PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between the natural Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Loka (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.

natural Couture
vs
Loka

180 cm
23
288 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

190 cm
21
285 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, the natural Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Erik Loka!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Loka tries to land a front kick but Couture steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Loka thumps Couture with a low kick.
Loka wants to clinch up but Couture keeps it at a distance.
Loka misses with a low kick.
Loka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Loka feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Couture's calf.

Loka gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Loka crunches a lovely knee into Couture's ribcage.
Couture is breathing heavily.
Couture on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Loka stalling in the clinch.
Loka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Loka misses with a knee to the head.
Loka creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Loka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Couture.
Loka stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Couture on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loka taking a breather.
Couture blocks the elbow strike.
Loka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Couture is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Loka is defending well for now.
Couture takes an elbow to the temple.
Loka has Couture pressed against the cage.
Loka creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Couture's defenses.

It looks like the natural Couture has been cut.
Loka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Loka lands a damaging elbow.
Loka taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Loka scores a nice knee to the body.
Loka with a knee to the head.
Loka connects with a nasty looking knee right to Couture's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loka throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Loka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Couture avoids it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Loka takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Loka throws an elbow but it misses.
Couture throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Loka working Couture over with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Loka missing with knees to the body.
Couture takes an elbow to the temple.
Loka pushes off an throws an elbow but Couture leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Loka landing knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Loka.
Couture managing to block the knees to the body from Loka.
Couture misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Loka.
Loka just leaning against Couture, taking a breather.
Loka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loka tries to land a knee to the head but Couture blocks with his arms.
Couture managing to block the knees to the body from Loka.
Loka is pushing Couture up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Loka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Loka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Loka will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Couture up against the cage.
Loka lands an elbow just above Couture 's eye.
Loka tries to land a knee to the head but Couture blocks with his arms.
Loka avoids the elbow strike from Couture, against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Loka.
Loka comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Couture pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Couture avoids it.
Couture takes an elbow to the temple.
Loka creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Couture's defenses.
Loka has Couture pushed against the cage.
Couture dodges an elbow strike from Loka.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Loka obliges.
Loka throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Nice elbow from Loka.
Couture takes a knee to the side of the body.
Loka lands a nice elbow.
Loka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Couture has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Loka will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Couture up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture takes a knee to the side of the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Loka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Loka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on the natural Couture's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Loka moves into the clinch.
Loka is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Couture throws an elbow that misses.
Couture tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Loka avoids it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Couture lands a body punch.
Loka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Loka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Couture avoids it.
A head punch on the inside from Couture fails to land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Loka tries to land knees in the clinch but Couture avoids the damage to the body.
Loka lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture avoiding damage as Loka throws knees to the body.
Loka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Couture blocks an elbow strike from Loka.
Couture trying to land knees to the body.
Come on Loka - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Couture on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Loka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Loka is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Loka lands an elbow inside.
Loka'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.
Couture misses with a knee to the head.
Loka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Couture has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Loka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loka missing with knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Loka.
Loka comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Loka lands an elbow that stopped Couture in his tracks for a moment.
Loka trying to land knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Couture just misses with a elbow thrown towards Loka's brow.
Loka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Couture blocks it with crossed arms.
Loka using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Loka missing with knees to the body.
Erik Loka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Knees in the clinch landing for Loka.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Couture takes an elbow to the forehead.
Loka throws an elbow that misses.
Loka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Couture lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Loka stalls.
Couture avoiding damage as Loka throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loka trying to land knees to the body.
Loka throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Loka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Couture on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Loka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Loka obliges.
Couture avoiding damage as Loka throws knees to the body.
Loka misses with a knee strike.
Loka blocks a body shot from Couture.
Loka working Couture over with knees to the body.
Loka lands a good knee to the midsection. Couture won't want to take too many of those.
Couture misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Loka.
Couture blocks an elbow strike from Loka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loka tries to land knees in the clinch but Couture avoids the damage to the body.
Couture creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nice elbow from Loka.
Loka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Couture throws a punch but it's blocked by Loka.
Couture can't find room to land a body shot as Loka controls the action.
Couture takes an elbow to the forehead.
Loka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Loka slowing the pace effectively.
Couture lands an elbow that stopped Loka in his tracks for a moment.
Couture is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Loka is defending well for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture missing with knees to the body.
Couture trying to land knees to the body.
Couture blocks an elbow strike from Loka.
Loka controlling the action here for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Loka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on the natural Couture's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Couture checks a low kick from Loka.
Loka thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Couture if he has to take too many more of those.
Couture misses with a wild body shot.
Couture swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Loka tries to land a front kick but Couture steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Loka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Loka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Loka. That's going to slow Couture down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Loka looks to clinch
and Couture counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loka throws a push kick but Couture slaps the foot to one side.
Loka moves in looking to clinch but Couture pushes him off.
Loka clinches but Couture breaks the clinch

and Couture counters with a single leg into guard. Loka didn't expect that.
Loka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Couture accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Couture loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture throws and elbow that misses. Loka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Couture's guard. Nice move by Loka!
Couture managing to control the position.
Loka is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
the natural Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Loka has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Loka wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Couture wants to sweep but no luck.
Erik Loka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Loka stays in close to Couture's body and controls the position.
Couture looking to control but Loka passes into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Couture tries to roll over but Loka keeps him under control.

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 the natural Couture.
I think Loka 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Loka!