PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Lauzon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Devin Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Lauzon
vs
Couture

178 cm
19
191 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

187 cm
31
186 lbs
9 - 18 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Lauzon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Devin Couture!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lauzon misses with a few strikes there.
Lauzon throws a series of punches but Couture moves out of range.
Couture fails with the takedown.

Couture looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lauzon moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Lauzon trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lauzon 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.

Lauzon looking for a guillotine here but Couture defends easily.

Lauzon is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Couture got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lauzon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Couture has managed to get both his arms back between Lauzon's legs - danger averted.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lauzon had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Couture defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Couture trying to control but Lauzon is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Couture trying to control but Lauzon is working from the bottom.
Couture lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Couture chips away with some ground and pound.
Couture sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Couture is working Lauzon over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lauzon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lauzon throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Lauzon trying to control the position.
Lauzon is really struggling to control Couture but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lauzon's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lauzon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lauzon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lauzon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lauzon is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Couture tries to free his leg and advance position but Lauzon is retaining full guard.

Couture thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Couture is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Couture lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Couture must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lauzon is on top in guard.
Couture trying to control the position.
Lauzon trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon throws a big elbow that misses.
Lauzon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lauzon is looking to work some ground and pound but Couture has wrist control.
Lauzon wants to pass the guard but Couture is keeping the position.

Couture throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Couture keeping full guard, as Lauzon tries to pass.
Couture controls Lauzon momentarily but Lauzon frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Lauzon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Couture is looking for a triangle but Lauzon pushes his legs off easily.
Lauzon trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Couture has his feet on Lauzon's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Lauzon tries to bum rush Couture with a series of wild strikes but Couture uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt.
Lauzon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Couture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Devin 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.

Lauzon throws a solid leg kick but Couture takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Lauzon.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Couture.
Couture changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lauzon tries to avoid it but Couture manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lauzon to the ground. Lauzon escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Couture leaves Lauzon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lauzon moves in looking to clinch but Couture pushes him off.
Lauzon leaves Couture with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Joe Lauzon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Devin Couture.

Lauzon closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Couture did well to prevent Lauzon getting side control.
Lauzon passes to full mount!
Lauzon with good strikes from the mount here!
Lauzon lands a big shot there that rocks Couture but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Lauzon wants to control the pace but Couture is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lauzon landing shots from mount.
Lauzon tries to control but Couture wriggling away.
Couture in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Lauzon looking to control but Couture is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Couture is looking to get to half guard.

Lauzon is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Couture to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Couture shrugs it off.
Couture tries to lock up and control but Lauzon gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lauzon punching from mount but Couture doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Couture is squirming around, avoiding Lauzon's attempts to control the action.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Couture can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lauzon misses with a head shot.

Lauzon is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Couture has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Couture!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Lauzon is looking for a triangle but Couture pushes his legs off easily.
Couture lands a couple of elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Lauzon throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Couture is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Couture seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Couture trying to control but Lauzon is working from the bottom.
Couture with a nice head shot there.
Couture engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Couture stands up over Lauzon, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lauzon trying to keep a closed guard but Couture is proving a slippery customer.
Joe Lauzon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lauzon keeping full guard, as Couture tries to pass.
Couture is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Couture is working Lauzon over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lauzon is looking to stand up but Couture isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture content to stall in guard here.
Couture working some strikes from top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture lands a couple of digs.
Couture wants to control from the top but Lauzon keeps moving.

Lauzon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Couture can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Couture stopping the sweep attempt from Lauzon.
Couture working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lauzon looking to control.
Couture showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lauzon trying to control the position.
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 Joe Lauzon will probably get the nod.
That's time! Lauzon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lauzon tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.

Couture shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Couture was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lauzon is looking for a sweep.
Couture cracks Lauzon with a big elbow.
Couture tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Couture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lauzon keeps working.
Couture is putting a hurting on Lauzon here, landing some big shots from side control.
Couture landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Couture is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lauzon is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Couture trying to control the action but Lauzon is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Couture is chipping away with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lauzon is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lauzon tries to get to full guard but Couture has control of the leg.
Lauzon gets back to full guard.
Lauzon keeping full guard, as Couture tries to pass.
Couture controlling from the top position.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Lauzon is keeping the position.
Couture forces his way into half guard.
Lauzon works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lauzon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Couture is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Lauzon had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Couture defends it easily.
Lauzon is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Couture is working Lauzon over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Couture showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Couture won't allow Lauzon to sweep him here.

Couture drops back looking for a leg! Lauzon is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lauzon manages to kick Couture off! Couture jumps back into Lauzon's guard.
Couture is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Couture content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture works over Lauzon with some ground and pound from guard.
Couture stopping the sweep attempt from Lauzon.
Couture trying to control but Lauzon is working from the bottom.
Couture lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lauzon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Couture trying to control but Lauzon is working from the bottom.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Lauzon is keeping the position.
Couture controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Couture tries to free his leg and advance position but Lauzon is retaining full guard.
Couture with a nice head shot there.
Lauzon being controlled here, momentarily.
Couture trying to control but Lauzon is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lauzon is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Couture defends well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Couture is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Couture distracts Lauzon with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lauzon looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lauzon keeping full guard, as Couture tries to pass.
Couture wants to control from the top but Lauzon keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lauzon's head.
Couture passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Devin Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Couture has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Devin Couture!
Devin Couture was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.