PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Couture

193 cm
26
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
31
220 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rickson Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gracie circles away.
Couture shoots in but Gracie avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Couture fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gracie avoids it really well and circles away.
Rickson Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Couture.

Couture bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gracie tries to escape but Couture is in control.
Couture tries to advance to mount but Gracie denies him.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Couture keeps moving and retains side control.

Couture working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Couture tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie is trying to control Couture's posture but Couture avoids it.

Couture is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Couture goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gracie rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Couture's guard! Nice work there by Gracie!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie won't allow Couture to sweep him here.
Couture really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Couture working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracie trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.

Couture working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Couture has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've been hearing good reports from Gracie's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Couture is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Couture is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie working some strikes from top position.
Gracie 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Couture is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Couture looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Couture is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.

Couture escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Randy Couture will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Couture to the mat! Couture manages to get full guard.

Couture has his foot on Gracie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gracie works his way back into a safe position though.

Couture is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Couture has a closed guard, preventing Gracie from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Couture has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Couture's legs - danger averted.
Randy Couture has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Gracie is really struggling to control Couture but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Couture won't let him.

Couture looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Couture looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Couture is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie connects with a couple of short punches.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Couture looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Gracie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Couture has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Couture's legs - danger averted.
Gracie 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 working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a strike but Couture rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Couture is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gracie is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gracie has escaped and now he's on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Gracie dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Couture changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gracie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

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

Couture goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gracie rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Couture's guard! Nice work there by Gracie!

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Couture is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Couture takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Couture is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.

Couture working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Couture has his foot on Gracie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gracie works his way back into a safe position though.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Couture has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Couture's legs - danger averted.
Gracie is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Couture has a closed guard, preventing Gracie from standing up.

Couture is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Couture is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Couture looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Couture looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Couture avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Couture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Couture looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Couture looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie postures up and lands a big shot to Couture's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rickson Gracie.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rickson Gracie!