PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taylor Brooks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Couture comes into the arena with Linkin Park -Papercut blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Couture
vs
Brooks

180 cm
26
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

189 cm
26
175 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Randy Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taylor Brooks !
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brooks changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Couture looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Couture wants to get back to his feet.
Brooks trying to control the action but Couture is working from the bottom.
Brooks is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Couture tries to escape but Brooks is in control.
Brooks takes a little break here. Couture wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Brooks 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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Brooks tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture wants to get back to his feet.
Brooks laying and praying for a moment but Couture takes advantage and regains half guard.
Brooks controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Taylor Brooks was stalling too much, according to the referee.
No luck for Brooks with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Couture gets a takedown into half guard.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Brooks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Brooks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Brooks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Brooks can do anything to dispel that myth.
Couture thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Couture thows a huge punch but Brooks dodges it nicely.
Couture not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Couture not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Couture missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Couture throwing shots but Brooks is blocking nicely.
Brooks has hold of Couture's hands but Couture slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Couture seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Couture sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Brooks defending well though.
Brooks has hold of Couture's hands but Couture slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Brooks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Couture is working away from the top position though.
Couture thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brooks 's head.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Brooks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Brooks on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Couture throwing shots but Brooks is blocking nicely.
Couture missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Couture looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Couture throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Couture thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brooks 's head.
Brooks looks gassed!
Brooks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.
Still in half guard, Couture seems content to control.
Couture throwing shots but Brooks is blocking nicely.
Couture throwing shots but Brooks is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Couture scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Couture has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Couture lands a few punches from side control.
Couture tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
An elbow from Couture crashes against the mat.
Couture cracks Brooks with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Brooks takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Brooks managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Couture.
Couture in side control, throwing shots but Brooks defends.
Couture throws a strike aimed at the side of Brooks 's head but Brooks avoids it well.
Couture throws an elbow but Brooks slips to the side and avoids it well.
Brooks managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Couture.
Couture in side control, throwing shots but Brooks defends.
Brooks is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks dodges the ground and pound from Couture.
Couture throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Brooks takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Couture throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Couture postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Brooks managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Couture.
Couture creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Brooks sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Couture in side control, throwing shots but Brooks defends.
Brooks taking punishment in the form of punches.
Randy Couture overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Couture sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Brooks is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Couture trying to control the position but Brooks is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture cracks Brooks with a big right hand but Brooks just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Couture cracks Brooks with a big right hand but Brooks just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Brooks dodges the ground and pound from Couture.
Couture landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Couture is working Brooks over with some ground and pound from side control.
Couture misses with the ground and pound.
Couture connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Brooks some visible discomfort.
Couture in side control, throwing shots but Brooks defends.
Couture cracks Brooks with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands some shots froms side control.
Couture trying to control the action but Brooks is working from the bottom.
Couture in side control, throwing shots but Brooks defends.
Couture working the ground and pound.
Couture grinds an elbow into Brooks 's temple.
Couture is working Brooks over with some ground and pound from side control.
Brooks avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Couture.
Brooks takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Couture working the ground and pound but Brooks is defending the strikes.
Couture working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Couture misses with the ground and pound.
Couture misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The ground and pound from Couture seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Brooks taking a bit of punishment here - Couture scoring with strikes.
Brooks parries the strikes from Couture easily there. Couture is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Brooks to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Brooks tries to sprawl but Couture drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Couture throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Brooks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.
Couture scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Couture scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Couture wants to take a breather but Brooks is having none of it.
Couture thows a huge punch but Brooks dodges it nicely.
Couture scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Couture works his way into full mount!
Couture looking to finish Brooks with some ground and pound. This is bad for Brooks !
Brooks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture lands a nice shot to the head.
Couture with a couple of short strikes.
Couture lands a big shot there that rocks Brooks but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Couture scoring with strikes but Brooks is staying in there.
Couture punishing his opponent with strikes.
Couture wants to control the pace but Brooks is squirming around nicely.
Couture working Brooks over with strikes here.
Couture pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Brooks is looking to escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Couture controlling his opponent.
Couture tries to control but Brooks wriggling away.
Couture is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Brooks can do to turn this around?
Poor strikes thrown by Couture there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Brooks wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Couture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture thowing shots but they're missing.
Couture connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Couture thowing shots but they're missing.
Couture raining down hammerfists from mount.
Couture dominating with strikes here.
Couture scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Couture landing punches.
Brooks is bucking up trying to escape but Couture cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Couture connects with a massive shot to the dome!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture looking to finish Brooks with some ground and pound. This is bad for Brooks !
Couture pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Couture punishing his opponent with strikes.
A nice elbow there by Couture.
Couture lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Couture raining down hammerfists from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture with a couple of short strikes.
Couture looking to ground and pound but Brooks is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Couture looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Couture connects with a nice short shot to Brooks 's temple.
Couture thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brooks 's head.
Couture missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Brooks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Brooks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.
Couture missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Brooks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Brooks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Couture.
Brooks is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Couture thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brooks 's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brooks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.
Couture throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Brooks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.
Couture thows a huge punch but Brooks dodges it nicely.
Brooks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Couture.
Couture lands with a punch from half guard.
Brooks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Couture throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Couture not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Couture is nestled in close to Brooks , controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Couture missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Couture takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Couture thows a huge punch but Brooks dodges it nicely.
Couture scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Couture working over Brooks with some ground and pound. Brooks looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
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 thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brooks 's head.
Couture missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Couture thows a huge punch but Brooks dodges it nicely.
Couture thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Couture thows a huge punch but Brooks dodges it nicely.
Couture scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Couture not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Couture missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Couture is keen to just control but Brooks is a slippery customer.
Couture lands strikes from half guard.
Brooks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Couture not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brooks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.
Couture trying to control from half guard but Brooks is working away.
Brooks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.
Couture is trying to control the action in half guard but Brooks is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Couture connects with a nice short shot to Brooks 's temple.
Couture not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Couture throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture had his way with Taylor Brooks in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Couture closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Brooks is looking for a sweep.
Couture in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Brooks takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Couture lands a few punches from side control.
Brooks on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Couture controlling the position.
Couture landing a few strikes.
Brooks is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture lands some shots froms side control.
Couture working the ground and pound but Brooks is defending the strikes.
An elbow from Couture crashes against the mat.
Brooks on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
An elbow from Couture crashes against the mat.
Couture lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The ground and pound from Couture seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Brooks takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Brooks is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Couture scores with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The strikes coming from Couture are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ground and pound from Couture seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Couture moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Couture looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Brooks is avoiding damage well.
Couture looks up at the clock and then as Brooks takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Couture smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Couture tries to score with some ground and pound. Brooks controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Brooks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks dodges the ground and pound from Couture.
Couture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brooks keeps working.
Brooks parries the strikes from Couture easily there. Couture is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Brooks to escape.
Sloppy strikes there by Couture.
Couture looks up at the clock and then as Brooks takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Couture smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Couture throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Couture is putting a hurting on Brooks here, landing some big shots from side control.
Couture working the ground and pound but Brooks is defending the strikes.
The ground and pound from Couture seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Couture is working Brooks over with some ground and pound from side control.
Brooks on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Brooks on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Couture lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Brooks down.
Couture in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture working the ground and pound but Brooks is defending the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Couture showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Couture has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Randy Couture!
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight for Randy Couture!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Randy Couture!

Randy Couture wins by unanimous decision!