PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Toney Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mir Steven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Couture
vs
Steven

190 cm
22
268 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
257 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Toney Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mir Steven!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steven looks for a takedown but Couture sprawls well.
Couture keeps the fight on the outside.

Couture has taken the fight to the clinch.
Steven prevents a body shot from Couture.
Couture prevents a body shot from Steven.

Couture has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Steven uses from the top position.
Couture is looking to sweep but instead, Steven has passed into half guard.
Couture has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Steven is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
It looks like Steven is going to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Couture looking for submissions off his back.
Couture won't allow Steven to pass to mount.
Couture is trying to control but Steven passes into side control!
Steven advances to full mount.

Steven is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Couture has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Couture is trying to escape the mount.

That's two 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.
Steven takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Couture wants to hold on but Steven pushes him away.
Steven looking to control but Couture is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Couture in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Steven fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steven scoring with strikes but Couture is staying in there.
Steven can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Couture is looking to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Steven cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Couture swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Steven avoids the attempt from Couture to control.

Steven stands up from mount. Strange move.

Steven closes the distance and clinches.
Steven tries to break free but Couture pushes him back against the ropes.

Couture manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture with a lazy takedown attempt
and Steven counters with a left to the body.
Couture is breathing heavily.
Couture keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Couture shoots and misses

and Steven decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Couture's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steven trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steven throws a big right hand that misses.
Steven trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steven is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Steven passes Couture's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mir Steven dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Couture closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Steven wants to control but Couture is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Couture is working for a submission of some sort.
Steven keeping hold of Couture's head, controlling as best he can.
Steven tries to roll over but Couture keeps him under control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Steven to regain full guard.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Steven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Couture stopping the sweep attempt from Steven.

Steven is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Couture is aware though and is defending well.
Steven is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Steven missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Steven is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ground and pound from Steven.
Steven seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Couture does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Steven is thwarting Couture's attempts to control the position.
Steven wants to stand up but Couture is controlling the position.
Steven trying to control the action but Couture is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steven is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A combination from Steven does no damage.

Couture closes the distance and clinches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Steven as Couture tries to tie him up.

Couture manages to break the clinch.
Steven is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Steven swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Couture misses with a jab, cross combination.

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.
Couture clinches but Steven breaks the clinch

and Steven counters by moving into the clinch.
Steven looking to stall.
Steven missing with knees to the body.
Couture is pressed up against the ropes. Steven has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Couture down to the mat. Couture avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A head kick from Couture lands but Steven takes it in his stride.

It looks like Mir Steven has been cut.
Steven shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Couture as he jumps to the side.

Couture closes the distance and clinches.
Couture tries to stall but Steven uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Couture escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Steven fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Couture is out of range.
Couture delivers a nice body kick.
Couture lands a head kick. Steven smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toney Couture dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mir Steven's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Couture looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Steven. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Steven will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Steven wants to sweep but no luck.
Steven lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Couture!
Steven putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Couture is squirming around, avoiding Steven's attempts to control the action.
Couture working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steven can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Couture is looking to escape.
Steven content just to control the position here.
Mir Steven has got the better of the ground game so far.
Couture is trying desperately to improve position.

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.
Steven looking to finish Couture with some ground and pound. This is bad for Couture!
Couture takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Steven controlling the position easily from mount.
Steven lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steven working for a guillotine from mount but Couture is in no mood to give up.
Steven scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Steven can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Couture is looking to escape.
Couture is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steven looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Couture is squirming around, avoiding Steven's attempts to control the action.
Steven lands a big elbow.
Couture is squirming around, avoiding Steven's attempts to control the action.
Couture is trying desperately to improve position.
Steven with a couple of short strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mir Steven comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Steven 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 Nard Betker scores the fight for Mir Steven!
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight for Mir Steven!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Mir Steven!

Mir Steven wins by unanimous decision!