PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Miller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Handy 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.

Miller
vs
Couture

190 cm
20
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Las Vegas, Mike Miller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Handy Couture!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Miller gets caught flat footed, as Couture shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Couture stopping the sweep attempt from Miller.
Miller wants to stand up but Couture is controlling him.

Miller is looking for a triangle but Couture pushes his legs off easily.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Miller trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture prevents Miller from getting back to his feet.
Couture scoring with some ground and pound.
Miller trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Miller scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Miller tries to clinch up but Couture circles away and keeps his distance.

Couture closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Couture tries to pass the half guard into mount. Miller knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Couture prevents Miller from improving his position.
Couture tries to pass to full mount but Miller defends it.
Miller has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Couture is working away from the top position though.
Couture looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Miller with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Miller wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Couture sitting in guard here, content to control.
Couture must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Miller pulls Couture in close to prevent any damage.
Miller is breathing heavily.
Miller is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Miller can't keep his opponent in guard - Couture advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
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 Miller's temple.
Couture working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture controlling the pace.

Couture decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Miller doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Couture counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Couture controlling from the top position.
Couture connects with a couple of short punches.
Miller controls Couture momentarily but Couture frees himself.
Couture controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Couture gets to his feet. Miller looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Couture moves out of range of the body kick.
Couture misses with a takedown attempt - Miller sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Miller tries to clinch up

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Miller trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Handy Couture dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A head kick misses from Miller.
Couture circles away from the clinch attempt

and Couture moves into the clinch.
Miller tries to pull guard but Couture holds him up against the cage and eventually Miller drops back down to his feet.
Couture stalling.
Miller is trying to break free.
Couture stalling the fight.
Miller tries to pull guard but Couture won't allow it.
Miller tries to pull guard but Couture won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Miller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miller stalling in the clinch but Couture improves position.
Couture has Miller pushed against the cage.
Couture gets underhooks to prevent Miller's takedown attempt.

Couture gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Miller wants to control but Couture is keeping busy.
Handy Couture has got the better of the ground game so far.
Miller tries to roll over but Couture keeps him under control.
Couture is breathing heavily.
Miller trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller wants to get back to his feet.
Miller trying to control from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Miller wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Miller lands with a cross.

Couture shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Couture wants to stand and escape but instead Miller has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Miller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Couture is keeping the position for now.
Couture is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller won't allow Couture to sweep him here.
Miller scoring with some ground and pound.
Couture is trying to keep Miller in close.
Miller pushes down on Couture's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Miller trying to mount his opponent but Couture defends it.
Miller content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Miller trying to control from half guard but Couture is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miller tries to pass to full mount but Couture defends it.
Couture landing small, sideways elbows.
Miller wants to control but Couture is keeping him busy.
Couture slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Miller wants to pass the guard but Couture is keeping the position.
Miller preventing the sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Miller closes the distance looking to clinch

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miller controls Couture momentarily but Couture frees himself.
Miller tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Miller throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Miller wants to get back to his feet but Couture is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Miller working a defensive guard here.
Miller wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Handy Couture showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Couture shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Miller pinned against the cage. Miller gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Miller tries to clinch but Couture is having none of it.
Mike Miller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couture keeps the fight on the outside.

Couture shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Miller's guard.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Miller is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Couture accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Miller looking to control.
Miller has his hands on Couture's head, controlling the position.
Miller with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Couture can't handle though.
Miller has control of Couture's left arm, preventing Couture from doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miller keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Miller is trying to keep Couture in close.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Miller gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Couture counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Couture postures up in Miller's guard and throws a big left but Miller blocks it.
Miller is trying to keep Couture in close.
Miller can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Couture controls the pace.
Couture passes Miller's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Couture with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miller is trying to stand.

Miller makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Mike Miller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Miller has his takedown stuffed

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown. Miller fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Miller wants to get back to his feet but Couture is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Couture is in close to Miller's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Couture showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Couture works over Miller with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miller working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Couture doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Couture manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Couture is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Miller is keeping the position.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Couture scoring with some ground and pound.
Couture looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Miller puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Miller tries to get to full guard but Couture has control of the leg.
Couture slips a nice elbow through Miller's hands, connecting with Miller's forehead.
Couture trying to control the pace.
Miller looks like he's trying to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Handy Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Couture winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

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