PBP Commentary

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

Couture
vs
Barbirotto

186 cm
19
225 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Randy Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Owner Barbirotto!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbirotto tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
Barbirotto tries to close the distance and clinch but Couture swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Couture has managed to clinch.

Couture lands a takedown into guard.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barbirotto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Couture looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Barbirotto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Couture is one step ahead there.
Couture slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Barbirotto controls Couture momentarily but Couture frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture sitting in guard here, content to control.
Couture wants to get up but he can't break Barbirotto's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Couture stops Barbirotto from standing up.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Couture slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Couture stopping the sweep attempt from Barbirotto.
Couture not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Barbirotto wants to sweep but no luck.
Couture has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Barbirotto is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Barbirotto tries to clinch but Couture moves away

and Couture decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barbirotto's guard.
Couture wanted to stand there but Barbirotto had control of the position.
Barbirotto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Couture controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Barbirotto is trying to control the position but Couture postures up.
Couture not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Barbirotto keeping full guard, as Couture tries to pass.
Couture is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Couture could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Couture won't allow Barbirotto to sweep him here.
Couture slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Couture seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Barbirotto for as long as he can get away with.
Barbirotto keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Randy Couture.
Barbirotto doesn't manage to clinch there - Couture circles away.
Barbirotto tries to clinch up

and Couture counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Couture.

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.
Barbirotto dodges an elbow strike from Couture.
Couture goes for a takedown in the clinch but Barbirotto prevents it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Barbirotto avoids the elbow strike from Couture, against the ropes.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Couture.
Couture looking to stall.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barbirotto lands a right hand that snaps the head of Couture backwards.
Couture goes for a takedown attempt but Barbirotto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Couture is breathing heavily.
Barbirotto fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Barbirotto tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Couture counters by clinching up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
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!

Barbirotto jabs at Couture's body.
Couture wants to clinch
and Barbirotto counters with a right hand to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barbirotto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barbirotto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Couture paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barbirotto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Couture swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barbirotto tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
Barbirotto tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Couture holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Still in the clinch, Barbirotto scores with a nice short uppercut.
Barbirotto throws an elbow but it misses.
Couture looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Couture changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Barbirotto fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barbirotto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barbirotto tries to close the distance and clinch but Couture swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barbirotto keeps the fight on the outside.
Barbirotto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barbirotto tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Couture counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Couture.
Couture wants a takedown.

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.
Couture throws an elbow that misses.
Barbirotto stops a takedown attempt from Couture.
Barbirotto lands with a light punch inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Barbirotto.
Barbirotto lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A shot in the inside from Barbirotto.
Barbirotto scores with a shot to the side of Couture's head.

Couture is rocked!
Barbirotto dips a shoulder and cracks Couture with a mighty uppercut! Couture falls back against the ropes and Barbirotto unloads with a barrage of strikes! Couture is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the ropes! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Barbirotto screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Owner Barbirotto!