PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodger Lapedis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Couture comes to the cage accompanied by The Chicken Dance. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Couture
vs
Lapedis

189 cm
20
219 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

190 cm
22
220 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Randy Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rodger Lapedis!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lapedis.
Lapedis uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Couture.

Lapedis scores with a takedown into Couture's guard.
Lapedis wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Lapedis is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Couture is looking to stand up but Lapedis isn't so interested in that idea.
Couture looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lapedis is one step ahead there.
Lapedis trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Couture is pulling down on Lapedis's head. It's preventing any offense from Lapedis, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapedis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lapedis looking to pass the guard.
Couture is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lapedis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Couture connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Lapedis shoots in for a double leg but Couture sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lapedis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Good exchange - Couture coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapedis shoots for a double leg takedown but Couture sprawls well. He's pushed Lapedis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Randy Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodger Lapedis.
Lapedis scores with a jab to the body.
Couture looks to land a right hand but Lapedis moved out of range.
Couture slaps away a takedown attempt from Lapedis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Couture throws a looping overhand right but Lapedis ducks down to avoid it.
Couture tries to clinch but Lapedis is having none of it.
Couture misses with a wild body shot.
Couture tries to clinch up.
Lapedis lands a two punch combo.
Couture throws a wild body kick that Lapedis sees coming a mile off.

Couture closes the distance and pushes Lapedis back into the cage.
Couture crunches a lovely knee into Lapedis's ribcage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to land knees in the clinch but Lapedis avoids the damage to the body.
Couture tries to throw a body punch but Lapedis avoids it by throwing Couture back against the cage.
Couture is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lapedis is defending well for now.
Couture tries to land a knee to the head but Lapedis blocks with his arms.
A short body shot lands from Couture as the two fighters clinch.
Lapedis tries to pull guard but Couture won't allow it.
Couture lands a hook that snaps the head of Lapedis backwards.
Couture stalling.
Couture seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
A right hand to the body from Couture.
Couture tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lapedis avoids it.
A right hook to the body lands for Couture.
Lapedis looks gassed!
Couture lands with a left to the head.
The referee calls for Couture to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Couture lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lapedis or not.
Couture gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Couture.
Couture has Lapedis pushed against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture lands with a short shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Couture displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lapedis.
A big left from Couture misses.
Couture fails in his attempt to clinch.
Couture slips a jab from Lapedis.

Lapedis scores a takedown into full mount!
Couture regains half guard.
Couture is looking to control Lapedis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Couture avoid being mounted?
Couture wants to improve his position but Lapedis is controlling well.
Couture trying to hold on to Lapedis's head to control him but Lapedis postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lapedis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Lapedis wants to work for an arm triangle but Couture is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Lapedis is breathing heavily.
Couture tries to get to full guard but Lapedis has control of the leg.
Lapedis wants to pass to mount but Couture is defending the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lapedis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A shot to de liver by Lapedis. Beautiful body shot.
Lapedis shoots in for a takedown but Couture shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lapedis is defended easily by Couture.
Randy Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodger Lapedis.
Couture misses with a body shot.
Lapedis fails with the takedown.
Lapedis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lapedis fails to land with a series of punches.
Lapedis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Couture.
Couture misses with a shot to the body
and Lapedis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Couture thows a body shot but no joy.
Couture scores with a jab. Lapedis acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapedis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Couture.
Couture swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Couture throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lapedis counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Couture rushes Lapedis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Couture has Lapedis pressed against the cage.
Couture lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lapedis fails to pull guard.
Couture throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lapedis blocks it with crossed arms.
Couture works on Lapedis's body with a couple of short punches.
Couture leaning against his opponent.
Couture stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Couture lands an elbow inside that Lapedis shrugs off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Come on Couture - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Couture lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lapedis.
Couture makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Couture working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Couture is working Lapedis over against the cage.
Couture is pushing Lapedis up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Good body shot from Couture.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Couture lands a hook that snaps the head of Lapedis backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Couture tests Lapedis's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lapedis loads up on a big right hand but Couture slips the punch.
Randy Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Couture misses with a wild body shot.
Lapedis stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Couture.
Couture tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Couture throws a predictable looking body shot

so Lapedis counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Couture is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Couture keeping full guard, as Lapedis tries to pass.
Lapedis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Couture is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Lapedis wants to control but Couture is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Lapedis wants to get back to full guard but Couture has passed into side control.
Lapedis can't escape the position.
Couture controlling from mount.
Couture trying to control but Lapedis is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lapedis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Couture looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lapedis is trying to escape the mount.
Lapedis sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Lapedis is looking to control Couture's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lapedis avoid being mounted?
Lapedis is not content to let Couture control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lapedis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lapedis wants to control but Couture is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Lapedis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Couture prevents Lapedis from improving his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lapedis falls off balance throwing a combination
and Couture counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Randy Couture is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Couture wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Couture dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapedis blocks a jab.
Lapedis uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Couture.
Rodger Lapedis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Randy Couture is winning the standup battle so far.
Lapedis shoots in for a takedown but Couture shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Couture closes the distance and pushes Lapedis back into the cage.
Couture missing with knees to the body.
Couture lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Randy Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Couture effectively controlling the action here.
Nice body punch from Couture.
Randy Couture has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Couture stalling in the clinch.
Couture lands an elbow that stopped Lapedis in his tracks for a moment.
Lapedis misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Couture showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Couture, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

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