PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rolando Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gracie
vs
Couture

188 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

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, Rolando Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Couture as he avoids it easily.
Gracie fails with the takedown
letting Couture counter with a right hand.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Couture sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rolando Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Couture stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Couture throws a wild body kick that Gracie sees coming a mile off.
Couture scores with a punch to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Couture circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Couture shows good takedown defense.
Gracie has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Couture scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gracie moves out of range as Couture throws a body kick.
Gracie takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Couture lands a jab.
Couture cracks Gracie with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Couture throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
A head kick misses from Couture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Couture.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Couture shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Couture scores with a body shot.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Couture circles away.
Couture lands a really nice looking cross but Gracie seems unphased.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Couture sprawls well.
Couture misses with a few strikes there.
Couture misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie with a poor takedown
and Couture counters with a one-two to the body.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Couture swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gracie.
Couture displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Couture tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Couture tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Couture to the ground. Couture escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gracie has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gracie there as he acknowledges the shot.
Couture is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Gracie had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Couture connects with a single shot there.
Couture misses with the combination.
Couture throws a series of strikes that have Gracie backpedaling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Couture wants it to stay on the feet.
Couture leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Couture which made him look bad.
Couture cracks Gracie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice uppercut there from Couture.
Couture lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The crowd cheers as Couture lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gracie doesn't seem phased though.
Couture throws a series of strikes that have Gracie backpedaling.
Gracie takes a jab right on the kisser.
Couture lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Couture.
Couture lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie fails with the takedown
and Couture cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Couture lands with a nice combination. Gracie backs away looking to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie blocks a low kick nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Couture!
Gracie with a poor takedown
and Couture counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Couture misses with a jab, cross combination.
Couture lands a two punch combo.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rolando Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Couture lands with a cross.

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.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Couture wants to land a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
Couture moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Couture lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Couture swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Couture, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Couture against the cage but Couture circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Couture.
Couture tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A left and a right from Couture both land. Nice combination.
Gracie takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Couture counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rolando Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Couture misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Couture connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Couture fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Couture swinging wildly here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie tries for a takedown but Couture circles away easily
and Gracie takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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 fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A right-left combo lands from Couture.
Couture is working the combinations to good effect here.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Couture defends it nicely.
Couture moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Couture misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie fails with the takedown
and Couture connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Couture which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rolando Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Couture.
Couture lands a jab-cross combination.
Jab, jab by Couture - just one landing.
Couture lands with a nice combination. Gracie backs away looking to recover.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
enabling Couture to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Couture scores with a one two! Gracie had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gracie looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Couture tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Couture catches Gracie with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Couture, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Couture against the cage but Couture circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Couture counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Danga de danga de dang - Couture scores with a four punch combination!
Couture misses with a low kick.
Couture scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Couture keeps the fight on the outside.

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 lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Couture lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracie backs up against the cage.
Couture circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Couture counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Couture throws a one two combo.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Couture defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Rolando Gracie 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.
Couture connects with a right hand. Gracie shakes it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Couture has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

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