PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Sukaatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and R Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sukaatti
vs
Couture

200 cm
23
307 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
21
291 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Sukaatti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, R Couture!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

It looks like Seppo Sukaatti has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Couture moves in looking to clinch but Sukaatti pushes him off.
Couture avoids the head kick by Sukaatti.
Couture changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sukaatti tries to avoid it but Couture manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sukaatti to the ground. Sukaatti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Couture checks a leg kick.
Couture tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Couture misses with a few strikes there.
Couture tries to clinch but Sukaatti moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Couture blocks the low kick.
Couture throws a looping overhand right but Sukaatti ducks down to avoid it.
A jab from Couture misses.
Couture checks a leg kick nicely.

Sukaatti drives through and clinches with Couture against the cage.

Couture breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sukaatti tries to land a front kick but Couture steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sukaatti misses with a low kick as Couture jumps back.
Sukaatti walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Couture checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Couture tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Couture blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sukaatti leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sukaatti misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Couture.
Sukaatti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Couture avoids it.
Sukaatti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Couture is defending well for now.
Couture throws a knee to the head but misses.
Couture avoiding damage as Sukaatti throws knees to the body.
Sukaatti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sukaatti misses with a knee strike.
Couture on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sukaatti looking to throw knees to the head but Couture is blocking nicely.
With the fighters up against the cage, Couture throws an elbow but misses.
Couture presses Sukaatti against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sukaatti is breathing heavily.
Couture tries to break free but Sukaatti pushes him back against the cage.

Couture breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Couture throws a nice looking combination but Sukaatti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Sukaatti fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Couture, pushing him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sukaatti.
Sukaatti tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sukaatti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Couture throws a punch but it's blocked by Sukaatti.
Sukaatti lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Couture tries to throw a body punch but Sukaatti avoids it by throwing Couture back against the cage.
Couture managing to block the knees to the body from Sukaatti.
Couture doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sukaatti connects with a nasty looking knee right to Couture's face.

Couture breaks from the clinch.
Sukaatti stuffs the takedown attempt from Couture. Couture gets slowly back to his feet.
Couture connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Couture looks to land a body kick but Sukaatti moved away.
A head kick by Couture misses

and Sukaatti holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Couture lands a left hand.
Sukaatti using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Couture has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Couture fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Couture doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sukaatti blocking some punches.
Couture trying to stall but Sukaatti improves his position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sukaatti.
Couture lands with a left to the head.
Sukaatti tries to land knees in the clinch but Couture avoids the damage to the body.
Couture jumps guard but Sukaatti stands there with Couture around his waist. Couture gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Seppo Sukaatti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of R Couture.
Couture struggles to land a body shot inside as Sukaatti controls his hands.
Couture misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sukaatti misses with a knee to the head.
Sukaatti tries to land a knee to the head but Couture blocks with his arms.
Sukaatti misses with a knee strike.
Sukaatti takes a shot to the head.
Couture misses with a hook from the clinch.
Couture tries to work over Sukaatti's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sukaatti tries to land knees in the clinch but Couture avoids the damage to the body.
Couture working aggressively here.
Couture misses with the head strike.
Sukaatti looking to throw knees to the head but Couture is blocking nicely.
Sukaatti takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to work over Sukaatti's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Couture misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sukaatti tries a knee to the head but Couture blocks it.
Sukaatti tries to stall but Couture uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Couture misses with the head strike.
Couture misses with a body punch.
Couture avoiding damage as Sukaatti throws knees to the body.
Sukaatti with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Couture misses with a punch on the inside.
Couture misses with an elbow over the top.
Couture tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sukaatti blocks an uppercut.
Couture wants to stall.
Couture creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Couture trying to land knees to the body.
Couture misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sukaatti looking to throw knees to the head but Couture is blocking nicely.
A frustrated look appears on Couture's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sukaatti blocking some punches.
Couture misses with some punches.
Sukaatti throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sukaatti tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Couture misses with the head strike.
Couture misses with a punch on the inside.
Couture misses with a hook to the ribs.
Couture has a couple of punches blocked by Sukaatti.
Couture has a couple of punches blocked by Sukaatti.
Sukaatti tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

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 lands a body punch in the clinch.

