PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson comes into the arena with Another One Bites the Dust blaring out of the sound system. This should be fireworks!

Nelson
vs
Couture

185 cm
22
214 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

182 cm
22
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gunnar Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anderson Couture!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nelson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nelson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Couture's waist but Couture gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nelson off to one side.

Couture moves into the clinch.
The referee calls for Couture to work.
Nelson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunnar Nelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nelson blocks it with crossed arms.
Couture misses with a knee to the head.
Couture's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nelson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bit of stalling here from Couture.
Nelson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Couture fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Couture stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Couture wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Couture clinches up with Nelson and pushes him back against the cage.
Couture leaning his opponent against the cage.
Couture should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Couture tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nelson avoids it.
Couture stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Anderson Couture.
Nelson shoots for a takedown but Couture saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nelson swats away the attempt to clinch by Couture.

Couture drives through and clinches with Nelson against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson wants to get back to striking at distance but Couture won't allow it.
Couture is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Couture.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Couture obliges.
Nelson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Couture avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nelson is breathing heavily.
Couture lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nelson backwards.
Couture using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Couture slows down the pace here.
Couture using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nelson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nelson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Couture lands an elbow just above Nelson 's eye.
Couture with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture misses with a knee strike.
Couture is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nelson is defending well for now.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nelson.
Nelson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Couture obliges.
Couture tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Couture trying to land knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Couture lands a knee to the body.
Couture avoiding damage.
Nelson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Couture.
Couture lands an elbow just above Nelson 's eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture misses with a knee strike.
Couture tries to land a knee to the head but Nelson blocks with his arms.
Couture throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knees to the body from Couture.
Nelson managing to block the knees to the body from Couture.
Couture connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nelson's face.
Couture using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nelson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nelson managing to block the knees to the body from Couture.
A short body shot lands from Couture as the two fighters clinch.
Couture misses with a knee strike.
Couture lands a good knee to the midsection. Nelson won't want to take too many of those.
A left hand lands to the body for Couture.
A shot in the inside from Couture.
Couture leaning his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Couture dominated that round.
That's time! Nelson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nelson swats away the attempt to clinch by Couture.

Couture forces Nelson back against the cage and clinches.
Couture trying to land knees to the body.
Couture tries a knee to the head but Nelson blocks it.
Nelson blocks the elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nelson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Couture looking to throw knees to the head but Nelson is blocking nicely.
Couture using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Couture obliges.
Anderson Couture seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Couture controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Couture.
Couture trying to land knees to the body.
Couture landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Couture lands an elbow inside that Nelson shrugs off.
Couture connects with a knee to the head.
Couture landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Couture using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Couture utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Couture landing knees to the head.
Couture manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Couture with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nelson's face.
Nelson avoiding damage as Couture throws knees to the body.
Couture working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nelson managing to block the knees to the body from Couture.
Nelson is trying to stall.
Nelson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Couture prevents it.
Couture lands an elbow just above Nelson 's eye.
Couture throws a knee to the head but misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Couture crunches a lovely knee into Nelson's ribcage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Couture with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nelson is trying to drag Couture to the mat but Couture just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nice elbow from Couture.
Nelson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Couture throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Couture missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Couture is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nelson is defending well for now.
Couture crunches a lovely knee into Nelson's ribcage.
Couture tries to land knees in the clinch but Nelson avoids the damage to the body.
Nelson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nelson avoiding damage as Couture throws knees to the body.
Nelson managing to block the knees to the body from Couture.
Nice elbow from Couture.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nelson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Couture is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunnar Nelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture tries to land knees in the clinch but Nelson avoids the damage to the body.
Nelson managing to block the knees to the body from Couture.
Couture lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Couture showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Couture has Nelson up against the cage in a clinch.
Nelson blocks the elbow strike.
Couture throws a head punch that misses.
A knee to the head by Couture.
Couture tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Couture misses with a knee strike.
Couture keeps control of Nelson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Couture tries to land a knee to the head but Nelson blocks with his arms.
Couture is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nelson is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Couture looking to throw knees to the head but Nelson is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson tries to circle away but Couture has him pinned against the cage.
Couture lands a damaging elbow.
Couture lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nelson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Couture with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Couture putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nelson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Couture missing with knees to the body.
Couture tries a knee to the head but Nelson blocks it.
Couture tries a knee to the head but Nelson blocks it.
Couture tries to land knees in the clinch but Nelson avoids the damage to the body.
Couture missing with knees to the body.
Couture missing with knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nelson.
Couture connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nelson's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson avoiding damage as Couture throws knees to the body.
Couture misses with a knee to the head.
Nelson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Couture gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Couture with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters up against the cage, Couture throws an elbow but misses.
Couture tries to land a knee to the head but Nelson blocks with his arms.
Couture throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nelson blocks it with crossed arms.
Couture tries to land knees in the clinch but Nelson avoids the damage to the body.
Couture misses with a knee to the head.
Nelson tries to pull guard but Couture holds him up against the cage and eventually Nelson drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunnar Nelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nelson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Couture prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture looking to throw knees to the head but Nelson is blocking nicely.
Couture tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gunnar Nelson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture cracks Nelson with a nice body shot.
Couture misses with a knee to the head.
Couture misses with a knee to the head.
Couture tries a knee to the head but Nelson blocks it.
Nelson can't break the clinch.
Couture just leaning against Nelson, taking a breather.
Couture throws a punch but it's blocked by Nelson.
Nelson avoiding damage as Couture throws knees to the body.
Couture is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nelson is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nelson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Couture is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Couture lands a nice knee to the body.
Couture throws a knee to the head but misses.
Couture has Nelson pressed against the cage, preventing Nelson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Couture gets underhooks to prevent Nelson's takedown attempt.
Couture connects with a knee to the head.
Nelson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Couture controlling the action here for a moment.
Couture trying to land knees to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nelson has Couture pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Couture manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nelson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Anderson Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Couture with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Couture has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 25:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 25:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 25:30

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