PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Marshall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tyson Couture acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Marshall
vs
Couture

185 cm
26
205 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

193 cm
28
207 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Experienced

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 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Andrei Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tyson Couture!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marshall gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Couture wants to improve his position but Marshall is controlling well.
Marshall sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Couture defending well though.
Couture slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Couture trying to control the position.
Marshall throwing strikes from guard but Couture blocks nicely.
Couture wants to sweep but no luck.
Marshall with a flurry of punches that miss.
Marshall throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Couture works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Couture has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marshall can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Couture keeping full guard, as Marshall tries to pass.
Marshall missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Marshall throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marshall's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Couture tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Couture controlling the position.
Marshall passes Couture's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Couture trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Marshall looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Couture with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Marshall is looking for a kimura but Couture is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Marshall to get the leverage.
Marshall is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Couture can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Marshall is working for a kimura but Couture is defending it quite comfortably.
Couture is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Marshall's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Marshall's back!
Couture biding his time, looking for the opening.
Marshall has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Couture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall really must keep his cool here. He's controlling one of Couture's hands and whilst he does that, he's got a chance of escaping the position.
Couture is not going to allow Marshall to sit and survive in this position.

Couture is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Couture is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
You can see the frustration on Marshall's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture controlling the position well here. Marshall rolled but Couture kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Marshall avoids the strikes from Couture.
I would not like to be Marshall right now.
Couture wants to control the position but Marshall frees himself and scrambles - Couture manages to regain control in side control.
Marshall wants to get back to his feet but Couture drags him back down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marshall prevents Couture from moving into mount.
Marshall trying to remain calm as Couture controls from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Andrei Marshall will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Marshall connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Couture looks for a takedown but Marshall sprawls well.
Marshall throws a head kick that misses.
Couture doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Marshall counters with a nice leg kick.
Couture changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marshall tries to avoid it but Couture manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marshall to the ground. Marshall escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Andrei Marshall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyson Couture.

Marshall shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Couture napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Couture is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Marshall in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Couture is breathing heavily.
Marshall trying to control the position but Couture is working away.
Couture is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Marshall's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marshall is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Andrei Marshall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Couture is looking to escape.
Marshall scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Couture keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Marshall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Couture keeps working.
Couture gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall wants to pass the guard but Couture is keeping the position.
Marshall wanted to stand there but Couture had control of the position.
Marshall throws a strike but Couture rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Couture is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marshall wants to get back to his feet but Couture is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture trying to control but Marshall is working from the bottom.
Couture slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Marshall 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.
Marshall trying to control the position.

Tyson Couture has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Marshall throws a low kick, looking for Couture's leg but Couture calmly moves out of range.

Marshall shoots in and gets a takedown into Couture's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marshall postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Couture is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Marshall, into his guard.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Marshall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marshall working a defensive guard here.
Couture content to stall in guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marshall swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Marshall dominated that second round.
That's time! Marshall's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Couture is defended easily by Marshall.
Couture fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Marshall drives through with a takedown into Couture's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Couture looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Marshall throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Couture works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Marshall looking to pass the guard.
Marshall makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall advances to half guard.

Marshall is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Couture defends it well.
Couture punching from the bottom.
Couture trying to hold on to Marshall's head to control him but Marshall postures up.
Couture is trying to stand.
Marshall missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Marshall tries to pass to full mount but Couture defends it.

Marshall is trying to work for a kimura but Couture is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture is looking for a sweep. Marshall is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Marshall is looking for a kimura but Couture is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Marshall to get the leverage.
Marshall landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Marshall is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Couture defends it well.
Tyson Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice strikes from Marshall there.
Couture manages to get to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marshall trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall stopping the sweep attempt from Couture.
Couture trying to keep a closed guard but Marshall is proving a slippery customer.
Couture wants to sweep but no luck.
Marshall is looking to work some ground and pound but Couture has wrist control.
Marshall throwing strikes from guard but Couture blocks nicely.
Marshall scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Andrei Marshall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture is not content to let Marshall control the position.
Couture is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Marshall goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Couture rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Marshall's guard! Nice work there by Couture!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Marshall showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marshall has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrei Marshall!