is in close to Thomas's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture throwing strikes from guard but Thomas blocks nicely.
Couture wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Couture stands up over Thomas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thomas doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Couture's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Couture's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Couture is in close to Thomas's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Thomas manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Couture regains half guard.

Couture is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thomas pulls his head out easily.
Couture misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Thomas trying to control from half guard but Couture is working away.

Thomas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
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 Methuselah Couture 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. And we move into the final round!

Thomas moves out of range of the body kick from Couture.
Couture misses with a series of wild punches.
Couture lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Couture.
Thomas tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
Couture darts in looking for a takedown but Thomas gets double underhooks and turns Couture into the cage.
Thomas taking a breather.
Thomas will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Couture up against the cage.
A short uppercut from Couture.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.
Couture swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Couture does a little dance to reset his feet.

Thomas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Couture sprawls well initially but Thomas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Couture striking from the bottom.
Couture tries to roll over but Thomas keeps him under control.

Couture with the active half guard here but Thomas passes nicely into side control.
Thomas advances to full mount.
Couture avoids a series of strikes thrown by Thomas.
Couture throwing hammer fists to the chest of Thomas. What's that going to do exactly?
Couture is trying to escape the mount.
Couture in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Couture is desperately trying to improve his position but Thomas has a good base and remains in mount.

Thomas looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Couture slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Couture 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.
Thomas blocks the strikes from Couture.
Thomas works his way into full mount!
Couture is squirming around, avoiding Thomas's attempts to control the action.
Couture throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture avoids a series of strikes thrown by Thomas.
Thomas looking to control but Couture is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Couture regains half guard.

Couture looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thomas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Couture keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thomas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thomas trying to control from half guard but Couture is working away.
Couture keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture is trying to control but can't.

Thomas is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Couture has managed to free his arm - good work.
Couture landing a few short strikes.
Tj Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture manages to get to full guard.
Couture trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Couture is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tj Thomas.
I think Couture has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!