PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake Atkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jake Atkins has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Atkins
vs
Couture

200 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

187 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jake Atkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atkins wants to clinch.
Atkins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Couture swivels and escapes.

Atkins shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Atkins was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Couture has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Atkins's lack of action.

Atkins trying to work for an americana but Couture has managed to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkins wants to stand but Couture has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Couture manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Couture tries for a takedown but Atkins circles away easily

and Atkins counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Couture!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkins thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
You get the feeling that Couture really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Atkins throws a sloppy strike and Couture uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Couture has ended up in Atkins's guard.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Couture with a flurry of punches that miss.
Atkins not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Atkins is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Couture is controlling him.
Atkins is breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Couture misses with a takedown attempt

and Atkins counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Atkins drops back, looking for a kneebar! Couture looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Couture looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Couture!
Atkins prevents Couture from improving position.
Atkins tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture lands an elbow.
Couture passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Atkins!
Couture scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Couture postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Atkins looks a forlorn figure.
Couture scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Atkins tries to lock up and control but Couture gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkins keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Couture with good strikes from the mount here!
Couture looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Couture lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Couture landing strikes from the mount.
Couture lands a big elbow.
Couture lands with some strikes.
Couture scoring with strikes but Atkins is staying in there.
Couture postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Atkins looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture unloading with bombs!
Atkins is looking to improve his position but Couture isn't that keen on the idea.
Atkins is working hard here to advance position.
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 Jake Atkins will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Atkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Atkins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Couture passes the guard and advances to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Couture lands a heavy elbow.
Couture unloading with bombs!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
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 Atkins's face.
Couture cracks Atkins with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Atkins is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Couture lands a big shot there that rocks Atkins but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Couture working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Couture cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Atkins tries to hold on but Couture postures up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Couture cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The referee warns Atkins that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Couture lands a big shot there that rocks Atkins but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Couture.
Couture lands a big shot there that rocks Atkins but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Atkins is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Couture lands a big elbow.
Atkins wants to control but Couture is having none of it.
Couture pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Couture breaks from Atkins's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Couture pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Couture connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Couture cracks Atkins with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Couture fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Couture lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Atkins is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Atkins wants to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
BOOM! Couture connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Couture prevents Atkins from getting the reversal.
Couture raining down shots from the mount!
Atkins wants to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
Couture lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Couture pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Couture fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Couture is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Couture is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Atkins can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Couture putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Couture working Atkins over with strikes here.
Couture landing strikes from the mount and Atkins is in trouble!
Atkins wants to control but Couture is having none of it.
Couture has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A nice elbow there by Couture.
Atkins is working to get back to half guard.
Couture landing punches.
Atkins tries to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
Atkins trying desperately to get to his feet.
Atkins tries to reverse the position but Couture maintains control.
Couture lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Atkins hang on?
Couture looking to finish Atkins with some ground and pound. This is bad for Atkins!
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!

Couture closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Atkins is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Atkins is working to avoid the ground and pound but Couture connects with a decent elbow.
Couture is putting a hurting on Atkins here, landing some big shots from side control.
Atkins gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The referee warns Atkins that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Couture lands a big elbow.
Couture looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Atkins tries to lock up and control but Couture gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Couture scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Atkins is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Couture lands a big elbow.
Atkins is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Atkins wants to control but Couture is having none of it.
Couture with a couple of short strikes.
Couture working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Couture with a couple of short strikes.
Couture scoring with strikes but Atkins is staying in there.
Couture looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The referee warns Atkins that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Couture with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two 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.
Couture scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Atkins?
Randy Couture has got the better of the ground game so far.
Couture scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Atkins?
Couture pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Atkins wants to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
Atkins really wants to buck Couture off and get back to his feet.
Atkins tries to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
Couture with shots to the head and body - Atkins looks very uncomfortable down there.
Couture lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Atkins hang on?
Couture lands a nice shot to the head.
Atkins wants to hold on but Couture pushes him away.
Couture fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Atkins is working to get back to half guard.
Couture with shots to the head and body - Atkins looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture lands with some strikes.
Atkins tries to lock up and control but Couture gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Atkins really wants to buck Couture off and get back to his feet.
Couture punishing his opponent with strikes.
Couture dominating with strikes here.
Atkins wants to control but Couture is having none of it.
Couture landing punches.
Couture lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Atkins hang on?
Atkins swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Couture fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Couture landing strikes from the mount.
Atkins really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

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.
Couture postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Atkins looks a forlorn figure.
Atkins sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Atkins is trying to maintain the position but Couture is very close to passing his half guard.
Ground and pound from Couture.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Atkins is defending well.
Atkins is trying to stand back up but Couture is controlling him
Couture moves into full mount! Atkins won't be happy about that!
Atkins takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

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