PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Diaz
vs
Couture

180 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
225 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite 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 Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Couture rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Randy Couture has been cut.
Couture stops a takedown attempt from Diaz.

Couture tightens his grip and picks Diaz up, before dumping him to the ground. Diaz manages to land in guard.
Couture sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture preventing the sweep.
Couture controlling from the top position.
Diaz keeping full guard, as Couture tries to pass.
Couture won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.
Couture not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Diaz looking for a sweep. Not yet Diaz, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Couture's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Diaz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Couture's guard.
Diaz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Couture is looking for a sweep. Diaz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Couture is controlling Diaz's trapped leg to prevent Diaz from advancing to side control.
Diaz is trying to control the action in half guard but Couture is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to get to full guard but Diaz has control of the leg.
Diaz is trying to control the action in half guard but Couture is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Couture really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Diaz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Diaz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Couture doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Diaz.
Diaz is breathing heavily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Couture shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Diaz's guard.
Couture's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Couture tries to stand but Diaz is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture looking to pass the guard.

Couture stands up and waves to Diaz to follow him.
Diaz misses with a takedown

and Couture counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Couture.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Couture controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is working an open guard so Couture takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Couture has managed to clinch.
Nice elbow from Couture.

Couture gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Couture advances position into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Couture has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
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 Randy Couture's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Couture rushes Diaz and presses him up against the cage.
Diaz fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Couture has picked Diaz up - he's going for a ride! Couture dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Diaz trying to hold on to Couture's head to control him but Couture postures up.
Couture with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Randy Couture.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Couture showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Couture sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Couture controls from within his opponent's guard.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Couture is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Randy Couture.

Couture moves into the clinch.

Couture works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Diaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Couture.
Couture won't allow Diaz to get back to his feet.
Couture controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to free his leg and advance position but Diaz is retaining full guard.
Couture must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Couture showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
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 cut man is working on Randy Couture's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Couture moves out of range as Diaz strikes.
Diaz fails with the takedown

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Randy Couture.
Diaz walks into a straight right hand from Couture.

Couture fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Diaz, pushing him back against the cage.

Couture has Diaz pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Couture pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Diaz tumbling to the mat - Couture dives into Diaz's guard.
Couture content to stall in guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Couture controlling the action here.
Randy Couture has got the better of the ground game so far.
Couture is looking to advance position but Diaz won't allow it.
Couture slows the pace down in half guard.
Randy Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Diaz tries to roll over but Couture keeps him under control.
Still in half guard, Couture seems content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Randy Couture.
Diaz ducks under a wild hook from Couture.
Diaz misses with a few strikes there.
Diaz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Couture counters with a single leg into guard. Diaz didn't expect that.
Couture showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Couture controls from within his opponent's guard.

Couture gets to his feet - Diaz follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Diaz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Diaz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Couture.

Couture scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Couture has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Couture prevents Diaz from improving his position.
Diaz moves into full guard.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Couture has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 25:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 26:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 25:30

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