PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Max Shaw (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.

Shaw
vs
Couture

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
213 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Max Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture fails in his attempt to clinch.
Couture tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shaw sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Couture somewhat.
Randy Couture seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Couture has his takedown stuffed

so Shaw counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Couture is trying to control the position but Shaw postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Couture throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Shaw drops back looking for a leg! Couture is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Couture manages to kick Shaw off! Shaw jumps back into Couture's guard.
Couture is adopting a defensive guard.
Shaw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Couture swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shaw distracts Couture with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw stopping the sweep attempt from Couture.
Shaw lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Shaw got a little sloppy there for a moment and Couture has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shaw has managed to get both his arms back between Couture's legs - danger averted.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shaw's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Couture tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shaw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Couture swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shaw wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Shaw scoring with some ground and pound.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.
Couture tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Couture looking to control.
Shaw looking to pass the guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shaw tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Couture swivels and escapes.
Shaw fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A head kick misses from Couture.
Shaw stuffs the takedown.
Max Shaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Couture.
Couture tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shaw counters with a takedown into side control.
Shaw looks up at the clock and then as Couture takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Shaw smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Shaw creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Couture taking a bit of punishment here - Shaw scoring with strikes.
Couture manages to work his way to half guard, despite Shaw's best efforts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shaw stalling.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shaw lands strikes from half guard.
Shaw working Couture over with strikes.
Shaw sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture is looking for a sweep. Shaw is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Couture is trying to control but can't.
Ground and pound from Shaw.
Shaw working Couture over with strikes.
Shaw wants to lay and pray for a moment but Couture keeps working.
Couture is concentrating on defense, preventing Shaw from advancing position.
Couture works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shaw trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Couture is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shaw defends well.
Couture looks winded!
Couture not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Shaw dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Couture shoots in looking for a takedown. Shaw tries to sprawl out of it but Couture keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shaw manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Couture wants to clinch.
Couture tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Shaw. No joy for Couture on that attempt.
Shaw stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shaw wants it to stay on the feet.
Max Shaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Couture.
Couture doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shaw counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've been informed that Couture has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Couture is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Shaw trying to control from Couture's half guard. Couture has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Couture not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Max Shaw overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaw connects with a couple of short punches.
Shaw has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shaw tries to free his leg and advance position but Couture is retaining full guard.
Shaw is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shaw is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Shaw from controlling successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shaw lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Couture controls Shaw momentarily but Shaw frees himself.
Couture keeping full guard, as Shaw tries to pass.
Couture is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shaw is controlling him.
Shaw advances position into side control!
Couture is trying to improve his position.
Shaw lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw staying calm.
Shaw wants to control but Couture is keeping him busy.
Shaw lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Shaw connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Couture some visible discomfort.
Shaw tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Shaw wants to control but Couture is keeping him busy.

Shaw is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Couture knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Couture tries to buck Shaw off but Shaw is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaw just content to control the position.
Shaw working the ground and pound.
Shaw moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Couture tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shaw wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Couture manages to work his way to half guard, despite Shaw's best efforts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Couture is looking for a sweep. Shaw is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shaw connects with a nice short shot to Couture's temple.
Shaw seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Couture does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shaw controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Shaw dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Couture shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shaw but Shaw pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice takedown defense from Shaw. No joy for Couture on that attempt.
Couture shoots in but no luck this time.
Max Shaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Couture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Couture closes the distance and clinches.
Couture gets underhooks to prevent Shaw's takedown attempt.
Shaw is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Couture gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Couture jumps into guard, dragging Shaw to the mat.
Couture takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw won't allow Couture to get back to his feet.
Shaw slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Shaw postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shaw advances to half guard.
Shaw seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Couture does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Shaw is looking for a kimura here.
Couture tries to get to full guard but Shaw has control of the leg.
Shaw frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Shaw punishing his opponent with strikes.
Shaw looking to control but Couture is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture is looking to improve his position but Shaw isn't that keen on the idea.

Couture defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Shaw.
Shaw trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Couture sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Couture manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Couture is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Shaw controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture working a defensive guard here.
Shaw working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Couture's head.
Couture is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Couture not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Couture working for a triangle but Shaw defends it easily.
Shaw working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shaw is pushing down on Couture's leg trying to pass to half guard. Couture is fighting to maintain full guard but Shaw has managed to sneak the leg through.
Shaw trying to control the action but Couture is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture is looking to control Shaw's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Couture avoid being mounted?
Shaw landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Shaw lands strikes from half guard.
Shaw tries to pass to full mount but Couture defends it.
Shaw is looking to take a break and control but Couture is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Couture has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shaw is working away from the top position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shaw prevents Couture from improving his position.
Couture has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shaw is working away from the top position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Shaw showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shaw, 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Shaw!