PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kirill Sidelnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sidelnikov
vs
Couture

184 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
225 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
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, Kirill Sidelnikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sidelnikov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sidelnikov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Couture swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sidelnikov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sidelnikov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sidelnikov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Couture!
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 is looking to get to half guard.
Sidelnikov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Couture tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sidelnikov controlling the position easily from mount.
Couture working to try and regain half guard.
Sidelnikov looking to control but Couture is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Couture blocking the ground and pound.
Couture working to try and regain half guard.
Sidelnikov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Couture can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sidelnikov prevents Couture from getting the reversal.
Couture stops Sidelnikov from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Couture is looking to get to half guard.
Couture is squirming around, avoiding Sidelnikov's attempts to control the action.
Sidelnikov 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 is trying to escape the mount.

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.
Sidelnikov tries to control but Couture wriggling away.
Couture tries to hold on but Sidelnikov postures up.
Sidelnikov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Sidelnikov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sidelnikov punching from mount but Couture doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Couture is working to get back to half guard.
Sidelnikov thowing shots but they're missing.
Couture is working to get back to half guard.
Couture is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sidelnikov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Couture tries to reverse the position but Sidelnikov maintains control.
Couture holds on for dear life, controlling Sidelnikov's posture momentarily.
Poor strikes thrown by Sidelnikov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sidelnikov wants to control the pace but Couture is squirming around nicely.
Couture is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four 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 really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sidelnikov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Couture wants to control but Sidelnikov is having none of it.
Sidelnikov prevents Couture from getting the reversal.
Couture is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sidelnikov looking to control but Couture is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Couture is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Couture might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sidelnikov kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sidelnikov is breathing heavily.
Couture is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirill Sidelnikov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sidelnikov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sidelnikov doesn't manage to clinch there - Couture circles away.
Couture dives in and grabs Sidelnikov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sidelnikov pushes down on Couture's head and hops out.

Sidelnikov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sidelnikov wants to get up but he can't break Couture's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Couture pulls Sidelnikov in close to his closed guard and prevents Sidelnikov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Sidelnikov stopping the sweep attempt from Couture.
Couture is adopting a defensive guard.
Couture keeping full guard, as Sidelnikov tries to pass.

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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Couture is looking to clinch but Sidelnikov is avoiding it.
Sidelnikov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Couture paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sidelnikov fails with the takedown

and Couture counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sidelnikov keeping full guard, as Couture tries to pass.
Couture controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sidelnikov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Couture scores a takedown into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Couture controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture avoids the attempt from Sidelnikov to control.
Couture controlling the position easily from mount.

Randy Couture has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Couture closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sidelnikov to the mat! Sidelnikov manages to get full guard.
Randy Couture has got the better of the ground game so far.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Sidelnikov is keeping the position.
Sidelnikov being controlled here, momentarily.
Couture pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sidelnikov is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture controlling from the top position.
Couture's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Randy Couture hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Couture changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sidelnikov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Couture shoots in and bounces Sidelnikov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sidelnikov wants to stand and escape but Couture is having none of it.
Couture must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Couture pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sidelnikov is keeping the position for now.
Sidelnikov wants to sweep here but Couture controlling him for the moment.
Couture is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sidelnikov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sidelnikov leaves Couture with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Couture throws the left hand but Sidelnikov avoids the punch easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch but Sidelnikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sidelnikov with a poor takedown

and Couture counters by moving into the clinch.
Couture effectively controlling the action here.
Sidelnikov takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Kirill Sidelnikov has been cut.

Couture is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Sidelnikov can't fight it off and eventually Couture manages to take the fight to the floor. Sidelnikov looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
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 controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Randy Couture hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sidelnikov defending well as Couture loads up on a big left hand.

Sidelnikov tries to sprawl but Couture drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Couture wants to pass to mount but Sidelnikov is defending the position.
Couture controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sidelnikov wants to get back to his feet.
Couture looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sidelnikov wants to improve his position but Couture is controlling well.

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

Couture closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sidelnikov did well to prevent Couture getting side control.

Couture postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Sidelnikov to stand up.
Kirill Sidelnikov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sidelnikov looks to clinch

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sidelnikov is looking to escape.
Sidelnikov trying to hold on to Couture's head to control him but Couture postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sidelnikov tries to get to full guard but Couture has control of the leg.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sidelnikov swings for the body but Couture moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture thows a body shot but no joy.
Sidelnikov fails with the takedown

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Couture has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:29

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