PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between the natural Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kerry Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Couture's entrance music is Eminence Front. A fine choice. Ward comes into a darkened arena with his song building. People are strange by The Doors kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

natural Couture
vs
Ward

180 cm
25
285 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

193 cm
23
263 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 21 - 10 - 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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kerry Ward!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Couture counters with a straight right hand.
Ward misses with a few strikes there.

Ward rushes Couture and presses him up against the cage.
Ward prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ward tries to pull guard but Couture won't allow it.

Ward's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Couture tries to keep at a distance but Ward has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ward dodges an elbow strike from Couture.

Ward manages to break the clinch.
A big right from Ward misses.
Ward looks to score with a jab to the body but Couture is just out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Ward. Those never looked like landing.
Ward takes a swing at Couture's ribcage but misses.
Ward fails with the takedown
and Couture counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Couture, pushing him back against the cage.
Couture is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ward is defending well for now.
Couture presses Ward against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ward has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Couture lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ward backwards.

Ward's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ward throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ward lands with a cross.
Ward throws a lazy body kick
and Couture counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ward fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Couture manages to avoid it.
Ward throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Couture on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ward throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ward takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Couture moves out of range as Ward strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Ward closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ward looks gassed!
Couture trying to control but Ward postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Couture.
Ward won't allow Couture to sweep him here.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Couture is keeping the position for now.
Couture wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Ward stands up from Couture's guard - Ward perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ward misses with a right hand

and Couture counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Couture makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Couture working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ward.
Couture lands a body punch.
Couture works on Ward's body with a couple of short punches.
Ward takes an elbow to the forehead.
Couture throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Wards head.
A hook to the body from Couture.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Couture obliges.

Couture turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Couture manages to end up in side control.
Couture prevents Ward from escaping the position.
Ward taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ward takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ward takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Couture postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Ward is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ward takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Couture scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ward to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Couture.
An elbow from Couture crashes against the mat.
Couture throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ward is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ward is trying to get back to his feet.
Couture has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Couture connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Couture looking to finish Ward with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ward!
Ward is looking to improve his position but Couture isn't that keen on the idea.
Couture has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ward's face.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ward's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Couture lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Couture has control of Ward's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ward regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

the natural Couture dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Couture moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ward looks to throw the jab but Couture is out of range.
Ward lands a really nice looking cross but Couture seems unphased.
Ward with a lazy takedown attempt

and Couture counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Couture.

Ward looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Couture working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Couture lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
the natural Couture overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ward looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Ward is keeping the position.
Couture in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Couture passes Ward's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ward on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ward tries to kick Couture off but Couture keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Couture landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Ward is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Couture lands a nice short elbow.
Ward wants to get back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Couture connects with a nice short shot to Ward's temple.

Ward kicks off Couture and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ward moves into the clinch successfully.
Couture lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ward throws an elbow that misses.
Ward fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Couture is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ward pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Ward gets control of Couture's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ward will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Couture advances position into side control!
Ward is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Couture advances to full mount.
Couture working Ward over with strikes here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Couture controlling his opponent.
Couture looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Ward tries to hold on but Couture postures up.
Couture cracks Ward with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Couture lands a nice shot to the head.
A nice elbow there by Couture.
Ward takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Ward working to try and regain half guard.
Couture looking to finish Ward with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ward!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Couture trying to control but Ward is having none of it.
Ward is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture prevents Ward from getting the reversal.
Couture with the ground and pound from mount.
Ward is looking to get to half guard.
Couture lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Couture looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
BOOM! Couture connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Couture looking to control but Ward is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ward really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Couture has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ward's face.
Couture looking to control but Ward is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

the natural Couture dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ward misses with a wild body shot.
Ward misses with a head kick.
Couture ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ward misses with a double jab

and Couture decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ward's guard.
Couture is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Couture won't allow Ward to get back to his feet.
Couture landing some decent shots from guard.
Couture slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ward trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ward is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Couture loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Ward is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Couture is working Ward over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ward is looking to stand up but Couture isn't so interested in that idea.
Couture working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Couture scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kerry Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture chips away with some ground and pound.
Couture with a flurry of punches that miss.
Couture postures up in Ward's guard and throws a big left but Ward blocks it.
Couture in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Couture with a nice head shot there.
Ward not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ward utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Couture works over Ward with some ground and pound from guard.
Couture postures up in Ward's guard and throws a big left but Ward blocks it.

Ward looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Couture lands a couple of elbows.
Ward looking to control.
Couture is looking to work some ground and pound but Ward has wrist control.
Couture might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is trying to keep Couture in close.
Couture is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Couture throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Couture prevents Ward from getting back to his feet.
Couture scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Couture working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ward's head.
Ward wants to stand but Couture is controlling the position.
Couture is stalling in the full guard.
Couture cracks Ward with a solid left hand.
Couture won't allow Ward to get back to his feet.
Couture postures up and lands a big shot to Ward's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture distracts Ward with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Couture throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ward works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Couture working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Couture postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Couture is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ward can do to turn this around?
Couture in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ward throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Couture missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Couture thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Couture lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Couture in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Ward is keeping the position.

Ward is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Couture defends well.
Couture lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
the natural Couture showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Couture, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

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