PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Smitty Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith 's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, My Will Be Done - Unearth. Couture is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by back in black - ACDC. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Couture

200 cm
20
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Smitty Smith !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith wants to clinch up but Couture keeps it at a distance.
Couture blocks a head kick by Smith .

Couture has managed to clinch.
Couture stalling against the cage.
Smith is trying to maintain a safe position but Couture gets an underhook and turns Smith into the cage.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Couture won't allow it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Smith .
Couture blocks an elbow strike from Smith .
Couture has Smith pressed against the cage.
Couture prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Smith is looking to control Couture's arms but Couture gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smith is fighting off a takedown attempt but Couture is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Smith to the mat. Smith regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Couture must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Smith throws a couple of heel strikes.
Couture controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Smith wants to sweep here but Couture controlling him for the moment.
Smith is trying to control the position but Couture postures up.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
Couture really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smith 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Couture controlling from the top position.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Couture is proving a slippery customer.
Couture controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Couture is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Couture showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Randy Couture just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith tries a low kick but Couture avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Smith wants to clinch but Couture slips to the side

and Couture counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Couture controls the pace.
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Couture content to stall in guard here.
Smith wants to stand up but Couture is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Couture closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Couture keeps him there for the moment.
Couture keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Couture avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.

Couture gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Couture is pushing down on Smith 's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smith is fighting to maintain full guard but Couture has managed to sneak the leg through.
Couture content to control rather than advance.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Couture perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture wants to pass to mount but Smith is defending the position.
Couture stops Smith from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Couture controlling the action here.
Smith is trying to stand.
Couture controlling the action here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Randy Couture just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Couture looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Couture sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Couture content to stall in guard here.
Couture being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to stand up but Couture isn't so interested in that idea.
Couture trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Smith manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Couture closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Couture circles away from the clinch attempt

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Smith had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Couture is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Smith Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Couture's back instead.
Couture tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture covering up well under a series of strikes from Smith .
Couture tries to escape but Smith has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Smith looking for the RNC.

Smith patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Smith working for a choke but Couture is defending well.
Couture trying to control the hands but Smith breaks the grip.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

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

Smith has his foot on Couture's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Couture works his way back into a safe position though.
Couture stays in close to Smith 's body and controls the position.
Let's hope that Couture has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Couture pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Couture is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smith keeping full guard, as Couture tries to pass.
Couture is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Randy Couture has got the better of the ground game so far.
Couture is stalling in the full guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Randy Couture just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Couture shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Couture darts in and clinches Smith up against the cage.
Smith cracks Couture with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Couture tries for a takedown. No joy.

Couture is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Smith can't fight it off and eventually Couture manages to take the fight to the floor. Smith looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Couture controlling from the top position.
Couture won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Smith is looking to stand up but Couture isn't so interested in that idea.
Couture controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Smith wants to stand but Couture is controlling the position.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smith tries to clinch but Couture moves away

and Couture counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Couture changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Smith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Smitty Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Couture.

Couture drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith connects with a nasty looking knee right to Couture's face.
Smith can't break the clinch.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Couture won't allow it.
Couture has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Couture wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Couture won't allow it.
Smith can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to break free but Couture has control.
Couture on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Couture has him pressed against the cage.
Smith is trying to break free.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Couture is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Couture blocks with his arms.
Couture lands a body shot in the clinch.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Couture is controlling the position.
Couture blocks an uppercut.
Smith looking to stall.

Couture lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Smitty Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture controlling the action here.
Smith tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Couture comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Couture 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 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

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