PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Couture
vs
Stevens

185 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

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 Las Vegas, Randy Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paulo Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Couture fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stevens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevens tries to clinch up.
Stevens tries to clinch up but Couture circles away and keeps his distance.
Couture fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stevens closes the distance and clinches.
Stevens misses with a hook to the ribs.
A knee to the head by Stevens.

It looks like Randy Couture has been cut.
Couture has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stevens is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Couture prevents Stevens from breaking the clinch.
Couture pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Couture just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stevens's brow.
Couture blocks the elbow strike.
Stevens is struggling to control the position.
Stevens misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stevens throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Couture blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Stevens misses with a knee to the head.
Couture misses with an elbow strike.
A bit of stalling here from Stevens.
Stevens lands a knee to the head.

Stevens breaks the clinch.
Stevens tries to clinch there but Couture circles away.
Couture avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Couture paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Couture keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Stevens tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
Stevens fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevens fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevens tries to clinch there but Couture circles away.
Stevens tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
Stevens tries to clinch there but Couture circles away.

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 tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stevens swivels and escapes.
Stevens wants to clinch.
Stevens stuffs the takedown.
Couture shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stevens as he jumps to the side.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch but Couture swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stevens tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
No luck for Couture with that takedown attempt.
Stevens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Couture shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stevens as he jumps to the side.
Couture looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Couture paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Couture misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Couture misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stevens is looking to clinch.

Stevens gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stevens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Stevens tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevens tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
Stevens is looking to clinch.

Stevens moves into range and clinches up with Couture.
Stevens controlling the action here for a moment.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Couture just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stevens's brow.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike from Couture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Couture has him pressed against the cage.
Couture creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Stevens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Couture will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Couture fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Couture swats away the attempt to clinch by Stevens.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stevens wants it to stay on the feet.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Couture paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Couture shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stevens tries to clinch up.
Stevens tries to clinch but Couture is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stevens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stevens wants it to stay on the feet.

Couture shoots in and bounces Stevens off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Stevens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Stevens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Randy Couture's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Couture shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stevens but Stevens pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stevens tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
Randy Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevens is looking to clinch but Couture is avoiding it.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Stevens instigates a clinch.
Stevens is trying to break the clinch but Couture has him pressed against the cage.
Couture misses with an elbow strike.
Stevens goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Stevens leaning his opponent against the cage.
Stevens tries to stall but Couture uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevens moves in looking to clinch but Couture pushes him off.
Stevens feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Couture's calf.

Stevens rushes Couture and presses him up against the cage.
Stevens pushes off an throws an elbow but Couture leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stevens.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Stevens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Couture fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stevens doesn't manage to clinch there - Couture circles away.

Stevens pushes Couture up against the cage in a clinch.

Stevens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stevens moves in looking to clinch but Couture pushes him off.

Stevens moves into the clinch successfully.
Stevens throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Stevens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevens tries to clinch but Couture is having none of it.
Stevens tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch but Couture swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Couture looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Couture gets tackled into the cage by Stevens. Stevens maintains the clinch.
Stevens using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Couture has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stevens controlling the action here for a moment.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Couture just misses with a elbow thrown towards Stevens's brow.

Stevens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stevens tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
Paulo Stevens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevens tries to clinch up but Couture circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevens wants to clinch.
Stevens tries to clinch up but Couture circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevens doesn't manage to clinch there - Couture circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stevens landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Couture avoids it.
Stevens is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Couture blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Couture throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Stevens is trying to break the clinch but Couture is controlling him.
Stevens using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Stevens with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stevens dodges an elbow strike from Couture.
Stevens with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike from Couture.
Stevens drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Couture gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stevens.
Stevens landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stevens misses with a knee strike.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike.
Stevens landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stevens gets control of Couture's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stevens will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Coutureis looking to pass into half guard but Stevens pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Stevens is in guard.
Stevens trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stevens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Couture looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens tries to stand but Couture is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Stevens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Randy Couture's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stevens tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Couture manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Couture.
Stevens throws a leg kick that misses.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Couture dives in and grabs Stevens's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stevens pushes down on Couture's head and hops out.
Couture looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stevens is fending him off so far but Couture persists. Nope, Stevens circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevens fails in his attempt to clinch.
Couture circles away from the clinch attempt.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stevens clinches with his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevens will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Couture up against the cage.
Paulo Stevens seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike.
Stevens tries to stall but Couture uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Stevens misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Couture walks away with a smile on his face. Stevens gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Couture swats away the attempt to clinch by Stevens.
Stevens wants to clinch up but Couture keeps it at a distance.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Couture swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Couture swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Couture shoots in for a double leg but Stevens sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stevens is looking to clinch but Couture is avoiding it.
Couture avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stevens tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.

Stevens rushes Couture and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Couture throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Couture is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stevens gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Stevens crunches a lovely knee into Couture's ribcage.
Stevens tries a knee to the head but Couture blocks it.
Stevens jumps guard but Couture stands there with Stevens around his waist. Stevens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Couture throws an elbow that misses.
Stevens is trying to break the clinch but Couture is controlling him.
Stevens throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Couture blocks it with crossed arms.
Stevens looking to slow down the pace here.
Stevens tries to pull guard but Couture won't allow it.

Stevens breaks the clinch.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevens throws a sloppy head kick and Couture moves out of range easily.
Couture closes the distance and clinches up with Stevens, looking for a takedown. Couture pushes Stevens against the cage but Stevens circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stevens moves in looking to clinch but Couture pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevens instigates a clinch.
Paulo Stevens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stevens is trying to break the clinch but Couture is controlling him.
Stevens is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Couture pushes off an throws an elbow but Stevens leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Stevens tries to circle away but Couture has him pinned against the cage.
Couture throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Couture misses with an elbow over the top.
Stevens misses with a knee to the head.
Stevens is pushing Couture up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Couture throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Stevens avoids a wild elbow strike from Couture.
Couture looking for a takedown.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Stevens's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stevens wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike.
Couture throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Stevens effectively controlling the action here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Stevens throws an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Stevens throws an elbow but misses.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Couture avoids the damage to the body.
Stevens avoids the elbow strike from Couture, against the cage.

Stevens breaks the clinch.
Stevens doesn't manage to clinch there - Couture circles away.
Stevens stuffs the takedown attempt from Couture. Couture gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Couture swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice sprawl there from Stevens as Couture shoots in.
Randy Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Stevens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stevens 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Stevens!