PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Michell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arthur Couture looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Michell
vs
Couture

176 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
26
170 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Michell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Arthur Couture!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Michell drives through with a takedown into Couture's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Michell wanted to stand there but Couture had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michell passes into half guard.
Michell tries to pass to full mount but Couture defends it.
Michell is taking a breather. Couture says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Couture on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Michell controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mike Michell just wasn't active enough.
No luck for Michell with that takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Couture. No joy for Michell on that attempt.
Michell throws a push kick but Couture slaps the foot to one side.
Michell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Couture tries to avoid it but Michell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Couture to the ground. Couture escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Michell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Michell tries to keep at a distance but Couture has taken the fight into the clinch.
Michell tries to score a body lock takedown but Couture shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Michell fails to pull guard.
Michell is breathing heavily.
Michell has Couture pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Couture manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Michell's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Couture has clasped his hands together around Michell's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Couture scoring with punches and elbows.
Couture working away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Couture is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Couture's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture working away.
Michell is trying to get back to half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Mike Michell wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Couture shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Michell's guard.
Couture's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Couture wants to control from the top but Michell keeps moving.

Michell working for a triangle but Couture defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture is stalling in the full guard.
Couture must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Arthur Couture has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Couture shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Michell eats them both and turns towards Couture to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Couture is fending him off so far but Michell persists. Nope, Couture circles away and we're back to standing.
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 Mike Michell 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.

No luck for Michell with that takedown attempt.
A combination from Michell does no damage.
Michell is looking to clinch.

Couture closes the distance and pushes Michell back into the cage.

Michell breaks from the clinch.
Couture moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Michell tries for a takedown but Couture sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Michell fails with the takedown

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Michell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture passes the guard and advances to mount!
Couture content just to control the position here.
Michell can't escape the position.
Couture wants to control the pace but Michell is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michell regains half guard.
Couture seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Michell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Michell wants to control but Couture is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Arthur Couture wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nice takedown defense from Couture. No joy for Michell on that attempt.
Michell has a takedown stuffed.
Nice sprawl there from Michell as Couture shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michell misses with a body shot.
Couture lands with a shot to the body.

Michell shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Michell looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Michell seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Couture for as long as he can get away with.
Michell passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Couture!
Michell trying to control but Couture is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michell controlling the position easily from mount.
Couture tries to hold on but Michell pushes him away.
Couture is squirming around, avoiding Michell's attempts to control the action.
Mike Michell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Michell controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Michell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Couture is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mike Michell will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Couture shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Michell as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Couture is defended easily by Michell.
Couture slaps away a takedown attempt from Michell, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Michell clinches up against the cage.
Michell has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.
Couture takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Couture fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mike Michell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Couture.

Michell manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michell looking for a sweep. Not yet Michell, not yet.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Michell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Couture manages to get himself to full guard.
Michell controls from within his opponent's guard.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Michell from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michell tries to stand but Couture is controlling from the bottom.
Michell is stalling in the full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Mike Michell wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Michell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Michell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Michell tries to bum rush Couture with a series of wild strikes but Couture uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Couture counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Couture throws a big right hand that misses.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Couture controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Michell has a closed guard, preventing Couture from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Arthur Couture was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Couture fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Michell sprawls well initially but Couture persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Couture is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Michell sees it coming and defends easily.
Couture throwing shots but Michell is blocking nicely.
Michell gets back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Couture's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Arthur Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Michell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Arthur Couture.
Well Michell 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mike Michell!