Couture breaks the clinch.
Couture tries to bum rush Sukaatti with a series of wild strikes but Sukaatti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Couture tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sukaatti swivels and escapes.
Sukaatti throws a head kick that misses
and Couture counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A head kick by Couture misses

and Sukaatti counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sukaatti.
Sukaatti with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Couture wants to break free but Sukaatti has control.
Sukaatti with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Couture managing to block the knees to the body from Sukaatti.
Couture has a couple of punches blocked by Sukaatti.
Couture lands a shoulder strike.
Couture trying to stall but Sukaatti improves his position.
Couture working aggressively here.
Sukaatti misses with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Couture.
Couture misses with a punch on the inside.
Sukaatti tries to land knees in the clinch but Couture avoids the damage to the body.
Couture fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Couture is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sukaatti tries to land a knee to the head but Couture blocks with his arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

R Couture dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Seppo Sukaatti's cut.
That's time! Sukaatti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Couture fails with a takedown attempt.
Sukaatti tried to score with a low kick but Couture checks it.
Couture throws a right and a left that Sukaatti avoids nicely.
Couture throws a series of punches but Sukaatti moves out of range.
Couture misses with a head kick.
Couture throws a sloppy head kick and Sukaatti moves out of range easily.
Sukaatti throws a low kick, looking for Couture's leg but Couture calmly moves out of range.
Couture loads up on a big right hand but Sukaatti slips the punch.

Sukaatti gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sukaatti landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sukaatti connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like R Couture has been cut.
Sukaatti landing knees to the body.
Sukaatti leaning against his opponent.
Sukaatti lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Sukaatti.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sukaatti looking to throw knees to the head but Couture is blocking nicely.
Sukaatti stalling the fight.

Couture breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sukaatti feints and then cracks Couture's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Couture down.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Couture. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sukaatti counters with a low kick, right behind Couture 's knee.
A head kick misses from Couture.
R Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sukaatti throws a series of punches but Couture moves out of range.

Sukaatti clinches up against the cage.
Couture blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sukaatti landing knees to the head.
Couture swings wildly with an uppercut but Sukaatti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sukaatti misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Couture.
Sukaatti throws a knee to the head but misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Couture.
Sukaatti tries to land a knee to the head but Couture blocks with his arms.
Couture tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sukaatti's elbow.
Sukaatti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sukaatti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sukaatti with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Couture lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sukaatti backwards.
Couture doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sukaatti throws a knee to the head but misses.

Couture's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sukaatti tries to close the distance and clinch but Couture swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Couture lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture throws a head kick but Sukaatti moves out of range.
Couture fails with an attempt to clinch.
Couture misses with a series of wild punches.
Couture shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sukaatti but Sukaatti pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sukaatti thows a leg kick but Couture checks it
and Couture counters with a head kick. That will keep Sukaatti thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Couture shoots in but Sukaatti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Seppo Sukaatti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of R Couture.
Sukaatti throws and low kick but Couture moves out of range easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Couture checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Seppo Sukaatti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sukaatti misses with a leg kick
and Sukaatti takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Couture throws a jab but it's blocked by Sukaatti.
Couture moves out of range of the leg kick from Sukaatti.
Sukaatti slaps away a takedown attempt from Couture, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sukaatti with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sukaatti fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Couture.
Sukaatti shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Sukaatti closes the distance and pushes Couture back into the cage.
Seppo Sukaatti has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sukaatti with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sukaatti tries a knee to the head but Couture blocks it.
Couture is trying to break the clinch but Sukaatti is controlling him.
Sukaatti landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sukaatti stalling in the clinch.
Sukaatti looking to throw knees to the head but Couture is blocking nicely.
Sukaatti blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Couture's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sukaatti stuffs the takedown attempt from Couture. Couture gets slowly back to his feet.
Couture misses with a few strikes there.
Couture takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Sukaatti has Couture up against the cage in a clinch.
Couture has a couple of punches blocked by Sukaatti.
Sukaatti slowing the pace effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sukaatti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Couture avoids it.
Couture swings wildly with an uppercut but Sukaatti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Couture on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sukaatti tries to land knees in the clinch but Couture avoids the damage to the body.
Couture taking a breather.
Couture throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A nice left hand lands by Couture.
Couture lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Couture tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sukaatti's elbow.
Sukaatti misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Couture.
Sukaatti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Couture swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sukaatti blocking some punches.
Couture fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sukaatti.
Couture can't find room to land a body shot as Sukaatti controls the action.
Sukaatti missing with knees to the body.
Couture managing to block the knees to the body from Sukaatti.
Couture lands with a short head shot on the inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sukaatti's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Couture lands with a short shot to the head.
Sukaatti tries to land a knee to the head but Couture blocks with his arms.

