PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ross comes to the cage accompanied by Neck of the Woods. This should be fireworks!

Ross
vs
Couture

169 cm
25
163 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

178 cm
27
168 lbs
9 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Ross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Couture!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Couture.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Couture has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Nice cross by Ross.

Couture is rocked!
Couture thows a left - swing and a miss!
Couture is still on wobbly legs! Can Ross finish him?

Couture fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ross to the ground. Couture is now in Ross's guard.
Couture seems to have recovered his senses.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Couture throws a big right hand that misses.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ross swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ross tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ross utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ross is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ross manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ross lands a nice shot to the head.
Ross tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Couture is desperately trying to improve his position but Ross has a good base and remains in mount.
Ross trying to control but Couture is having none of it.
Couture wants to control but Ross is having none of it.
Couture tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Couture is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross with a couple of short strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross lands a big elbow.
Ross lands a big elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ross dominating with strikes here.
Couture tries to lock up and control but Ross gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Couture is wriggling around trying to escape.
Couture wants to hold on but Ross pushes him away.
Ross lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Ross raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Couture trying to control but Ross is working from the bottom.
Ross trying to control the position.
Couture working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ross avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ross is trying to keep Couture in close.

Ross looking for a guillotine here but Couture defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Couture with a flurry of punches that miss.
Couture must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Couture working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Ross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Couture throwing strikes from guard but Ross blocks nicely.
Ross trying to control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Couture throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ross works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ross avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Ross dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ross looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ross tries to land a leg kick but Couture saw it coming and moves away.
Ross moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Ross with a hook.
Couture uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ross.
Ross lands with a kick to the temple. Couture shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Couture connects with a looping right hand.
Ross staying out of range there.
Ross ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ross uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Couture.
Ross scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Couture looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Couture throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Couture swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Couture dives in for a single leg takedown but Ross sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ross gets underhooks to prevent Couture's takedown attempt.
Couture tries to circle away but Ross has him pinned against the cage.
Ross pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ross breaks from the clinch.
Ross lands a nice leg kick that just misses Couture's sensitive parts.
Couture just misses with a punch to the body.
Ross slaps away a takedown attempt from Couture, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mike Ross has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Couture.
A telegraphed right hand from Couture misses the target.
Ross bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Couture lands with an overhand left.
Ross looks for the body kick but Couture saw that one coming.
Couture jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ross stalks Couture and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Couture's face. Couture staggers backwards, shaken.

Couture decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Couture throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ross to regain full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Couture is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ross pulls Couture in close to his closed guard and prevents Couture from doing any damage or advancing position.
Couture postures up in Ross's guard and throws a big left but Ross blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to free his leg and advance position but Ross is retaining full guard.
Ross keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Ross seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mike Ross.
Couture looks to throw the jab but Ross is out of range.

Couture closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ross quickly recovers to half guard.
Couture thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ross's head.
Couture missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ross makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ross.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Couture throws a big right hand that misses.
Ross not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ross has momentary wrist control but Couture slips an elbow through the middle.
Couture throws a strike but Ross rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ross scoring with punches to the head and body.
Couture looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ross is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture keeps trying to improve his position.

Couture has his foot on Ross's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ross works his way back into a safe position though.
Ross content to stall in guard here.
Ross passes into half guard.
Ross blocks the strikes from Couture.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Couture wants to get back to full guard but Ross has passed into side control.
Ross working the head and body with strikes.
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 Mike Ross 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Couture ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Couture ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Couture throws a lazy uppercut
and Ross counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Couture chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ross can pounce on him.
Ross getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mike Ross is winning the standup battle so far.
Couture scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ross fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Couture.
Couture throws a right and a left that Ross avoids nicely.
Ross looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Couture shoots in for a takedown but Ross shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ross scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Couture looks to land a left hand but Ross moved out of range nicely.
Couture shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ross counters with a slapping leg kick.
Couture is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ross.
Couture takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Couture throws a right hand that Ross ducks under and follows up with a left that Ross also avoids with ease.
Couture on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ross. Ross obviously looking to wear him down.
Ross lands a slapping body shot.
Couture takes one to the side of the head.
Couture throws an off balance right hand
and Ross counters with a hugh head kick that removes Couture from consiousness! A brutal head kick knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Mike Ross!
After winning the bout, Mike Ross thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.