PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Manson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Manson
vs
Couture

188 cm
19
208 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Charlie Manson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Couture throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Horrible takedown by Couture or perhaps it was just good defense by Manson which made him look bad.

Couture shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Couture showed some decent athleticism there.
Couture prevents Manson from standing back up.

Couture is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Manson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Couture sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Manson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Manson tries to get out of the position.
Manson tries to kick Couture off but Couture keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Couture prevents Manson from improving his position.
It looks like Couture is going to stand back up.
Couture prevents Manson from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Couture misses with a head kick.
Manson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Couture drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Manson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Manson tries to escape but Couture is in control.
Manson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Manson is trying to get back to his feet.
Manson regains half guard.
Manson is trying to stand up here but Couture is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Couture swats away the attempt to clinch by Manson.

Manson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Couture is trying to defend but Manson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Manson is breathing heavily.
Couture trying to hold on to Manson's head to control him but Manson postures up.
Couture tries to get to full guard but Manson has control of the leg.

Manson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manson throws a nice looking combination but Couture bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Couture gets the takedown into side control.

Couture decides to stand up, so the ref orders Manson to his feet.

Couture feints and as Manson raises his hands in defense, Couture changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Manson wriggles free and stands up.
Couture avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Couture fails to land the takedown.
Manson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Manson wants it to stay on the feet.
Charlie Manson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Couture.

Manson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Manson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Manson throwing shots but Couture is blocking nicely.

Manson wants to work for an arm triangle but Couture is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture keeping control of the position.
Couture wants to improve his position but Manson is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manson working over Couture with some ground and pound. Couture looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Couture trying to hold on to Manson's head to control him but Manson postures up.
Manson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ground and pound from Manson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Charlie Manson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Manson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Manson stopping the sweep attempt from Couture.
Manson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Manson lands a couple of elbows.
Manson wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.
Manson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Couture's guard.
Couture working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manson.
Manson pushes down on Couture's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Manson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Couture defending well though.

Manson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Couture to get to his feet.
Manson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Couture as he jumps to the side.
Couture shoots in but no luck this time.
Couture with a lazy takedown attempt

and Manson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Manson distracts Couture with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Couture can't keep his opponent in guard - Manson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Couture keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Manson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manson is keen to just control but Couture is a slippery customer.
Couture has hold of Manson's hands but Manson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Manson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Couture trying to control from the bottom.

Manson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Couture blocking the ground and pound attempt from Manson.
Manson working the head and body with strikes.
Manson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Nice strikes from Manson there.
Manson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Manson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manson thows a huge punch but Couture dodges it nicely.
Manson thows a huge punch but Couture dodges it nicely.
Couture blocking the ground and pound attempt from Manson.
Manson stalling away here and it's allowed Couture to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Charlie Manson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Couture wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Manson controlling from the top position.
Manson cracks Couture with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Couture is trying to keep Manson in close.
Couture has a closed guard, preventing Manson from standing up.
Manson scoring with some ground and pound.
Manson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Manson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Manson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Couture's head.
Couture has control of Manson's left arm, preventing Manson from doing any damage.
Manson preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Manson dominated that second round.
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!

Manson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Manson throws a strike aimed at the side of Couture's head but Couture avoids it well.
Manson is working Couture over with some ground and pound from side control.
Manson working the ground and pound.
Manson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Manson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Couture to see if he's OK.
Couture is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Manson is putting a hurting on Couture here, landing some big shots from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Manson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Manson lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manson thows a huge punch but Couture dodges it nicely.
Manson working the head and body with strikes.
Ground and pound from Manson.
Manson slips a nice elbow through Couture's hands, connecting with Couture's forehead.
Couture trying to control here.
Manson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
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. Manson connects with a nice short shot to Couture's temple.
Manson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Manson winds up and cracks Couture with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Couture is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Manson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Couture tries to get to full guard but Manson has control of the leg.
Manson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Couture has hold of Manson's hands but Manson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Couture punching from the bottom.
Couture is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Manson scores with a couple of nice shots.
Couture is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Manson scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manson trying to control from half guard but Couture is working away.
Manson working Couture over with strikes.
Couture is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Manson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
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. Manson connects with a nice short shot to Couture's temple.
Manson throwing shots but Couture is blocking nicely.
Manson drops an elbow to the side of Couture's head.
Manson lands strikes from half guard.
Couture is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Manson working over Couture with some ground and pound. Couture looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Manson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Manson seems to be looking for submissions.
Charlie Manson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Couture is staying active underneath Manson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Manson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Couture defending well though.
Randy Couture has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture punching from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie Manson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Manson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charlie Manson!