PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raendi Kouture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kouture has chosen Warriors of the World as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Kouture

195 cm
19
193 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

186 cm
18
186 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raendi Kouture!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Smith drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kouture lands a really nice looking cross but Smith seems unphased.
Kouture throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kouture with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kouture tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kouture to the ground. Kouture escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kouture tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kouture lands with a kick to the ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kouture fails with the takedown
and Smith counters with a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kouture.
Kouture throws a combination that misses
and Smith counters with a good low kick that Kouture was not able to check.
Smith shoots and misses

and Kouture counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith tries to pull guard but Kouture won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kouture wants to break the clinch but can't.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kouture.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has Kouture pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kouture manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kouture is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith can't break the clinch.
Kouture lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Kouture breaks the clinch.
A head kick by Kouture misses

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Kouture didn't expect that.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kouture is keeping the position for now.
Kouture is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Kouture keeps moving.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kouture seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kouture looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith sitting in guard here, content to control.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Kouture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Kouture controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Kouture has wrist control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Kouture.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Kouture moves out of range easily.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kouture smiles and moves away.

Kouture has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Frank Smith will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kouture misses with a combination

and Smith moves into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Kouture.
Smith gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kouture.
Smith prevents Kouture from breaking the clinch.
Smith keeps control of Kouture as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kouture comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kouture avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Kouture is controlling the position.
Kouture is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Kouture lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smith backs up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Kouture sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kouture misses with a wild combination.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kouture throws a head kick that misses.
Smith misses with a takedown
and Kouture counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries for a takedown but Kouture circles away easily
and Kouture counters with a nice uppercut.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Kouture counters with a one-two to the body.
Kouture fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith tries to move into range but Kouture moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kouture moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Smith lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kouture just stands there and leans against the cage.

Kouture escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kouture counters with a series of strikes. Smith will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kouture throws a sloppy head kick

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kouture is looking to get back to is feet but Smith passes into side control.

Smith stands up and beckons Kouture to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kouture misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kouture is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Smith controlling the pace for now.
Smith throws a strike there. Kouture manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Smith is pressing down on Kouture's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kouture is holding on for now.
Smith stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Smith is keen to just control but Kouture is a slippery customer.
Kouture is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Smith won't allow Kouture to get back to his feet.
Kouture controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kouture scrambles and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Smith dominated that second round.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kouture counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.
Kouture misses with a wild body shot.
Smith misses with a takedown

and Kouture counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!
Smith is looking to get to half guard.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Kouture's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kouture stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Raendi Kouture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kouture goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kouture misses with a double jab

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Smith stands and steps away. Kouture gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith is taking a breather. Kouture says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Smith seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith stops Kouture from getting back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kouture trying to control from the bottom.
Smith trying to control from half guard but Kouture is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kouture kicks Smith off and gets back to his feet.
Frank Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Kouture lands with a kick to the temple. Smith shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Raendi Kouture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kouture tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kouture to the ground. Kouture escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kouture moves into the clinch.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Kouture keeps him there for the moment.
Smith prevents Kouture from breaking the clinch.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith tries to pull guard but Kouture holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Kouture is trying to break the clinch but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kouture lands a body punch.

Kouture breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Kouture scores with a four punch combination!
Kouture misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Smith counters with a head kick. That will keep Kouture thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A shot to the body from Kouture misses

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Kouture had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Smith is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kouture Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Smith's back instead.
Smith controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Smith!