PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alonzo Diggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurtis Couturier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diggs's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Trick Daddy - In Da Wind. Couturier comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Forever Angel kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Kurtis Couturier will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Diggs
vs
Couturier

177 cm
25
186 lbs
14 - 7 - 1

176 cm
25
189 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
Conquer

Four Aces Nutrition
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alonzo Diggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurtis Couturier!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couturier wants to clinch but Diggs slips to the side
and Diggs counters with a stiff right hand.
Diggs tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Couturier was well out of range. Poor timing from Diggs.
Diggs loads up on a big right hand but Couturier slips the punch.
Couturier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Couturier swings widly with a right hand
and Couturier takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Diggs keeps the fight on the outside.
Jab by Couturier.
Couturier wants to clinch up but Diggs keeps it at a distance.
Couturier fails with the takedown
and Couturier takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kurtis Couturier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diggs throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Couturier sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A little jabbing left from Couturier on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Couturier clinches up with Diggs and pushes him back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Diggs.
Diggs blocking some punches.
Couturier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Diggs tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Couturier's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couturier throws a head punch that misses.
Still in the clinch, Couturier scores with a nice short uppercut.
Couturier struggles to land a body shot inside as Diggs controls his hands.
A nice left hand lands by Diggs.
A short right from Diggs on the inside.

Couturier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Couturier misses with a looping right.
Couturier swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Diggs scores with a head kick. Couturier tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Diggs shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Diggs lunges at Couturier with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Couturier's hand.
Couturier tests Diggs's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Couturier keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Diggs.
A head kick from Diggs lands but Couturier takes it in his stride.
Couturier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diggs swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Diggs throws a looping overhand right but Couturier ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couturier doesn't manage to clinch there - Diggs circles away.
Diggs throws a head kick but Couturier moves out of range.
Couturier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A little feinted left hand from Diggs on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Couturier closes the distance and clinches.
Diggs working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Couturier.
Couturier has Diggs pressed against the cage, preventing Diggs from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Couturier tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Couturier lands a nice uppercut.
Couturier lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Diggs backwards.

It looks like Alonzo Diggs has been cut.
A short right from Couturier on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Couturier.
Diggs throws a head punch that misses.
Diggs blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Diggs doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diggs creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Couturier fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couturier swings wildly with an uppercut but Diggs uses good head movement to avoid it.

Diggs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diggs fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Alonzo Diggs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diggs swings for the body but Couturier moves out of range.
Diggs misses with a wild body shot.
Couturier swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Couturier clinches with his opponent.
Couturier misses with a hook to the ribs.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Diggs wants to get back to striking at distance but Couturier won't allow it.
Diggs blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Diggs lands with a light punch inside.
Couturier throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Diggss head.
Couturier has a couple of punches blocked by Diggs.
Diggs's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couturier lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diggs backwards.
Couturier slows down the pace here.
Couturier tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Couturier swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Couturier struggles to land a body shot inside as Diggs controls his hands.
Couturier doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diggs blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Couturier stalls.
Couturier lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Diggs backwards.
A shot in the inside from Diggs.
Diggs misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diggs creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Diggs swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Diggs blocks a punch to the side of the head.
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 Alonzo Diggs will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alonzo Diggs's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Couturier throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Couturier throws a right and a left that Diggs avoids nicely.
Diggs dips to his left and cracks Couturier with an uppercut!
Couturier shoots and misses
and Couturier takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Diggs thumps Couturier with a low kick.

Diggs tries to keep at a distance but Couturier has taken the fight into the clinch.
Diggs pushes Couturier back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Diggs is trying to break the clinch but Couturier has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diggs.
Diggs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couturier misses with a hook from the clinch.
Diggs blocking some punches.
Diggs swings wildly with an uppercut but Couturier uses good head movement to avoid it.
Couturier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Diggs slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diggs misses with a hook from the clinch.
Couturier blocks a body shot from Diggs.
Couturier lands a body punch.
Couturier taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Couturier tries to throw a body punch but Diggs avoids it by throwing Couturier back against the cage.
Diggs has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Diggs blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Couturier misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Couturier lands with a short shot to the head.
Diggs swings wildly with an uppercut but Couturier uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kurtis Couturier seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Couturier is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Couturier lands a body shot.
Diggs softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Diggs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Couturier connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Diggs momentarily.
Couturier moves in looking to clinch but Diggs pushes him off.
An attempted straight right counter from Diggs misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diggs keeps the fight on the outside.
Couturier has a takedown stuffed.
It looked like Diggs wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Diggs lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Couturier circles away quickly and effectively.
Couturier throws the left hand but Diggs avoids the punch easily.

