PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Santz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Couture
vs
Santz

185 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

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 - 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Santz!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Couture instigates a clinch.
Santz is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Couture is keeping busy.
Couture is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Santz to keep the fight standing.
Couture fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Couture blocks a body shot from Santz.
Couture tries to pull guard but Santz won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santz cracks Couture with a nice body shot.
Couture tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Santz just stands there and leans against the cage.
Couture fails to pull guard.
Couture tries to pull guard but Santz holds him up against the cage and eventually Couture drops back down to his feet.
Santz pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Santz to keep the fight standing.
Santz tries to throw a body punch but Couture avoids it by throwing Santz back against the cage.
Couture jumps guard but Santz stands there with Couture around his waist. Couture gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Couture pulls guard effortlessly.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Santz works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Couture is looking to control Santz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Couture avoid being mounted?
Santz is looking to take a break and control but Couture is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Couture is looking to improve his position.
Santz seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Couture keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Santz thuds his right hand into Couture's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Couture shoots for a double leg takedown but Santz sprawls well. He's pushed Couture's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Santz lands a two punch combo.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A jab from Santz does it's job there.
Santz works Couture's body with a nice hook.
Couture tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Santz throws a series of punches but Couture moves out of range.
Santz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Couture back to the cage. Santz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Santz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santz throws a combination. Couture tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Santz throws a nice looking combination but Couture bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Couture takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Santz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Santz wants it to stay on the feet.
Jose Santz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Santz stuffs the takedown.
Couture is breathing heavily.
Santz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Jose Santz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt.
Couture shoots in looking for a takedown but Santz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Couture's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Couture takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santz scores with a sloppy right hand. Couture should have avoided that one.
Sloppy strikes from Couture. Those never looked like landing.
Couture on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Santz lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Couture backs up against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Couture is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Santz's half guard.
Couture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santz keeps working.
Couture stalling away here and it's allowed Santz to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Couture looking to sit in guard and control but Santz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Santz trying to control but Couture is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Santz dominated that round.
That's time! Couture's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Santz throws a one two combo.
Santz throws a right hand that Couture ducks under and follows up with a left that Couture also avoids with ease.
Couture tries to land a body kick
and Santz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Couture takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Good standup being displayed there by Santz as he connects with a hook.
Santz stalks Couture and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Couture's face. Couture staggers backwards, shaken.
Santz closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Jose Santz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Couture shoots for a takedown but Santz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Couture misses with a body punch
and Santz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A looping hook to the body misses from Couture. Santz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Couture shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Santz sprawls well. Santz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Couture gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Couture.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Santz's waist but Santz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Couture off to one side.
Santz scores with a one two! Couture had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A combination from Santz does no damage.
Couture shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santz as he avoids it easily.
Santz stalks Couture and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Couture's face. Couture staggers backwards, shaken.
Danga de danga de dang - Santz scores with a four punch combination!
A jab from Santz finds it's way through Couture's defenses.
Couture shoots in but no luck this time.
Left hook, right uppercut from Santz.
Santz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Couture tries for a takedown but Santz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Couture tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Couture moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Couture throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Santz counters with a straight right hand.
Santz throws a combination. Couture tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Santz goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Couture is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Couture is defended easily by Santz.
A left and a right from Santz both land. Nice combination.
Santz feints a jab promting Couture to slip. Santz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Couture slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Santz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santz leaves Couture with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Santz is working the combinations to good effect here.
Santz throws a shot to the body.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Santz takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Santz lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Santz dips to his left and cracks Couture with an uppercut!
Santz works the jab nicely.
Santz lands with a straight right. Couture didn't see that one coming.
Santz throws a one two combo.
Couture fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santz lands with a nice combination. Couture backs away looking to recover.
Couture shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Santz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Couture shoots in and gets a takedown into Santz's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santz has a closed guard, preventing Couture from standing up.
Couture preventing the sweep.
Couture wants to control from the top but Santz keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Couture postures up in Santz's guard and throws a big left but Santz blocks it.
Couture slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Santz 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 is looking to clinch but Santz is avoiding it.
Couture tries to move into range but Santz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Santz with a nice cross.
Santz might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Santz misses with a double jab.
Santz falls off balance throwing a combination

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Couture postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Santz to stand up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Couture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A punch lands to the side of Couture 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Santz!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Couture moves into the clinch successfully.
Couture is trying to pull guard but Santz has him pressed against the cage.
Couture jumps guard but Santz stands there with Couture around his waist. Couture gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Couture gets control of Santz's arms and successfully pulls guard. Couture will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Santz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Couture pushes Santz off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Couture fails in his attempt to clinch.
Santz connects with a jab.
Couture looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Santz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santz displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Santz is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Jab by Santz.
Couture throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Santz's waist but Santz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Couture off to one side.
Santz has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Santz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Couture back to the cage. Santz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Couture fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Santz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Santz lands a jab-cross combination.
Santz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Santz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Couture rushes Santz and presses him up against the cage.

Couture pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is trying to control the position but Santz postures up.
Couture might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Santz postures up in Couture's guard and throws a big left but Couture blocks it.
Santz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Couture escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Santz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Couture is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Santz is controlling him.
Santz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jose Santz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Couture knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santz on the ground.
Santz throws a big right hand that misses.
Couture controls Santz momentarily but Santz frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santz preventing the sweep.
Santz wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Santz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Couture keeping moving, preventing Santz from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Couture wants to sweep here but Santz controlling him for the moment.

Couture working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Santz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Santz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Couture looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Santz passes into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Randy Couture.
I think Santz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Santz!
After the fight, Jose Santz was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.