PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thor Gundersson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gundersson comes to the cage accompanied by Ride of the Valkyries. Couture has chosen theres no easy way out as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gundersson
vs
Couture

193 cm
23
246 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
27
245 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $150)

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thor Gundersson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Randy Couture!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gundersson shoots for a takedown but Couture saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gundersson shoots in for a takedown but Couture shows good takedown defense.
Couture fails to land the takedown.
Gundersson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Couture counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Gundersson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gundersson shoots in but Couture avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Couture gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gundersson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Couture.

Couture stands up and beckons Gundersson to join him on the feet.
Thor Gundersson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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 closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gundersson's guard.
Couture wants to control from the top but Gundersson keeps moving.
Couture with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Couture throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gundersson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Couture preventing the sweep.
Couture is working Gundersson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Couture drops back looking for a leg! Gundersson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gundersson manages to kick Couture off! Couture jumps back into Gundersson's guard.
Gundersson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Couture is one step ahead there.
Couture working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gundersson wants to stand but Couture is controlling the position.
Couture advances to half guard.
Couture drops an elbow to the side of Gundersson's head.
Couture lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Couture working the head and body with strikes.
Couture working the head and body with strikes.
Couture is keen to just control but Gundersson is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Couture is trying to work for a kimura but Gundersson is defending well.
Couture missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Couture has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Couture not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gundersson is trying to stand.
Couture working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Couture is trying to work for a kimura but Gundersson is defending well.
Couture looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gundersson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gundersson is breathing heavily.
Gundersson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gundersson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gundersson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gundersson tries to get out of the position.
Couture is trying to control. Gundersson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Couture gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Gundersson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Couture to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Gundersson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gundersson is looking to stand back up but Couture counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Gundersson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Couture dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Couture fails with a takedown attempt.
Couture slips a jab and a cross from Gundersson.

Couture closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Couture lands in his opponent's guard.
Couture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Couture decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gundersson, up you get!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Couture checks a leg kick.
Gundersson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Couture stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Couture shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gundersson as he avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gundersson.
Gundersson shoots in for a double leg but Couture sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Couture scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gundersson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Couture asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Gundersson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Couture decides to stand back up.

Couture scores with a takedown into Gundersson's guard.
Couture throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gundersson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Couture on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture trying to control the position from guard on top but Gundersson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gundersson controls Couture momentarily but Couture frees himself.
Couture preventing the sweep.
Couture controlling from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Couture stands up and waves to Gundersson to follow him.
Couture getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Couture has Gundersson up against the cage in a clinch.
Gundersson tries to circle away but Couture has him pinned against the cage.
Couture has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gundersson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Thor Gundersson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Couture.
Gundersson can't break the clinch.
Couture blocks an elbow strike.
Couture cracks Gundersson with a nice body shot.

Couture breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Couture or perhaps it was just good defense by Gundersson which made him look bad.
Gundersson tries for a takedown but Couture circles away easily

and Couture decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gundersson's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Couture trying to control but Gundersson is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gundersson has momentary wrist control but Couture slips an elbow through the middle.
Couture throwing strikes but missing.
Couture missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Couture works over Gundersson with some ground and pound from guard.
Couture has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Couture advances position into side control!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Couture working the ground and pound.
Couture scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Gundersson to see if he's OK.
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.
That's time! Gundersson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.

Gundersson gets caught napping as Couture dives in and scores a takedown. Gundersson manages to retain guard.
Couture trying to control but Gundersson is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Couture won't allow Gundersson to get back to his feet.

Couture drops back looking for a leg! Gundersson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gundersson manages to kick Couture off! Couture jumps back into Gundersson's guard.
Couture throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture advances to half guard.

Couture is working for a kimura but Gundersson is defending it quite comfortably.

Couture is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gundersson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Couture.
Randy Couture has got the better of the ground game so far.
Couture is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Couture is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gundersson defends it well.
Couture is controlling the pace.
Gundersson wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Couture is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gundersson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gundersson has his hands clasped together around Couture's back. He's all about the action.
Thor Gundersson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gundersson is trying to stand back up but Couture is controlling him

Couture is working for a submission of some sort.

Couture seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Gundersson is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Randy Couture!
During a confident post fight interview, Randy Couture thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.