PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Lange (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lange
vs
Couture

178 cm
21
169 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

186 cm
18
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Oblivion Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dirk Lange!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lange tries to clinch up but Couture circles away and keeps his distance.
Couture looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Couture has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Couture forces Lange back against the cage and clinches.
Lange avoids the elbow strike from Couture, against the cage.
Couture lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lange backwards.
Lange tries to land a knee to the head but Couture blocks with his arms.
Couture has Lange pressed against the cage, preventing Lange from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lange looking for a takedown.
Lange with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short right from Couture on the inside.
Lange definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Couture softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Couture misses with an elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture lands with a light punch inside.
Couture digs a right hand underneath Lange's ribcage. Lange let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Lange blocks an elbow strike from Couture.
Couture lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Couture lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture pushes off an throws an elbow but Lange leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Couture.
Couture misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lange has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.
Couture misses with a punch to the body.
Couture lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lange or not.
Couture tries to work over Lange's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Couture throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Couture gets through Lange's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lange tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Couture smiles and moves away.
Lange fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Lange. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Couture instigates a clinch.
Lange blocks an elbow strike from Couture.
Couture misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands a right hand.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Couture just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lange's brow.

Lange pulls Couture into guard.
Couture in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Couture in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Couture trying to control but Lange is working from the bottom.
Couture with a flurry of punches that miss.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Lange is keeping the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Couture throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Couture really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lange. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Couture throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Lange is keeping the position.
Couture loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Couture sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lange working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Couture.
Couture wanted to stand there but Lange had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Couture rushes Lange and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Couture avoiding damage as Lange throws knees to the body.
A short left from Couture.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lange just misses with a elbow thrown towards Couture's brow.
Lange tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Couture smiles and moves away.

Couture closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lange drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lange wants to break free but Couture has control.
Couture lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lange tries to pull guard but Couture won't allow it.
Lange is breathing heavily.
Lange has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.
Couture makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Couture lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lange backwards.
Lange blocks a body shot from Couture.
Lange jumps guard but Couture turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Couture lands with a short head shot on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Couture has managed to clinch.
Couture makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Couture goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Couture lands a hook to the side of the head.
Couture scores with a shoulder strike.
Couture lands an uppercut.
Lange jumps guard but Couture turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Couture works on Lange's body with a couple of short punches.
Lange tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Couture pushes Lange back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Couture lands with a left to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Couture throws an elbow but misses.
Lange wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Couture scores with a nice hook to the head.
Randy Couture seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Couture creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lange tries to pull guard but Couture forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Lange. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture is pressed up against the cage. Lange has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Couture down to the mat. Couture avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lange fails to land the takedown.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Couture! But no joy.

Couture closes the distance and pushes Lange back into the cage.
Lange has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Lange gets control of Couture's arms and successfully pulls guard. Lange will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Couture throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Couture throws a big right hand that misses.
Couture with a flurry of punches that miss.
Couture scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Lange being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lange is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Couture accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lange tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Couture not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Couture throwing strikes but missing.
Couture throws a big right hand that misses.
Lange preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Couture controlling from the top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Couture throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Langes head.
Couture makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lange blocks the elbow strike.
Couture lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lange is trying to pull guard but Couture has him pressed against the cage.
Couture lands a body shot in the clinch.
Couture stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Couture throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lange breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Couture has Lange up against the cage in a clinch.
A short uppercut from Couture.
Couture throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Langes head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Couture lands an uppercut.
Couture lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Couture scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Couture just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lange's brow.
Couture throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Langes head.
Couture scores with a nice hook to the head.
Couture lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Lange takes a shot to the head.
Couture misses with an elbow strike.
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. 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.

Couture moves into the clinch.
Couture pushes off an throws an elbow but Lange leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Couture lands a hook to the side of the head.
Couture managing to block the knees to the body from Lange.
Lange blocks an elbow strike.
Lange wants to get back to striking at distance but Couture won't allow it.
Couture lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Couture scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Couture creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lange tries a body shot but Couture blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lange drops down looking for an ankle pick but Couture pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dirk Lange is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Couture pushes Lange up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lange takes a shot to the head.
Couture lands a left hand.
Lange's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Couture throws an elbow that misses.
Couture working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lange misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lange tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Couture smiles and moves away.

Lange tries to keep at a distance but Couture has taken the fight into the clinch.
Couture throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Langes head.
Couture has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Couture scores with a shot to the side of Lange's head.
Couture lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lange looking to slow down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lange blocks an elbow strike from Couture.
Couture tries to throw a body punch but Lange avoids it by throwing Couture back against the cage.
Couture throws an elbow but it misses.
A short right from Couture.
Couture lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Couture creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Lange is rocked!
A short body shot lands from Couture as the two fighters clinch.
Oh Lange is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Couture works on Lange's body with a couple of short punches.
Lange seems to have got his legs back now.
A right hook to the body lands for Couture.
Couture throws an elbow that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Couture.
Couture lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture digs a right hand into Lange's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lange's gas tank.
Couture lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lange.
Couture throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Couture throws an elbow that misses.
Couture scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Couture lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Couture throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Randy Couture is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lange takes an elbow to the temple.
Couture presses Lange against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Lange fails to land.
Couture throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Couture is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Lange. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Couture.
Nice body punch from Couture.
Lange tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Couture scores with a nice hook to the head.
Couture lands with a right to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lange wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lange dodges an elbow strike from Couture.
Dirk Lange has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lange is looking to take this one to the mat.

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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 25:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 25:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Couture!
Randy Couture seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.