PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Tank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Tank acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Couture
vs
Tank

186 cm
20
225 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
27
205 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid 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 3 - 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 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Tank!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tank scores with a takedown into Couture's guard.
Couture manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tank manages to get himself to full guard.
Couture pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tank is keeping the position for now.
Couture sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Randy Couture.

Couture looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Tank!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Couture has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Randy Couture just wasn't active enough.
Couture is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Couture tries to clinch but Tank is having none of it.

Tank scores a takedown into full mount!
Couture tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Couture regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is pressing down on Tank's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tank being controlled here momentarily.
Tank loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Couture trying to control the position here.
Couture 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.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Tank missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tank stopping the sweep attempt from Couture.
Couture is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Couture is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

We're going to have a standup here because Randy Couture wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Tank drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture is looking for a sweep.
Couture on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Couture tries to get out of the position.
Tank working the head with strikes.
Couture regains half guard.
Tank throwing shots but Couture is blocking nicely.
Couture is looking to improve his position.
Couture avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tank.
Tank is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tank throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Couture manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tank postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Couture pulls Tank in to control the position.
Tank connects with a couple of short punches.
Couture 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 utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tank with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tank preventing the sweep.
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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tank looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Couture!
Tank sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The referee warns Couture that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Couture is looking to improve his position but Tank isn't that keen on the idea.
Couture is in a horrible position here. Tank smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Tank working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tank pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Couture tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Couture tries to hold on but Tank pushes him away.
Tank with shots to the head and body - Couture looks very uncomfortable down there.
Couture sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Tank throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Couture is controlling Tank's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Couture wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Couture is pressing down on Tank's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Couture looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture 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.
Tank with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Couture is on top in guard.
Couture controlling from the top position.
Couture seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Tank for as long as he can get away with.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Tank is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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 engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Randy Couture wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Tank shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Tank throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Couture because Tank loaded up on that one.
Tank avoids the attempt from Couture to control.
Tank lands a nice shot to the head.
Couture is trying desperately to improve position.
Couture slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Couture is trying to get back to full guard.
Couture keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Couture is trying to maintain the position but Tank is very close to passing his half guard.
Couture controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tank sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Couture defending well though.
Tank looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tank throwing shots but Couture is blocking nicely.
Tank is nestled in close to Couture, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Couture taking some punishment here, with Tank in his half guard.
Couture is looking for a sweep. Tank is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tank working over Couture with some ground and pound. Couture looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Couture regains full guard. Nicely done.
Couture trying to keep a closed guard but Tank is proving a slippery customer.
Couture is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Couture tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tank knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Couture trying to control from half guard but Tank is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture works his way into side control.
Tank prevents Couture from improving position.
Couture prevents Tank from escaping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture staying calm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Tank showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tank has his takedown stuffed

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Couture wants to pass to mount but Tank is defending the position.
Couture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tank keeps working.
Couture trying to control the pace.
Couture trying to pass the guard but Tank defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture slows the pace down in half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Randy Couture wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Tank gets a takedown into half guard.
Couture gets full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture 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.
Tank being controlled here momentarily.
Tank thows a big elbow that misses.
Tank throwing strikes from guard but Couture blocks nicely.
Tank being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture controls Tank momentarily but Tank frees himself.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

We're going to have a standup here because Randy Couture wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Couture takes a swing at Tank's ribcage but misses.
Tank fails with the takedown

and Couture counters with a takedown into side control.
Couture is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Tank's shoulder. That is not cool.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tank stops Couture from passing to mount.
Tank being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tank keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Randy Couture wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Tank drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tank grinds an elbow into Couture's temple.
Couture manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Couture manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Couture lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tank!
Couture can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tank is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Couture throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

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