PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sterling Archer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Randy Couture has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Couture
vs
Archer

182 cm
24
219 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Randy Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sterling Archer!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Couture drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Couture trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Archer manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Archer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Couture utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Archer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Couture works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Couture striking from his own guard.
Couture looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Couture looking for a guillotine here but Archer defends easily.
Couture throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Archer gets to his feet. Couture looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Couture shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Archer pinned against the cage. Archer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture keeps the fight on the outside.

Couture gets a clinch.

Couture wants the takedown. Archer is fighting it off but Couture persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Archer's guard against the cage.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Couture stops Archer from standing up.
Archer wants to sweep here but Couture controlling him for the moment.
Couture is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Archer wants to get back to his feet but Couture is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Archer holds on and takes a little breather.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Archer is keeping the position.
Couture is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Archer working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Couture content to stall in guard here.
Archer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Couture pushing down on Archer's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Archer wants to sweep but Couture has passed to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Couture controlling the position from side mount.
Archer is pushing Couture's head away, looking to escape. Couture manages to hold on to the position though.
Couture just content to control the position.
Archer struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Archer tries to clinch but Couture moves away

so Couture counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Couture not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Couture missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Couture sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Couture slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Archer wants to improve his position but Couture is controlling well.

Couture is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Archer is just riding it out for now. Couture eventually gives up the hold.
Archer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Couture is working away from the top position though.
Archer wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Couture slows the pace down in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Archer tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Couture counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Archer!
Couture with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Archer tries to hold on but Couture postures up.
Couture takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Couture wants to finish this one by submission but Archer is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Couture.
Archer is desperately trying to improve his position but Couture has a good base and remains in mount.
Archer avoids a series of strikes thrown by Couture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Archer tries to reverse the position but Couture maintains control.
Archer tries to lock up and control but Couture gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Couture controlling the pace for now.
Archer is in all sorts of trouble here.
Couture controlling the position easily from mount.
Couture lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Archer tries to clinch but Couture moves away

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Archer trying to control the position.
Archer wants to get back to his feet but Couture is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Couture connects with a couple of short punches.
Couture lands a couple of elbows.
Couture throws a big right hand that misses.
Couture postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Archer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Archer looking to control.
Couture prevents Archer from getting back to his feet.
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 has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Archer is trying to control the position but Couture postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Couture is stalling in the full guard.
Couture sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Archer's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture trying to control from half guard but Archer is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Randy Couture.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Archer darts in trying to clinch

and Couture counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Couture trying to control but Archer is working from the bottom.
Couture controls from within his opponent's guard.
Archer keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Sterling Archer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Archer throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Archer looking for a sweep. Not yet Archer, not yet.
Archer keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Couture postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Archer wants to clinch but Couture slips to the side

so Couture counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Randy Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Couture missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:25
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

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