PBP Commentary

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

Couture
vs
Rua

186 cm
20
225 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

205 cm
25
270 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murilo Rua!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua cracks a nice hook into Couture's ribs.
Rua thuds a left hand into Couture's body.
Rua digs a good body shot into Couture's ribs.

Couture has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Couture takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Rua swings wildly with an uppercut but Couture uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rua misses with a hook from the clinch.
Couture is trying to drag Rua to the mat but Rua just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Couture has Rua pressed against the cage.
Rua presses Couture against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rua misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rua throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Coutures head.
Rua swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Rua.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rua misses with some punches.
Couture blocks an uppercut.
Couture lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Couture lands an elbow inside that Rua shrugs off.

It looks like Murilo Rua has been cut.
Couture leaning his opponent against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Couture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Couture gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rua wants to control but Couture is keeping busy.
Couture is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rua is looking to escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rua can do anything to dispel that myth.
Couture not doing much here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Randy Couture wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rua swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Couture.
Couture remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rua is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Couture happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture prevents Rua from escaping the position.
Couture controls the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Randy Couture has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rua sizes up Couture with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Couture scores a takedown into full mount!
Couture content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rua for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Randy Couture will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Murilo Rua's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Couture gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rua.
Rua throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Couture.
Rua slips a straight right by Couture.

Couture shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Couture showed some decent athleticism there.
Couture works his way into side control.
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.
Rua stops Couture from passing to mount.
Couture controls the position from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Randy Couture just wasn't active enough.
No joy there for Rua, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Couture changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rua looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Couture tries to move to mount but Rua blocks the move with his legs.
Couture taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to reverse the position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Couture here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Couture moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Rua tries to improve position but can't.
A lull in the action here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Randy Couture.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua scores with a jab to the head.

Couture scores with a takedown into Rua's guard.
Rua being controlled here, momentarily.
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 might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Randy Couture wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Couture swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rua counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Couture closes the distance looking to clinch
and Couture takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rua lands with a straight right. Couture didn't see that one coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Couture throws a body punch but Rua moves out of range.

Couture clinches.
Rua lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Couture has picked Rua up - he's going for a ride! Couture dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Couture not doing much here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture tries to pass to full mount but Rua defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Murilo Rua's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Couture blocks a jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Couture.
Rua fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rua connects with a single shot there.
A left lands for Rua.
Couture slips a straight right by Rua.
Couture will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Couture throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rua was covering up waiting for the punch and Couture finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Couture working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua working a defensive guard but Couture passes into half guard.
Randy Couture overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Couture wants to pass to mount but Rua is defending the position.
Couture has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Couture looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rua can't escape the position.
Murilo Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Randy Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Couture looking to control and managing it successfully.
Couture has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Randy Couture.
Rua dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rua lands an overhand right.
Rua lands with a shot to the body.

Couture rushes Rua and presses him up against the cage.

Couture lands a takedown into guard.
Couture slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position.
Couture is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rua is looking to stand up but Couture isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Couture avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rua has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A right-left combo lands from Rua.
Rua keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Couture stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Couture swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Murilo Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to clinch but Rua moves away
and Rua counters with a right hand to the body.
Rua works Couture's body with a nice hook.

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 stands and throws Rua's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Couture is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Rua will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Couture advances to full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Randy Couture.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Couture, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

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