PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Luke Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Fourie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fourie has chosen ''Not Afraid'' by Eminem as his entrance music. Alexander Fourie told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Couture
vs
Fourie

178 cm
22
168 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

174 cm
29
160 lbs
8 - 10 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Dynamic Nutrition $35 159 Recovery

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Fourie!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Daniel Bishop and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fourie with a poor takedown
and Couture counters with a nice body shot.
Fourie fails with the takedown
enabling Couture to counter with a crisp jab.
Fourie shoots for a double leg takedown but Couture sprawls well. He's pushed Fourie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Luke Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Fourie.
Fourie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Couture throws a head kick that misses.
Couture swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fourie tries for a takedown but Couture circles away easily
and Couture makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Couture misses with a few strikes there.
Couture thows a body shot but no joy.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fourie.
Fourie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Couture as he avoids it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fourie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Couture as he jumps to the side.
Couture cracks Fourie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture looks to land a combination but Fourie avoids it well.
Fourie shoots in but Couture avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A combination from Couture does no damage.
Fourie doesn't manage to clinch there - Couture circles away.
Couture thows a body shot but no joy.
Fourie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Couture.

Fourie dives in and scores a takedown into Couture's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Couture kicks Fourie off and gets to his feet.
Fourie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Couture thows a body shot but no joy.
Fourie moves out of range as Couture strikes.
Sloppy strikes from Couture. Those never looked like landing.
Fourie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Couture as he jumps to the side.
Luke Couture is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Couture thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture throws a combination that misses

and Fourie counters with a single leg into guard. Couture didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fourie tries to free his leg and advance position but Couture is retaining full guard.

Fourie has gone for a leg lock! Couture slips out almost immediately though and dives into Fourie's guard.
Couture has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fourie is proving hard to escape from.
Couture stopping the sweep attempt from Fourie.

Couture gets to his feet - Fourie follows without any prompting.
Fourie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Couture tries to avoid it but Fourie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Couture to the ground. Couture escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fourie tries for a takedown but Couture sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fourie throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Couture tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Fourie is in Couture's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Couture has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Fourie off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Couture will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fourie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Couture.
Fourie avoids the body shot from Couture.
Fourie slips under a jab.
Couture defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fourie.
Couture lands a really nice looking cross but Fourie seems unphased.
Couture misses with a body punch

and Fourie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fourie trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Couture pushes Fourie off and gets back to his feet.
Couture throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fourie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fourie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fourie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Couture's waist but Couture gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fourie off to one side.
Fourie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Couture is fending him off so far but Fourie persists. Nope, Couture circles away and we're back to standing.
Couture swings for the body but Fourie moves out of range.
Fourie fails with the takedown.
Fourie moves in looking to clinch but Couture pushes him off.
Fourie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Couture avoids it really well and circles away.
Couture cracks Fourie with an open hand slap.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fourie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
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 Luke Couture will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Couture throws a hook to the side of Fourie's head but Fourie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fourie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fourie walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sloppy strikes from Couture. Those never looked like landing.
Couture comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Fourie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Couture.

Fourie closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Couture's guard.
Fourie tries to free his leg and advance position but Couture is retaining full guard.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Fourie from controlling successfully.
Couture is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Fourie drops back looking for a leg! Couture is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Couture manages to kick Fourie off! Fourie jumps back into Couture's guard.

Fourie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Couture looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Couture looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Couture!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Couture stands up.
Couture uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fourie.
Fourie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Couture as he jumps to the side.
Fourie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Couture avoids it really well and circles away.
Luke Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Fourie.
Couture misses with a body shot.
Luke Couture is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture misses the shot to the body.
Couture throws a series of punches but Fourie avoids them all with ease.
Fourie moves away from the strike by Couture.
Luke Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fourie shoots in looking for a takedown but Couture manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fourie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Couture is looking to wear down Fourie with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nice sprawl there from Couture as Fourie shoots in.
Fourie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fourie dodges the punch combination from Couture.
Fourie blocks a head kick by Couture.
Couture misses with a double jab.
Couture misses with a jab, cross combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fourie.
Fourie closes the distance but Couture moves to the side
and Couture counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fourie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Couture.
Couture looks to score with a jab to the body but Fourie is just out of range.
Fourie shoots in for a takedown but Couture shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Couture misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Fourie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Couture is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Fourie moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Couture has worked his arm free - good work by Couture!

Fourie is trying to get an arm triangle but Couture is defending well.

Fourie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fourie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fourie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Couture is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Fourie prevents Couture from escaping the position.

Fourie tries for a kimura but Couture is defending well.
Couture knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fourie on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fourie is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Couture looks calm but he's in trouble here. Fourie gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Couture is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Fourie lets go of the hold and Couture can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Alexander Fourie!
A victorious Alexander Fourie thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.