PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kurtis Couturier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Couturier comes into the arena with Forever Angel blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Couturier
vs
Kim

176 cm
27
189 lbs
13 - 5 - 2

190 cm
32
195 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Milwaukee's Best 160 (80% laundry)

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 13 - 5 - 2, fighting out of New York, Kurtis Couturier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roberto Kim!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim looks for the body kick but Couturier saw that one coming.
Couturier scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Couturier throws a half hearted mid kick.

Couturier clinches up against the cage.
Kim throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kim drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Couturier gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Kim breaks from the clinch.
Couturier has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Couturier feints and as Kim raises his hands in defense, Couturier changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Couturier stopping the sweep attempt from Kim.
Couturier trying to control but Kim is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couturier is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Kim looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Couturier got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kim has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Couturier has managed to get both his arms back between Kim's legs - danger averted.

Couturier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kim is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Couturier trying to control but Kim is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kim is on top in guard.
Couturier trying to keep a closed guard but Kim is proving a slippery customer.
Kim scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kim makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Couturier keeping moving, preventing Kim from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couturier working a defensive guard here.
Kim cracks Couturier with a solid left hand.
Couturier trying to control the position here.
Kim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Couturier keeping moving, preventing Kim from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Couturier holds on and takes a little breather.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kim passes easily into side control. Nice work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Couturier keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim tests Couturier's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The fighters circling - Couturier throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Couturier throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Couturier misses with a looping right.
Kim tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Couturier connects with a looping right hand.
Couturier looks to throw the jab but Kim is out of range.

Kim shoots in and gets a takedown into Couturier's guard.
Couturier controls Kim momentarily but Kim frees himself.
Couturier seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kim wants to control from the top but Couturier keeps moving.
Couturier is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Couturier is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Couturier has control of Kim's left arm, preventing Kim from doing any damage.
Couturier keeping moving, preventing Kim from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Couturier buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kim misses with a kick to the body.
Kurtis Couturier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Couturier fails to land with a series of punches.
Couturier with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kim connects with a crisp jab.
Kim bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
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 Kurtis Couturier will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Couturier misses with a jab, cross combination.
Couturier misses with a series of wild punches.
Kim looking to land some kicks to the body here.
It looked like Couturier wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kim throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Couturier counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kim fails with a takedown attempt.

Kim fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Couturier to the ground. Kim is now in Couturier's guard.
Couturier has control of Kim's left arm, preventing Kim from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kim is pushing down on Couturier's leg trying to pass to half guard. Couturier is fighting to maintain full guard but Kim has managed to sneak the leg through.
Couturier keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Couturier has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kim is working away from the top position though.
Couturier preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couturier is staying active underneath Kim, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kim winds up and cracks Couturier with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Couturier is not content to let Kim control the position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Kim working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Couturier wants to improve his position but Kim is controlling well.
Kim trying to mount his opponent but Couturier defends it.
Couturier trying to control but Kim postures up.
Kim has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kim seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Couturier does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kim keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kim fails with the takedown.
An inside leg kick from Couturier misses.
Kim shoots in for a takedown but Couturier shows good takedown defense.
Couturier seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kurtis Couturier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Kim.
Kim shoots in but no luck this time.
Couturier lands a nice looking body shot.
Couturier throws a series of strikes that have Kim backpedaling.
Kim shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Couturier just misses with a punch to the body.
Kim feints the counter takedown.
Kim pushes Couturier away with a front kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kim. Couturier does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kim looks to score with a jab to the body but Couturier is just out of range.
Kim drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kurtis Couturier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kim.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Couturier looks to throw the jab but Kim is out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kim. That's going to slow Couturier down.
Kim shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Couturier sprawls well. Couturier wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kim gets slowly back to his feet.

Kim looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Couturier!
Kim working away.
Couturier managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kim.
Couturier is looking for a sweep.
Kim working the body and head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couturier is not content to let Kim control the position.

Kim thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kim is looking to take a break and control but Couturier is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kim cracks Couturier with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Couturier being controlled for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kim tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
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 Kurtis Couturier will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kim throws a hook but Couturier blocks it.
Couturier feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Kim shoots for a double leg takedown but Couturier sprawls well. He's pushed Kim's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Couturier scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Couturier seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Couturier tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kim knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kim manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kim is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couturier landing with the ground and pound.

Kim looking for a guillotine here but Couturier defends easily.
Couturier throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couturier not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Kim looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kim not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Couturier would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kim looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kim shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Couturier as he avoids it easily.
Kim shoots in and drives through. Couturier sprawls well.
Kurtis Couturier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roberto Kim.
Kim misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Couturier.
Roberto Kim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Some bone on bone action there as Kim checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Couturier thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kim changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kim throws a head kick but Couturier moves out of range.
Couturier connects with a leg kick. Kim looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Couturier lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kim circles away quickly and effectively.

Couturier closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Couturier lands in his opponent's guard.

Kim throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Couturier wants to control from the top but Kim keeps moving.
Couturier tries to free his leg and advance position but Kim is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couturier has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kim is proving hard to escape from.
Kim tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Couturier has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kim preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Kim looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Couturier pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kim is keeping the position for now.
Couturier slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Couturier postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Couturier wants to stand but Kim has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kim circles away from the clinch attempt.
Couturier fails with an attempt to clinch.
Couturier with a hook.
Kim moves out of range of the strikes.
Kim shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Couturier as he avoids it easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kim, right into the meat.
Couturier's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kim under the eye.
Kim ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Couturier lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kim has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Kim is rocked!

It looks like Roberto Kim has been cut.
Couturier misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kim is still on wobbly legs! Can Couturier finish him?
Kim misses with a kick to the body
and Couturier counters with a big right hand! Oh Kim is in trouble here! Couturier follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kurtis Couturier!
Kurtis Couturier decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Roberto Kim spoke after the fight, saying 'HOOOODOOR!'.