Round 1
Referee Mario Yamasaki gives the final instructions in the center of the Octagon. The fighters stare intensely into each others eyes and Lesnar cracks a smile. The fighters touch gloves and the action is on. Couture goes straight to the clinch as he backs Lesnar up against the fence. Lesnar smartly knees the thigh of the champion as he switches control against the fence. Now pushing Couture against the fence, Lesnar backs off absorbs a hard right hand to the jaw. Lesnar drops levels for a single-leg takedown, which is defended nicely by Couture. Lesnar switches to a double and gets the takedown. The challenger works from half-guard. He briefly has the mount, but Couture has none of it. Couture nearly sweeps Lesnar to his back. Lesnar picks an ankle and counters with a beautiful trip. Lesnar, from half-guard, pins Couture’s right arm down with his leg while punching the head. Couture scrambles to his knees while Lesnar controls from the top. Couture makes it to his feet and has Lesnar pushed against the cage. Lesnar grabs the fencing twice to avoid a takedown and is warned by Yamasaki.