PBP Commentary

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

Raffoul
vs
Couture

195 cm
22
202 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, David Raffoul!
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 Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raffoul slaps away a takedown attempt from Couture, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Couture shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Raffoul is on top in guard.
Couture really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raffoul. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Raffoul showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Raffoul wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Couture is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Couture is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
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.
Raffoul trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raffoul decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Couture pushes Raffoul up against the cage in a clinch.
Raffoul goes for a takedown in the clinch but Couture prevents it.
Raffoul wants to get back to striking at distance but Couture won't allow it.
Raffoul is trying to break free.
Couture fails to pull guard.
Couture wants to stall.

Couture breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Couture's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Couture duly obliges.

It looks like David Raffoul has been cut.
Raffoul with a poor takedown

and Couture counters with a single leg into guard. Raffoul didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raffoul wants to stand up but Couture is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raffoul kicks Couture off and gets to his feet.
Raffoul is looking to clinch but Couture is avoiding it.

Couture gets the takedown into side control.
Raffoul takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Raffoul tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Raffoul is breathing heavily.
Couture looking to control but Raffoul is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Raffoul tries to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
Raffoul taking shots to the head.
Raffoul tries to lock up and control but Couture gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Couture tries to push Raffoul's head away but Raffoul is holding on tight.
Couture lands a big shot there that rocks Raffoul but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture looking to finish with strikes here!

Couture is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Couture dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Couture closes the distance and clinches.
Couture is trying to force a seperation but Raffoul has the dominant position.
Couture wants to get back to striking at distance but Raffoul won't allow it.
Raffoul tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Couture smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Raffoul. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Couture throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Raffoul was covering up waiting for the punch and Couture finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Couture must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture trying to control but Raffoul is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that round.
The cut man is working on David Raffoul's cut.
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 shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Couture was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Couture tries to control but Raffoul wriggling away.

Couture goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Raffoul turns into him and now he's in Couture's guard.
Raffoul trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Couture is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture 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 is breathing heavily.
Raffoul scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Couture trying to keep a closed guard but Raffoul is proving a slippery customer.
Raffoul missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Raffoul is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Raffoul preventing the sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Couture fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Raffoul avoids it really well and circles away.
Raffoul shoots in but Couture avoids the takedown attempt easily.

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.
Jab by Raffoul.
Raffoul shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Couture holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Couture prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Raffoul. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Couture gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Couture in particular looking to stall.
Raffoul tries to kick Couture off but Couture keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raffoul is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Couture is tapping! Great win for Raffoul!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). David Raffoul!