PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamie Racken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jamie Racken will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Couture
vs
Racken

185 cm
18
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Randy Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jamie Racken!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Bruno Hogan and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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.
Couture with a nice head shot there.
Couture lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Couture with a nice head shot there.
Couture prevents Racken from getting back to his feet.
Couture is working Racken over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Couture trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Racken wants to stand but Couture is controlling the position.
Couture scoring with punches to the head and body.

Racken has his feet on Couture's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Racken leaves Couture with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Racken shoots for a takedown but Couture saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Couture gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Racken counters with a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Racken closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Couture has picked Racken up - he's going for a ride! Couture dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Couture working the head and body with strikes.
Racken is trying to stand.
Couture thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Couture is breathing heavily.
Couture working Racken over with strikes.
Racken is looking to escape.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Couture thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Racken pushes Couture off looking to stand but Couture dives back in and keeps control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Couture tries for a takedown but Racken circles away easily

and Racken moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Racken is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Couture drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short uppercut from Racken.

Racken breaks from the clinch.
Couture with a poor takedown
and Racken counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Couture thinking.
Couture tries for a takedown but Racken circles away easily

so Racken counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Racken controls the pace.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Racken wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Racken landing some decent shots from guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Couture is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Couture looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Racken has picked Couture up and slammed him! Couture can't keep hold of the triangle and Racken manages to pass to side control!
Couture on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Racken trying to control the position but Couture is working away.
Racken controlling the position from side mount.
Couture tries to bench press Racken off him but Racken keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Racken just content to control the position.
Racken trying to control the position but Couture is working away.
Racken working the head and body with strikes.
Couture takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Couture manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Couture wants to improve his position but Racken is controlling well.
Racken winds up and cracks Couture with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Racken looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Couture with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Couture is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Racken scores with a couple of nice shots.

Racken stands up from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Racken has Couture up against the cage in a clinch.
Couture goes for a takedown attempt but Racken pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Racken clinches up against the cage.

Racken breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Racken gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Racken landing knees to the head.
Racken landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Racken lands a knee to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Racken.

Racken breaks from the clinch.

Racken takes the fight into the clinch.
Racken tries for a takedown. No joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture goes for a takedown attempt but Racken pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Couture gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Racken counters with a slapping leg kick.

Racken moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Racken dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Racken moves into the clinch.

Racken manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Couture prevents Racken from getting back to his feet.
Jamie Racken has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Couture accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Racken working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Couture.
Racken preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Racken is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Couture landing some decent shots from guard.
Couture postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Racken is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Couture with a lazy takedown attempt

so Racken counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Couture on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Couture tries to get out of the position.

Couture is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Couture has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Racken can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Racken makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Racken has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Racken advances position into side control!
Racken moves into full mount!
Couture taking shots to the head.
Racken unloading with bombs!
Racken landing strikes, looking to finish!
Couture is looking to get to half guard.
Racken trying to control but Couture is having none of it.
Couture is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Racken is working for a guillotine from mount but Couture frees his head quite easily.
Couture is trying desperately to improve position.
Racken can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Couture is looking to escape.
Racken landing shots from mount.
Racken punishing his opponent with strikes.
Couture tries to reverse the position but Racken maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Racken is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Couture can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Racken working for a submission but Couture is keeping him at bay.
Racken raining down shots from the mount!
Couture really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Racken quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Racken but it's paid off an Couture is forced to tap! Nice work by Racken.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jamie Racken!