PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Sartell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sartell has chosen Nightmare as his entrance music. Randy Couture had a look across the ring there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Couture
vs
Sartell

191 cm
23
230 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

197 cm
25
281 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Randy Couture!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Will Sartell!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sartell tries to clinch up.
Sartell tries to clinch up but Couture circles away and keeps his distance.
Couture throws a hook to the side of Sartell's head but Sartell sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Couture lands an overhand right.
Sartell throws a wild body kick that Couture sees coming a mile off.
Sartell lands a high kick!

It looks like Randy Couture has been cut.
Sartell takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sartell closes the distance looking to clinch
and Couture counters with a nice uppercut.
Sartell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Couture.
Couture fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
No luck for Sartell with that takedown attempt.
Couture throws a shot to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Couture there.
Couture connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sartell misses with a double jab
enabling Couture to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture scores with a jab. Sartell acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sartell slips a jab from Couture.
Sartell tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Couture counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sartell won't be happy with that.
Sartell is trying to improve his position.
Couture misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The strikes coming from Couture are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Couture trying to control the action but Sartell is working from the bottom.
Couture tries to move to mount but Sartell blocks the move with his legs.
Couture creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sartell sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture throws a strike aimed at the side of Sartell's head but Sartell avoids it well.
Sartell wants to control but Couture postures up.
Couture in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sartell struggling a bit here.
Sartell is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Couture tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Couture crashes against the mat.
Couture throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sartell parries the strikes from Couture easily there. Couture is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Sartell to escape.
Sartell takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sartell is pushing Couture's head away, looking to escape. Couture manages to hold on to the position though.
Sartell is not content to let Couture control the position.
Sartell takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Couture tries to score with some ground and pound. Sartell controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sartell managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Couture.
Sartell is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Sartell is trying to control Couture's posture but Couture avoids it.
Couture misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Couture in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Sloppy strikes there by Couture.
Couture cracks Sartell with a big right hand but Sartell just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Couture tries to score with some ground and pound. Sartell controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Couture just content to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture wants to control for a moment but Sartell uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Randy Couture's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sartell closes the distance looking to clinch
and Couture connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Couture throws a hook to the side of Sartell's head but Sartell sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sartell misses with a body shot.
Couture throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sartell stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Couture.
Couture wants to control but Sartell is keeping him busy.
Couture 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 is trying to ground and pound but Sartell uses the momentary lack of control by Couture to regain half guard.
Couture sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sartell defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture wants to advance to full mount but Sartell doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Couture trying to control but Sartell is working from the bottom.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Couture wants to control from the top but Sartell keeps moving.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Couture here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Couture throws a strike but Sartell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sartell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sartell trying to move into half guard but instead Couture has managed to sweep!
Sartell wants to stand and escape but Couture is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sartell can do anything to dispel that myth.
Couture working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Couture is looking to work some ground and pound but Sartell has wrist control.
Sartell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Couture pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sartell is keeping the position for now.
Couture wants to control from the top but Sartell keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sartell looking to control.
Couture throws and elbow that misses. Sartell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Couture's guard. Nice move by Sartell!
Couture keeping moving, preventing Sartell from controlling successfully.
Couture looking for a sweep. Not yet Couture, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sartell wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Will Sartell hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sartell throws a sloppy head kick and Couture moves out of range easily.

Couture shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sartell's guard.
Couture postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Sartell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Couture looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Couture tries to free his leg and advance position but Sartell is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Randy Couture's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sartell takes one to the side of the head.
Sartell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Couture lands with an overhand left.
Sartell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Couture connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Couture takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sartell moves away from the strike by Couture.
Couture misses with an uppercut. Sartell saw that one coming.
Sartell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Couture drives through with a takedown into Sartell's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Couture throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sartell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Couture's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Couture scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Couture drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sartell looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sartell looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sartell!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture manages to get back to half guard.
Randy Couture overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Couture is refusing to be controlled, as Sartell sits in half guard.
Couture holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Couture is trying to maintain the position but Sartell is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Couture works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sartell thows a big elbow that misses.
Sartell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Couture trying to control the position.
Couture keeping full guard, as Sartell tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Couture swats away the attempt to clinch by Sartell.
Couture looks to land a right hand but Sartell moved out of range.
Sartell takes one on the button.
A big left from Couture misses.
Sartell tries to clinch but Couture moves out of range.
Sartell lands a head kick. Couture smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sartell closes the distance but Couture moves to the side
enabling Couture to counter with a crisp jab.
Couture tests Sartell's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Couture takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sartell avoids the body shot from Couture.
Sartell tries to clinch
and Couture counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sartell darts in trying to clinch
and Couture counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sartell turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sartell darts in trying to clinch
and Couture makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Randy Couture did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Randy Couture's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

A cross from Couture lands.
Sartell staying out of range there.
Randy Couture is winning the standup battle so far.
Couture swings for the body but Sartell moves out of range.
Sartell takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Couture waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sartell.
Nice shot lands for Couture.
Sartell tries to clinch up but Couture circles away and keeps his distance.
Couture with a jab.
Couture dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sartell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Couture thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sartell manages to get to full guard.
Couture thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sartell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Couture working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Couture trying to control but Sartell is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Couture stands and throws Sartell's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Couture wants to control but Sartell is keeping him busy.
Couture is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sartell taking punishment in the form of punches.
Couture working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Couture is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sartell knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
An elbow from Couture crashes against the mat.
Sartell stops Couture from passing to mount.
Couture misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sartell gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Couture lands a nice short elbow.
Sartell looks like he's trying to stand up.
Couture trying to mount his opponent but Sartell defends it.
Couture lands with a punch from half guard.
Couture not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Couture looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sartell tries to get to full guard but Couture has control of the leg.
Sartell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Couture is working away from the top position though.
Couture missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Couture wants to control but Sartell is keeping him busy.
Sartell is trying to stand back up but Couture is controlling him
Couture drops an elbow to the side of Sartell's head.
Couture throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture had his way with Will Sartell in that round.
The cut man is working on Randy Couture's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

Couture scores with a shot to the body.
Couture scores with a jab. Sartell acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Couture.
Sartell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sartell has his takedown stuffed
and Couture counters with a nice body shot.
Couture connects with a nice looking jab.
Sartell on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Couture with a jab.
Sartell takes one on the button.
Couture connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sartell's hands.
Sartell ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sartell is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Sartell misses with a combination
and Couture counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Couture misses.
Sartell throws a poor cross that misses

so Couture counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Couture thows a big elbow that misses.
Couture missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Sartell is keeping the position.
Couture trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Couture trying to control but Sartell is working from the bottom.
Couture showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Couture thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Couture accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sartell is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Sartell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sartell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Couture throwing strikes but missing.
Couture with a nice head shot there.
Couture in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Couture throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sartell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture is looking to work some ground and pound but Sartell has wrist control.
Sartell wants to sweep here but Couture controlling him for the moment.
Sartell keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Sartell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Couture.
Sartell keeping moving, preventing Couture from controlling successfully.
Couture pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sartell is keeping the position for now.
Couture postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sartell looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Couture throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Couture is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Will Sartell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sartell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sartell will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Couture postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Couture is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sartell can do to turn this around?
Couture chips away with some ground and pound.
Couture passes Sartell's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Couture is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sartell is just riding it out for now. Couture eventually gives up the hold.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Couture showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Couture 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Randy Couture!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Randy Couture!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Randy Couture!

Randy Couture wins by unanimous decision!
Randy Couture is the new heavyweight champion!