PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Take Um (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Couture
vs
Um

185 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Randy Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Take Um!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Um shoots in and drives through. Couture sprawls well.
Nice defenses there by Couture.
Um shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Couture as he jumps to the side.
Um keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Decent striking displayed by Um there.
Couture avoids a punch combination nicely.
Take Um seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Um throws a body kick that misses.
Couture shoots for a takedown but Um saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Couture avoids a punch combination nicely.
Um with a lazy takedown attempt

and Couture counters with a single leg into guard. Um didn't expect that.
Randy Couture has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Take Um.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Um wriggles free and stands up.
No luck for Couture with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Um gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Couture counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Couture.
Um looks gassed!
Um utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Um throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Um trying to keep a closed guard but Couture is proving a slippery customer.
Couture scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Um wants to stand but Couture is controlling the position.
Couture lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Couture throws a big right hand that misses.
Couture chips away with some ground and pound.
Couture scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Um scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Um doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Couture counters with a single leg into guard. Um didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Couture seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Couture is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Couture makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Um keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Couture accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Um is trying to control the position but Couture postures up.
Couture throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture won't allow Um to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Um gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Couture counters with a takedown into side control.
Um is trying to get back to his feet.
Couture scores with punches from side control.
Couture lands a decent elbow from side control.
You can see the frustration on Um's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Um is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Couture has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Couture scores with punches from side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Um is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Couture has just dragged him back down to the mat.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Um swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Um waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Couture.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Um tries to clinch but Couture moves away

and Couture decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Um's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Um is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Couture pushing down on Um's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Couture is trying to control. Um wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Um is trying to stand.
Couture slips a nice elbow through Um's hands, connecting with Um's forehead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture prevents Um from standing back up.
Couture wants to free his trapped foot but Um is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Couture is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Um doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Couture.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Um tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Um looks to land a combination but Couture avoids it well.
Couture tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Um swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Um misses with a takedown

and Couture decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Um's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Couture 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.
Couture postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture stops Um from standing up.
Couture lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Um preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Um is pulling down on Couture's head. It's preventing any offense from Couture, at least for the moment.
Couture prevents Um from getting back to his feet.
Randy Couture overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Couture's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Um fails in his attempt to clinch.
Um tries to clinch up but Couture circles away and keeps his distance.
Um misses with a kick to the body

and Couture decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Um's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands a couple of elbows.
Um managing to control the position.
Um looking to hit a scissor sweep but Couture is one step ahead there.
Um not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Couture makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Couture lands a couple of elbows.
Couture missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Um is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Um connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Um swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Um gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Couture counters with a single leg into guard. Um didn't expect that.
Couture stops Um from standing up.
Couture working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Um's head.
Couture content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Couture is working Um over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Couture with a flurry of punches that miss.
Couture passes Um's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Um wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Um tries to get to full guard but Couture has control of the leg.
Couture landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Couture missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Couture is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Um has managed to free his arm - good work.
Um trying to control here.

Couture is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture prevents Um from improving his position.
Couture has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Um tries to bum rush Couture with a series of wild strikes but Couture uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Um tries for a takedown but Couture circles away easily
letting Couture counter with a right hand.
Um moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Couture looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Um!
Um throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Couture looking to finish Um with some ground and pound. This is bad for Um!
Um tries to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
Couture cracks Um with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Couture unloading with bombs!
Um is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture looking to finish Um with some ground and pound. This is bad for Um!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture lands with some strikes.
Couture avoids the attempt from Um to control.
Couture lands a big elbow.
Couture is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Um can do to turn this around?
Couture lands with some strikes.
Couture scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Couture lands a heavy elbow.
Couture lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Um hang on?
Um is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Um is desperately trying to improve his position but Couture has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Um wants to control but Couture is having none of it.
Um is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Um is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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.
Couture scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Couture with shots to the head and body - Um looks very uncomfortable down there.
Um bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Um trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
Couture lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Um!
Couture with a couple of short strikes.
Um tries to lock up and control but Couture gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Um takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Couture working Um over with strikes here.
Couture postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Um looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Um really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Um is bucking up trying to escape but Couture cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
A nice elbow there by Couture.
Couture postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Um looks a forlorn figure.
Um tries to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
Randy Couture is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Um can't escape the position.
Um is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Couture sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Um tries to hold on but Couture postures up.

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.
Um throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Um tries to lock up and control but Couture gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Couture punishing his opponent with strikes.
Couture controlling his opponent.
Um is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Couture trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Um tries to hold on but Couture postures up.
Take Um has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture is landing with some decent strikes but Um is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Couture showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Couture, 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

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