Couturier moves into the clinch.
Couturier digs a right hand underneath Diggs's ribcage. Diggs let out a lung full of air as it connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diggs blocks a body shot from Couturier.
Couturier misses with a hook to the ribs.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diggs creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Couturier goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Couturier doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Couturier working aggressively here.
Couturier doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Still in the clinch, Couturier scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diggs.
Couturier misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Couturier lands with a short shot to the head.
Diggs goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diggs is stalling here.
Couturier goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diggs misses with the head strike.
Couturier blocks an uppercut.
Diggs has a couple of punches blocked by Couturier.
Diggs prevents a body shot from Couturier.
Couturier lands with a left to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diggs.
Couturier throws a punch but it's blocked by Diggs.
Couturier doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diggs scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Diggs lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Couturier is trying to stall.
A nice right hand lands inside from Diggs.

Couturier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Couturier lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diggs delivers a nice body kick.
Diggs throws a sloppy head kick
letting Couturier counter with a right hand.
Couturier takes one to the side of the head.
Couturier bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Couturier catches Diggs with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Couturier tries to clinch but Diggs moves out of range.

Couturier gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Couturier scores with an uppercut up the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kurtis Couturier will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alonzo Diggs's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Couturier bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Couturier throws the left hand but Diggs avoids the punch easily.
Diggs throwing a counter right hand but Couturier manages to avoid it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Diggs darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Diggs fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Couturier checks it well.
Diggs looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Couturier might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Diggs throws a body punch but Couturier moves out of range.
Couturier listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Diggs walks into a straight right hand from Couturier.
A combination from Diggs does no damage.
Diggs scores with a nice strike.
Some wild striking there from Couturier.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couturier feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Diggss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Couturier tries to clinch but Diggs moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couturier wants to clinch up but Diggs keeps it at a distance.
Couturier tries for a takedown but Diggs sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Diggs misses with a right hand
and Couturier counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Diggs keeps Couturier at a distance using the push kick.
Diggs misses with the combination.
Diggs throws a hook to the side of Couturier's head but Couturier sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Diggs lands with a straight right. Couturier didn't see that one coming.
Diggs takes one to the chin there.
Diggs slips a straight right by Couturier.
Couturier misses with a left hand
enabling Diggs to counter with a crisp jab.
Diggs keeps Couturier at a distance using the push kick.
Couturier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Good leg kick by Diggs there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diggs scores with a jab to the jaw.
Diggs lands with a right hand.
Couturier tries to clinch there but Diggs circles away.
Diggs swings for the body but Couturier moves out of range.
Diggs misses with an uppercut. Couturier saw that one coming.

Couturier pushes Diggs up against the cage in a clinch.
Couturier tries to work over Diggs's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Couturier fails to land.
Couturier blocking some punches.
Couturier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diggs's elbow.
Diggs misses with a short punch on the inside.
Diggs misses with the head strike.
Diggs blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Couturier misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Couturier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diggs scores with a nice hook to the head.

Couturier manages to break the clinch.
Couturier tries to clinch up but Diggs circles away and keeps his distance.

Couturier moves into the clinch.
Diggs misses with a hook from the clinch.
Diggs gets through Couturier's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Couturier makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Diggs blocking some punches.
Diggs throws a punch but it's blocked by Couturier.

Diggs breaks from the clinch.
Couturier missing with a left hand there. Diggs was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Diggs was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Couturier ducks under a wild hook from Diggs.

Couturier drives through and clinches with Diggs against the cage.
Diggs throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Couturiers head.
Couturier misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couturier blocking some punches.
Couturier lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
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!
Diggs blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Diggs throws a head punch that misses.
Couturier scores with a shot to the side of Diggs's head.
Couturier is trying to stall.
Diggs tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Couturier goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Diggs prevents a body shot from Couturier.
Diggs tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Couturier lands a body shot in the clinch.
Diggs softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Couturier lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Diggs backwards.
Diggs lands a body punch in the clinch.

Diggs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alonzo Diggs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Diggs 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!