PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Relen Tless (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Randy Couture has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Couture
vs
Tless

195 cm
25
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randy Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Relen Tless!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Couture. No joy for Tless on that attempt.
Couture looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Tless drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tless is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Tless stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Couture throws a right hand that Tless ducks under and follows up with a left that Tless also avoids with ease.

Tless looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tless passes Couture's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tless is taking a breather. Couture 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tless's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Couture won't allow Tless to pass to mount.
Tless seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

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.
Tless passes to full mount!

Tless is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Couture to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Couture shrugs it off.
A nice elbow there by Tless.
Tless working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tless landing strikes from the mount.
Tless lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Tless lands a big elbow.
Tless lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tless sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tless is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Tless get's back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tless.
Nice sprawl there from Couture as Tless shoots in.

Tless rushes Couture and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Relen Tless dominated that 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.

Couture gets caught flat footed, as Tless shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tless 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tless's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tless stays in close to Couture's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Couture has momentary wrist control but Tless slips an elbow through the middle.
Tless not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tless thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tless lands a couple of digs.
Tless is pushing down on Couture's leg trying to pass to half guard. Couture is fighting to maintain full guard but Tless has managed to sneak the leg through.

Tless stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Couture to get to his feet.
Couture misses with a double jab.
Randy Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tless closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Couture to the mat! Couture manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tless makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tless passes Couture's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tless slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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. Tless connects with a nice short shot to Couture's temple.

Tless decides to stand and escape the position.

Tless shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Couture's guard.

Tless stands up and waves to Couture to follow him.

Tless shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Relen Tless 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.

Tless bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tless works to advance to full mount. Couture defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tless takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tless raining down shots from the mount!
Tless tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tless working Couture over with strikes here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tless sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Couture in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tless controlling his opponent.

Tless jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Couture manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Couture is working to avoid the ground and pound but Tless connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture taking a bit of punishment here - Tless scoring with strikes.

Tless tries for a kimura but Couture is defending well.
Tless landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture is trying to escape the position but Tless is controlling the position.
Couture is trying to buck Tless off.
Tless controls the position.
Couture is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Relen Tless comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tless winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 24:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 24:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Relen Tless!