Couture breaks from the clinch.
Couture misses with a head kick.
Couture moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Sukaatti dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Couture lands a jab to the nose.
Couture 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.
Couture blocks a head kick by Sukaatti.
Sukaatti slaps away a takedown attempt from Couture, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sukaatti throws a head kick that misses.
Sukaatti tries to work over Couture's front leg with a kick but Couture checks it.
Sukaatti misses with a leg kick.

Sukaatti clinches with his opponent.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sukaatti.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Couture misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sukaatti trying to land knees to the body.
Sukaatti tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sukaatti throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Couture blocks it with crossed arms.
Sukaatti is looking to control Couture's arms but Couture gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sukaatti has his back to the cage.
Sukaatti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Couture scores with a nice hook to the head.
Couture misses with a hook from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Couture.
Sukaatti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Couture scores with a shot to the side of Sukaatti's head.
Couture tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sukaatti misses with a knee strike.
Couture misses with a hook from the clinch.
Couture tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Couture tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sukaatti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Couture is defending well for now.
Couture goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sukaatti looking to throw knees to the head but Couture is blocking nicely.
Couture fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Couture swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Couture.
Sukaatti with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Couture jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sukaatti walks away with a smile on his face. Couture gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Couture misses with a series of wild punches.
Sukaatti throws a leg kick that is checked
and Couture counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sukaatti is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Sukaatti moves into range and clinches up with Couture.
Couture doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sukaatti unloads a knee to the mid-section. Couture lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Couture can't break the clinch.
Sukaatti tries to land knees in the clinch but Couture avoids the damage to the body.
Couture fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sukaatti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Couture is defending well for now.
Nice body punch from Couture.
Couture misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Couture fails to land.
Sukaatti tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A right handed body shot lands from Couture.

Couture manages to break the clinch.
A punch combination from Couture misses.
Couture throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Couture takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
R Couture seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Couture tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sukaatti swivels and escapes.
Seppo Sukaatti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of R Couture.

Sukaatti takes the fight into the clinch.
Sukaatti looking to throw knees to the head but Couture is blocking nicely.
Sukaatti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Couture is defending well for now.
Couture is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sukaatti is defending well for now.
Sukaatti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Couture is defending well for now.
Couture misses with a hook from the clinch.

Couture breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sukaatti has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sukaatti tries a knee to the head but Couture blocks it.
Couture lands a nice uppercut.
Couture jumps guard but Sukaatti stands there with Couture around his waist. Couture gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Couture blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sukaatti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sukaatti blocking some punches.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sukaatti.
Couture is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sukaatti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Couture is defending well for now.
Couture misses with a hook from the clinch.
Couture wants to stall.
Sukaatti tries to land a knee to the head but Couture blocks with his arms.
Couture managing to block the knees to the body from Sukaatti.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Couture.
Couture misses with the head strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Couture lands a left hand.
Couture works on Sukaatti's body with a couple of short punches.
Couture swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Couture misses with a hook from the clinch.
Couture swings wildly with an uppercut but Sukaatti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sukaatti is trying to stall.
Couture doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Couture doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sukaatti unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Couture.
A short right from Couture on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Couture fails to land.
Sukaatti connects with a nasty looking knee right to Couture's face.
Couture wants to stall.
Sukaatti with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Couture lands a left hand.
Sukaatti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A knee to the head by Sukaatti.
Couture can't break the clinch.
Sukaatti is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Couture tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Couture on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Couture misses with the head strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sukaatti.
Couture avoiding damage as Sukaatti throws knees to the body.
Couture wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Couture is looking to control Sukaatti's arms but Sukaatti gets an underhook and turns him. Now Couture has his back to the cage.
Couture blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Couture misses with the head strike.
Sukaatti unloads a knee to the mid-section. Couture lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sukaatti's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Couture works on Sukaatti's body with a couple of short punches.
Couture misses with a hook from the clinch.

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 Seppo Sukaatti.
I think Sukaatti 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... R Couture!