PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rhys Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Couture
vs
Evans

178 cm
25
168 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

181 cm
23
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Couture!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rhys Evans!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Evans.
Evans fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Couture darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Couture drops an elbow to the side of Evans's head.
Couture working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Couture scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Couture has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Couture lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Evans manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Evans is trying to control the position but Couture postures up.
Evans keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Evans is trying to control the position but Couture postures up.
Couture makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Couture cracks Evans with a solid left hand.
Couture postures up.
Couture scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Couture postures up in Evans's guard and throws a big left but Evans blocks it.
Couture trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.
Couture preventing the sweep.
Couture chips away with some ground and pound.
Evans is trying to control the position but Couture postures up.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Evans is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Couture scoring with punches to the head and body.
Evans wants to sweep but no luck.
Couture missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Couture is looking to work some ground and pound but Evans has wrist control.
Evans trying to control the position.
Evans avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Couture working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Evans's head.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
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 passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Evans takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Evans is trying to improve his position.
Evans struggling a bit here.
Couture lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Couture scores with punches from side control.
Couture wants to control but Evans is keeping him busy.
Evans tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Couture creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Couture swings around for an armbar but Evans sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Couture's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Evans postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Evans postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Couture is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Evans has his hands clasped together but Couture extends an breaks Evans's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Couture.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Luke Couture!
Luke Couture is the new welterweight champion!
Luke Couture decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.