PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Paul Pulido (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Paul Pulido
vs
Couture

200 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
207 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Paul Pulido!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tyson Couture!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Couture wants it to stay on the feet.
Couture lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like John Paul Pulido has been cut.

Couture looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Couture is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pulido defends it well.
Pulido won't allow Couture to pass to mount.
Couture seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pulido does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pulido defending well though.
Couture trying to control the action but Pulido is working from the bottom.

Couture is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pulido is just riding it out for now. Couture eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture is just content to waste time from the top position. Pulido takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Pulido is trying to keep Couture in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Couture shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pulido manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture slips nicely into half guard.
Couture seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pulido does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Couture wants to free his trapped foot but Pulido is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Couture trying to control the pace.
Pulido keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Couture gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Pulido gets caught flat footed, as Couture shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Couture trying to control but Pulido is working from the bottom.
Pulido is breathing heavily.

Couture thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pulido swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Couture scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Couture lands a couple of digs.
Couture advances to half guard.

Couture seems to be working for a kimura but Pulido defends the submission attempt.
Pulido is refusing to be controlled, as Couture sits in half guard.

Couture is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Couture dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Paul Pulido's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Couture tries to clinch but Pulido moves out of range.
Pulido with a lazy takedown attempt

and Couture counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Couture.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Pulido is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Couture stands up over Pulido, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture postures up in Pulido's guard and throws a big left but Pulido blocks it.
Pulido wants to stand up but Couture is controlling him.
Couture is stalling in the full guard.
Pulido utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Couture's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Couture is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Couture tries to free his leg and advance position but Pulido is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Couture gets to his feet - Pulido follows without any prompting.
Couture dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pulido moves out of range as Couture throws a body kick.
Couture lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Couture shoots in and bounces Pulido off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Couture has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Couture not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture working some strikes from top position.
Couture wanted to stand there but Pulido had control of the position.
Couture seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Couture stands up from Pulido's guard - Couture perhaps looking for a knockout.
Couture connects with a solid leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pulido blocks a head kick by Couture.

Couture shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Couture content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture wants to control from the top but Pulido keeps moving.
Couture throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pulido blocks a head kick by Couture.

Couture feints and as Pulido raises his hands in defense, Couture changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Couture content to stall in guard here.
Couture has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pulido is proving hard to escape from.
Couture thows a big elbow that misses.
Pulido on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pulido tries to get out of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture wants to control from the top but Pulido keeps moving.

Couture postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Pulido is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Couture, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Couture is adopting a defensive guard.
Pulido trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Couture looking for a sweep. Not yet Couture, not yet.

Pulido is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Couture manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pulido manages to get himself to full guard.

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.
Couture trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Couture is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Couture gets to his feet - Pulido follows without any prompting.
Tyson Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Couture decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pulido wants to control but Couture is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulido tries to get to full guard but Couture has control of the leg.

Couture stands up out of the half guard.

Couture feints and as Pulido raises his hands in defense, Couture changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pulido is looking to stand up but Couture isn't so interested in that idea.
Pulido keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.

Couture thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Couture thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Couture trying to control but Pulido is working from the bottom.
Couture landing with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyson 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 25:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 26:30

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