PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Nordquist (ranked 2538 p4p, 120 weight class) and Marilson Coutinho (ranked 3525 p4p, 154 weight class). Marilson Coutinho acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Nordquist
vs
Coutinho

170 cm
30
148 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

165 cm
25
138 lbs
6 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Nordquist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marilson Coutinho!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coutinho uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nordquist.
Nordquist looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Coutinho lands a body shot.
Nordquist scores with a hook.
We've been told by Nordquist's head coaches at Never TaP Gym Only For killers that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Nordquist takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nordquist misses with an uppercut.
Nordquist misses with a hook.
Nordquist swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nordquist ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Coutinho moves away.
A shot to the liver by Coutinho. Beautiful body shot.
Nordquist throws a half hearted mid kick.
Coutinho catches Nordquist with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nordquist misses the jab.
Nordquist takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nordquist avoids the head kick by Coutinho.
Coutinho keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nordquist throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Coutinho counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nordquist won't be happy with that.
Nordquist tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nordquist struggling a bit here.

Coutinho looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nordquist manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Nordquist trying to control here.
Nordquist controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nordquist tries to kick Coutinho off in order to stand up. Coutinho Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Coutinho misses with the ground and pound.
Coutinho is looking to take a break and control but Nordquist is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nordquist tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Coutinho is looking for the choke from the back position but Nordquist is controlling his hands well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marilson Coutinho dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nordquist misses the shot to the body.
Nordquist fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Coutinho manages to avoid it.
Coutinho jabs Nordquist to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nordquist closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nordquist pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Coutinho uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nordquist.
Nordquist connects with the punch.
Nordquist takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nordquist misses with a lunging right hand

and Coutinho counters with a single leg into guard. Nordquist didn't expect that.
Coutinho throws a big right hand that misses.
Nordquist seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nordquist working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nordquist wants to get back to his feet but Coutinho is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nordquist looking to hit a scissor sweep but Coutinho is one step ahead there.
Nordquist wants to hit a switch here but Coutinho passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Nordquist there!

Coutinho goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Nordquist turns into him and now he's in Coutinho's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Coutinho had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nordquist defends it easily.
Nordquist controlling from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Coutinho is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nordquist defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marilson Coutinho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Coutinho walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Marilson Coutinho has been cut.
Nordquist misses with a straight right.
And Coutinho tries to counter it with a takedown but Nordquist pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Coutinho connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Coutinho swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nordquist lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nordquist lands with a right hand.
Coutinho lands with a good body shot.
Nordquist has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nordquist there as he acknowledges the shot.
Coutinho shoots in but no luck this time.
Coutinho closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nordquist circles away.
Coutinho ducks under a wild hook from Nordquist.
Nordquist is looking to land body kicks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Coutinho's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Nordquist connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Coutinho scrambles back to his feet.
A punch lands to the side of Nordquist 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Coutinho tests Nordquist's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Coutinho takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coutinho swings for the body but Nordquist moves out of range.
Coutinho avoids the head kick by Nordquist.

Coutinho shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nordquist is trying to defend but Coutinho finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Nordquist pushes Coutinho off looking to stand but Coutinho dives back in and keeps control.
Nordquist is looking to improve his position.

Coutinho is working for a submission of some sort.
John Nordquist has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Coutinho connects with a nice short shot to Nordquist's temple.
Nordquist manages to get to full guard.
Nordquist thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Coutinho avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Nordquist.
I think Coutinho has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Marilson Coutinho!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Marilson Coutinho!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Marilson Coutinho!

Marilson Coutinho wins by unanimous decision!