PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hector Van Der Vard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Van Der Vard
vs
Couture

195 cm
24
262 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

L.A. Elite Supplements

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hector Van Der Vard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Couture.
Couture throws a strike aimed at the side of Van Der Vard's head but Van Der Vard avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Der Vard is trying to get back to half guard.
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.
Van Der Vard is looking for a sweep.
Couture lands an elbow.
Couture in side control lands a decent elbow.
Van Der Vard tries to improve position but can't.
Couture lands some shots froms side control.
Couture trying to control the action but Van Der Vard is working from the bottom.
Van Der Vard avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Couture.
Couture lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Van Der Vard down.
Van Der Vard taking a bit of punishment here - Couture scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture cracks Van Der Vard with a big right hand but Van Der Vard just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Van Der Vard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Couture working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Couture lands a nice forearm strike.
Van Der Vard is looking to reverse the position.
Check out the look on Couture's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Couture wants to control but Van Der Vard is keeping him busy.
The ground and pound from Couture seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Van Der Vard dodges the ground and pound from Couture.
Van Der Vard takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Van Der Vard is trying to get back to half guard.
Couture has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Van Der Vard is breathing heavily.

Couture tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture landing a few strikes.
Couture cracks Van Der Vard with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An elbow from Couture crashes against the mat.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Couture trying to control the position but Van Der Vard is working away.
Van Der Vard takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Couture sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Van Der Vard is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Van Der Vard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Van Der Vard tries to get out of the position.
Couture landing strikes.
Van Der Vard is trying to get back to half guard.
Couture landing strikes.
Van Der Vard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Couture on the ground.
Couture lands an elbow.
You can see the frustration on Van Der Vard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Couture grinds an elbow into Van Der Vard's temple.
Van Der Vard is working to avoid the ground and pound but Couture connects with a decent elbow.
Van Der Vard takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Couture lands a decent elbow from side control.
Couture landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Couture is looking to take a break and control but Van Der Vard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Couture advances to mount.
Van Der Vard is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Couture fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture punishing his opponent with strikes.
Couture scores with a couple of good head shots there.
BOOM! Couture connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Couture with a couple of short strikes.
Couture lands with some strikes.
Van Der Vard tries to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
Couture lands a big shot there that rocks Van Der Vard but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Van Der Vard is in all sorts of trouble here.
Couture scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Van Der Vard?
Van Der Vard is looking to improve his position but Couture isn't that keen on the idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Van Der Vard hang on?
Couture with the ground and pound from mount.
Van Der Vard is squirming around, avoiding Couture's attempts to control the action.
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!

Van Der Vard doesn't manage to clinch there - Couture circles away.
Horrible takedown by Couture or perhaps it was just good defense by Van Der Vard which made him look bad.
Couture throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Der Vard.
Van Der Vard misses with a takedown attempt

and Couture decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Van Der Vard's guard.
Couture working some strikes from top position.
Van Der Vard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Couture with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Couture stands up over Van Der Vard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Couture distracts Van Der Vard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture won't allow Van Der Vard to sweep him here.
Randy Couture has got the better of the ground game so far.
Couture makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Couture postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture won't allow Van Der Vard to sweep him here.

Couture thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Couture throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Der Vard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Couture is looking to work some ground and pound but Van Der Vard has wrist control.
Couture advances to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Couture lands a nice short elbow.
Van Der Vard desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Couture throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Van Der Vard holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Couture is nestled in close to Van Der Vard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Van Der Vard is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture trying to control from half guard but Van Der Vard is working away.
Van Der Vard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Couture.

Couture decides to stand up.

Couture closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Van Der Vard quickly recovers to half guard.
Couture working Van Der Vard over with strikes.
Couture not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Couture thows a huge punch but Van Der Vard dodges it nicely.
Couture throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Van Der Vard trying to control from the bottom.
Van Der Vard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Couture's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Couture's back!
Van Der Vard is trying to stick to Couture's back but Couture is turning into Van Der Vard. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Van Der Vard's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Couture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Vard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Van Der Vard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Van Der Vard controls Couture momentarily but Couture frees himself.
Van Der Vard keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Van Der Vard wants to sweep but no luck.
Couture lands a couple of digs.
Couture scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Couture landing with the ground and pound.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Der Vard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Van Der Vard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Couture throws and elbow that misses. Van Der Vard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Couture's guard. Nice move by Van Der Vard!

Couture is looking for a triangle but Van Der Vard pushes his legs off easily.
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 looking to control.

Couture looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Couture wriggles free and stands up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Couture.
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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Der Vard with a lazy takedown attempt

and Couture counters with a single leg into guard. Van Der Vard didn't expect that.
Couture chips away with some ground and pound.
Couture trying to control but Van Der Vard is working from the bottom.
Couture throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Couture's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Couture scoring with punches to the head and body.
Van Der Vard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Couture's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Couture scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Van Der Vard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Couture postures up and lands a big shot to Van Der Vard's brow.
Van Der Vard working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Der Vard wants to hit a switch here but Couture passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Van Der Vard there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Couture has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Van Der Vard's face.
Couture fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Couture pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Couture looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Couture is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Couture lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Van Der Vard can't escape the position.
Van Der Vard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Van Der Vard is in a horrible position here. Couture smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Van Der Vard tries to lock up and control but Couture gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture prevents Van Der Vard from getting the reversal.
Van Der Vard squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Couture punishing his opponent with strikes.
Couture tries to control but Van Der Vard wriggling away.
Couture working the ground and pound effectively.
Van Der Vard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Couture looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Couture landing strikes from the mount and Van Der Vard is in trouble!
Couture looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Couture breaks from Van Der Vard's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Van Der Vard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture looking to finish Van Der Vard with some ground and pound. This is bad for Van Der Vard!
Couture punishing his opponent with strikes.
Van Der Vard tries to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
Couture with shots to the head and body - Van Der Vard looks very uncomfortable down there.
Couture lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Van Der Vard is looking to improve his position but Couture isn't that keen on the idea.
Couture with shots to the head and body - Van Der Vard looks very uncomfortable down there.
Van Der Vard holds of for dear life.
Van Der Vard is looking to get to half guard.
Van Der Vard tries to hold on but Couture pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Couture lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
BOOM! Couture connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Couture fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Randy Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Couture scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Van Der Vard?
Couture in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
BOOM! Couture connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Van Der Vard is wriggling around trying to escape.
Couture wants to control the pace but Van Der Vard is squirming around nicely.
Couture working Van Der Vard over with strikes here.
Van Der Vard is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hector Van Der Vard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture landing punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Couture winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30

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