PBP Commentary

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

Couture
vs
Machida

205 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Couture!
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, Lyoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Couture circles away.
Machida on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Couture is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Couture gets a takedown into half guard.
Couture missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Couture tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Machida.
Machida looks like he's trying to stand up.

Couture is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida wants to get back to full guard.

Couture is looking for a kimura here.
Machida is trying to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Couture uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Machida misses with a takedown attempt

and Couture counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Machida!
Tommy Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Machida.
Machida is trying to stand.
Machida looks gassed!
Couture looking to control but Machida is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Couture goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Machida is on top in guard.
Machida is looking to work some ground and pound but Couture has wrist control.
Couture will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Couture looking to control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Couture holds on and takes a little breather.

Couture is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is trying to keep Machida in close.
Machida with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Couture working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Machida.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Machida from controlling successfully.
Couture looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture has momentary wrist control but Machida slips an elbow through the middle.

Couture is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Couture wants to get back to his feet but Machida is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Machida wants to stand and escape but instead Couture has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Couture gets to his feet - Machida follows without any prompting.
Machida blocks a head kick by Couture.
Couture tries to clinch there but Machida circles away.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch but Machida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Couture looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Machida!
Machida throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Couture dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Machida misses with a hook.
Machida blocks a leg kick.
Machida with a lazy takedown attempt
and Couture counters with a series of strikes. Machida will be more careful next time no doubt.

Couture gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Couture is trying to break the clinch but Machida has him pressed against the cage.

Machida jumps into guard, dragging Couture to the mat.
Machida is pulling down on Couture's head. It's preventing any offense from Couture, at least for the moment.
Couture sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Machida's guard.
Machida is trying to get back to full guard.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Machida gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Couture gets to his feet. Machida looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Couture shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Couture pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machida is keeping the position for now.

Couture decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nice cross by Couture.
Couture circles away from the clinch attempt

and Couture counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Couture stands up from Machida's guard - Couture perhaps looking for a knockout.
Lyoto Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to clinch

and Machida counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Machida jumps into guard, dragging Couture to the mat.

Machida looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Couture keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Machida's head.
Tommy Couture overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Couture postures up.

Couture gets to his feet. Machida looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Couture shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Couture showed some decent athleticism there.
Couture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Machida keeps working.
Couture trying to pass the guard but Machida defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Couture stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Machida to get to his feet.

Couture clinches up with Machida and pushes him back against the cage.
Machida softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Couture has had enough of the clinch but Machida keeps him there for the moment.
Machida tries to pull guard but Couture holds him up against the cage and eventually Machida drops back down to his feet.

Couture manages to break the clinch.
Machida on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida circles away from the clinch attempt

and Machida counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Couture is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Machida would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Couture is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Machida preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Couture dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Couture looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Couture misses with a jab, cross combination.
Couture throws a right and a left that both miss.
Machida tries for a takedown but Couture circles away easily

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into side control. Machida won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida is trying to control Couture's posture but Couture avoids it.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Machida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Machida is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Machida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Couture is keen to just control but Machida is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is trying to stand back up but Couture is controlling him

Couture gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Couture shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Couture is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Machida has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Couture tries to control but Machida wriggling away.

Couture stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Couture lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Machida backs up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida with a poor takedown

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown. Machida fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machida is trying to control the position but Couture postures up.

Couture thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Machida wants to sweep but no luck.
Machida controls Couture momentarily but Couture frees himself.
Couture pushes down on Machida's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Couture working the head and body with strikes.
Machida is trying to maintain the position but Couture is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is trying to get back to full guard.

Couture stands up out of the half guard.
Couture throws a combination that misses
and Machida counters with a nice body kick.

Couture drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Machida not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Machida working for submissions but it's allowed Couture to get to half guard.

Couture gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to clinch but Machida moves out of range.
Couture is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Machida scores with a body shot.
Machida keeps the fight on the outside.
Couture is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture tries to pull guard but Machida won't allow it.
Machida tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lyoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture tries to stall but Machida uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Couture is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Couture prevents a takedown attempt there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Couture showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Couture 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

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