PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taylor Hamasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Randy Couture could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Taylor Hamasaki's chin.

Couture
vs
Hamasaki

186 cm
25
213 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

184 cm
24
216 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Randy Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taylor Hamasaki!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hamasaki throws a nice looking combination but Couture bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hamasaki is looking to clinch.
Hamasaki misses the shot to the body.

Couture shoots in and gets a takedown into Hamasaki's guard.

Couture drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Couture jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hamasaki is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Couture slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hamasaki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Couture. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Couture is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hamasaki has escaped the position, nice work there.

Couture is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hamasaki has escaped the position, nice work there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hamasaki can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Hamasaki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Couture in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Couture wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hamasaki, who protects the arm well.
Hamasaki tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two 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.
Couture trying to control the action but Hamasaki is working from the bottom.
Hamasaki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Couture is trying to get an arm triangle but Hamasaki is defending well.
Hamasaki isn't going anywhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamasaki struggling a bit here.
Hamasaki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four 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.

Couture is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hamasaki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Couture tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Couture is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hamasaki knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hamasaki is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that round.
That's time! Couture's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Couture is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Hamasaki closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Couture to the mat! Couture manages to get full guard.
Hamasaki trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Hamasaki looking to sit in guard and control but Couture gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hamasaki has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Couture has passed into side control.

Couture tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamasaki is looking to reverse the position.

Couture tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Couture has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Couture looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hamasaki tries to improve position but can't.

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 working away.
Hamasaki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Couture blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hamasaki.
Couture is looking to control Hamasaki's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Couture avoid being mounted?
Hamasaki 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.
Hamasaki tries to pass to full mount but Couture defends it.
Couture trying to control but Hamasaki postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamasaki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Couture is not content to let Hamasaki control the position.
Hamasaki seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hamasaki misses with a head shot. Couture uses the momentum to regain guard.
Couture looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hamasaki is one step ahead there.
Hamasaki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hamasaki throws a strike but Couture rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamasaki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hamasaki is adopting a defensive guard.
Couture passes Hamasaki's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hamasaki is staying active underneath Couture, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Hamasaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Couture shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hamasaki pinned against the cage. Hamasaki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Couture shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hamasaki as he jumps to the side.
Hamasaki is looking to clinch but Couture is avoiding it.
Couture keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Couture slips under a jab from Hamasaki.
Hamasaki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture circles away from the clinch attempt

and Couture counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hamasaki's guard now.
Hamasaki 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamasaki looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hamasaki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hamasaki 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 postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Couture lands a couple of decent looking shots.

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.
Couture slips nicely into half guard.
Hamasaki tries to roll over but Couture keeps him under control.
Hamasaki is trying to maintain the position but Couture is very close to passing his half guard.
Hamasaki is looking to improve his position.
Hamasaki trying to control but Couture postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hamasaki is defending against the submission attempts here by Couture.
Hamasaki has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Couture is working away from the top position though.
Couture prevents Hamasaki from improving his position.

Couture is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four 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 is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hamasaki sees it coming and defends easily.
Hamasaki is looking to improve his position.
Hamasaki regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hamasaki seems keen to control Couture's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Couture showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Couture has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

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