PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between George Bittencourt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Talles Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bittencourt
vs
Couture

178 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Bittencourt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Talles Couture!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Couture drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Couture stays in close to Bittencourt's body and controls the position.
Bittencourt wants to get back to his feet but Couture passes into half guard.
Couture performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Couture is pressing down on Bittencourt's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bittencourt is holding on for now.
Bittencourt looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture wants to stand up but Bittencourt has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Couture passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bittencourt is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Couture has taken his back!
Couture tries to keep control of the position but Bittencourt is staying busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bittencourt wants to get back to his feet.
Bittencourt manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Bittencourt.
Couture stops Bittencourt from standing up.
Bittencourt keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Couture gets to his feet. Bittencourt looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
George Bittencourt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bittencourt moves into range and clinches up with Couture.
Bittencourt trying to control the position but instead, Couture has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bittencourt into the cage.
Couture keeps control of Bittencourt as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bittencourt has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.
Couture tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Couture is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Couture on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bittencourt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Couture drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bittencourt pulls his leg out and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bittencourt tries to break the clinch but Couture is controlling the position.
Bittencourt misses with an elbow strike.
Bittencourt stalling in the clinch.
Bittencourt gets underhooks to prevent Couture's takedown attempt.
Couture looks gassed!
Bittencourt landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bittencourt has Couture pressed against the cage.
Couture tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
George Bittencourt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Talles Couture.

Bittencourt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Couture wants to clinch.
Bittencourt clinches but Couture breaks the clinch

so Couture counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Couture trying to control but Bittencourt is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture stops Bittencourt from standing up.
Couture thows a big elbow that misses.

Bittencourt manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Couture feints and as Bittencourt raises his hands in defense, Couture changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Couture wants to control from the top but Bittencourt keeps moving.
Bittencourt is looking to stand up but Couture isn't so interested in that idea.
Couture is looking to work some ground and pound but Bittencourt has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talles Couture dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bittencourt gets caught flat footed, as Couture shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Couture scoring with punches to the head and body.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Bittencourt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Couture pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bittencourt is keeping the position for now.
Bittencourt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Couture is controlling him.
Couture tries to free his leg and advance position but Bittencourt is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bittencourt is looking to stand up but Couture isn't so interested in that idea.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bittencourt dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Couture. That did some damage!
Couture misses with a leg kick.
George Bittencourt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bittencourt wants to clinch

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown. Bittencourt fights it but they end up in guard.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bittencourt keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture sitting in guard here, content to control.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Bittencourt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bittencourt is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Couture stands up and waves to Bittencourt to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bittencourt stuffs the takedown.
Bittencourt throws a series of punches but Couture avoids them all with ease.

Couture closes the distance and clinches.
Couture is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Couture looking to stall.

Couture manages to break the clinch.

Couture has closed the distance and engaged Bittencourt in a clinch.
Bittencourt gets underhooks to prevent Couture's takedown attempt.
George Bittencourt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Talles Couture.

Couture turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Couture manages to end up in side control.
Couture throws an elbow but Bittencourt slips to the side and avoids it well.
Bittencourt wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bittencourt sneaks out the side door and pushes Couture away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
George Bittencourt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bittencourt misses with a two punch combination.
Bittencourt tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Couture counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Couture avoiding damage.
Bittencourt throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Couture wants to get back to striking at distance but Bittencourt won't allow it.
Bittencourt wants to break the clinch but can't.

Bittencourt manages to pull guard.
Couture stops Bittencourt from standing up.
Couture is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Talles Couture showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Couture moves out of range of the body kick from Bittencourt.
Bittencourt closes the distance looking to clinch

and Couture counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bittencourt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Couture is controlling him.

Bittencourt has his feet on Couture's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Couture clinches with his opponent.
Bittencourt tries to break the clinch but Couture is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Couture decides to pull guard.
Couture wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Couture's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bittencourt wants to stand but Couture has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Couture manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Couture working the ground and pound effectively.
Bittencourt really wants to buck Couture off and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Couture lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bittencourt hang on?

Couture gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Couture.
Bittencourt closes the distance looking to clinch

and Couture decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bittencourt's guard.
Couture tries to free his leg and advance position but Bittencourt is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture stops Bittencourt from standing up.
Couture landing some decent shots from guard.
Couture prevents Bittencourt from getting back to his feet.

Bittencourt scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Bittencourt clinches but Couture breaks the clinch

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Talles Couture has got the better of the ground game so far.

Bittencourt pushes Couture off and gets back to his feet.
Couture shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bittencourt as he avoids it easily.
Bittencourt will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Couture wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bittencourt tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Couture stops Bittencourt from getting back to his feet.
Couture thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bittencourt pushes Couture off but Couture dives into side control.
Couture tries to score with some ground and pound. Bittencourt controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
George Bittencourt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bittencourt is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Couture is controlling him well.
Couture remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bittencourt tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

And that's the end of the fight!
Talles Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Couture winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Talles Couture!