PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between jack matador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

matador
vs
Couture

203 cm
19
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, jack matador!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Couture shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. matador manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
matador not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Couture wants to control from the top but matador keeps moving.

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

Couture stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Couture feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
matador keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
matador wants to stand but Couture is controlling the position.
Couture working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of matador's head.
Couture advances position into side control!
Couture is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down matador's shoulder. That is not cool.

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.
Couture fails to land a wild elbow strike.
matador is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but matador is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture is working matador over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture wants to lay and pray for a moment but matador keeps working.

Couture tries for a kimura but matador is defending well.
Couture creates some space and throws a big elbow, but matador sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Couture looking to punish the body of his opponent here but matador is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

matador forces Couture back against the cage and clinches.
Couture is looking to break free of the clinch but matador has double underhooks.
matador keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Couture's efforts to push away.
matador prevents the takedown attempt.
matador is working for takedown but Couture is calmly controlling the position for now.

Couture gets control of matador's arms and successfully pulls guard. Couture will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
matador postures up in Couture's guard and throws a big left but Couture blocks it.
matador stands and throws Couture's legs to the side, diving into side control.
matador wants to control for a moment but Couture uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
matador lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that 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.

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

matador has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Couture is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for matador.
Couture controlling the position from side mount.

Couture is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. matador knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture wants to control but matador is keeping him busy.
matador can't do much from the bottom here.

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.
Couture working the ground and pound but matador is defending the strikes.
matador takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
matador is trying to get back to his feet.
Couture is putting a hurting on matador here, landing some big shots from side control.
Couture wants to control but matador is keeping him busy.
Couture looking to control but instead matador has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
matador tries to roll over but Couture keeps him under control.

matador is defending against the submission attempts here by Couture.
Couture keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four 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.
matador wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Couture tries for a takedown but matador sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
matador throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
matador keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by matador.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Couture is defended easily by matador.
jack matador has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Couture.
Danga de danga de dang - matador scores with a four punch combination!
Couture takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
matador fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Couture doesn't succeed with the takedown

and matador counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by matador.

That's one minute gone in the round.
matador wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
matador forces his way into half guard.
matador wants to free his trapped foot but Couture is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Couture has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. matador is working away from the top position though.
matador passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
matador lands with some strikes.
matador breaks from Couture's wrist control and lands an elbow.
matador scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Couture tries to reverse the position but matador maintains control.
Couture is squirming around, avoiding matador's attempts to control the action.
Randy Couture has got the better of the ground game so far.

matador working for a guillotine from mount but Couture is in no mood to give up.
Couture 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
matador wants to lay and pray for a moment but Couture keeps working.
Couture is trying to get back to full guard.
Couture tries to kick matador off but matador keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Couture is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of matador's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take matador's back!

Couture has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Couture looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Couture missing with strikes.
Couture scores with punches and elbows.
jack matador has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Randy Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
matador is in bad spot here.

And that's the end of the fight!
jack matador showed his dominance in that final round.
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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

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