PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Travis Copeland (ranked 991 p4p, 126 weight class) and Maverick Syndal (ranked 4463 p4p, 409 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Copeland
vs
Syndal

175 cm
24
165 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

180 cm
30
155 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Caveman clothing
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Travis Copeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maverick Syndal!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice combination there by Copeland.
Syndal moves out of range as Copeland strikes.
Syndal throws a hook to the side of Copeland's head but Copeland sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Copeland throws out a powerful jab.
Syndal defending well as Copeland loads up on a big left hand.
Copeland misses the shot to the body.
Copeland fails with an attempt to clinch.
Syndal has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Syndal with a hook.
Syndal throws a leg kick that is checked
and Copeland counters with a stiff right hand.
Copeland throws out a loose jab but Syndal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Syndal.
A jab from Copeland finds it's way through Syndal's defenses.
Copeland has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Syndal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Copeland.
Syndal misses with a low kick.
A little feinted left hand from Copeland on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Syndal fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Copeland looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Syndal misses with a hook. Copeland ducked under it nicely.
Syndal looks to land a right hand but Copeland moved out of range.
Copeland tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Syndal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fighters circling - Syndal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland scores with a shot to the body.
Syndal misses with a wild body shot.
Syndal lands a nice leg kick that just misses Copeland's sensitive parts.
Copeland takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Copeland has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Syndal.
Copeland walks into a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Copeland misses with an elbow over the top.
Syndal blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Syndal dodges an elbow strike from Copeland.
Knees in the clinch landing for Copeland.
Copeland with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Copeland looking to throw knees to the head but Syndal is blocking nicely.
Copeland misses with an elbow strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Syndal lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Copeland backwards.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Syndal takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Syndal letting Copeland take a breather here.
A body shot lands from Syndal.
Syndal swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Copeland pushes off an throws an elbow but Syndal leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Copeland prevents Syndal from breaking the clinch.
Syndal throws a head punch that misses.
Copeland throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Syndal blocks it with crossed arms.
Copeland lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Maverick Syndal has been cut.
Copeland comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A short uppercut from Syndal.
Syndal tries to throw a body punch but Copeland avoids it by throwing Syndal back against the cage.
Syndal misses with the head strike.
Syndal lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Copeland backwards.
Copeland tries to land a knee to the head but Syndal blocks with his arms.
Syndal working aggressively here.
Copeland is stalling here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland throws an elbow but it misses.
Syndal takes an elbow to the forehead.
Copeland stalling.
Copeland misses with an elbow over the top.
Copeland blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Syndal lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Syndal tries to work over Copeland's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Syndal tries a body shot but Copeland blocks it.
Copeland content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Syndal throws a head punch that misses.
Copeland stalling.
Syndal lands a body punch.
Copeland being controlled against the cage.
Copeland throws an elbow that misses.
Copeland lands an elbow inside that Syndal shrugs off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland prevents a body shot from Syndal.
Copeland creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Copeland tries to land knees in the clinch but Syndal avoids the damage to the body.
Syndal lands a right hand.
Syndal tries to stall but Copeland uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Copeland tries a knee to the head but Syndal blocks it.
Syndal slowing the pace effectively.
Syndal has a couple of punches blocked by Copeland.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Copeland tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Copeland landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Syndal wants to stall.
Syndal misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Syndal fails to land.
Come on Copeland - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Copeland throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Copeland lands a nice shot to the body.
Copeland tries to land knees in the clinch but Syndal avoids the damage to the body.
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 Travis Copeland will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maverick Syndal's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Copeland slips under a jab.
Syndal slips a jab from Copeland.
Syndal misses the jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Syndal.

Syndal gets tackled into the cage by Copeland. Copeland maintains the clinch.
Copeland trying to land knees to the body.
Syndal working aggressively here.
Syndal tries to work over Copeland's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Syndal looking to slow down the pace here.
Copeland misses with an elbow over the top.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Syndal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Syndal leaning against his opponent.
Syndal throws a head punch that misses.
Copeland throws a knee to the head but misses.
Copeland tries a knee to the head but Syndal blocks it.
Copeland connects with a nasty looking knee right to Syndal's face.
Copeland lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syndal manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Copeland is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Syndal is keeping busy.
Syndal misses with a short punch on the inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Copeland being controlled against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Syndal's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

Syndal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Syndal lands with a hook. Copeland tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Syndal misses with a straight left.
Copeland rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Syndal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Travis Copeland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Syndal throws a jab when Copeland was well out of range.
Syndal throws a lazy right hand but Copeland sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Copeland staying out of range there.
Syndal avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Copeland fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Syndal, pushing him back against the cage.
Copeland looking to throw knees to the head but Syndal is blocking nicely.
Syndal misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Copeland lands a nice knee to the body.
Copeland slowing the pace effectively.
Syndal dodges an elbow strike from Copeland.
With the fighters up against the cage, Copeland throws an elbow but misses.
Syndal is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Syndal lands with a right to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Syndal avoids the elbow strike from Copeland, against the cage.
Copeland leaning his opponent against the cage.
Copeland is pushing Syndal up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Copeland takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syndal is looking to control Copeland's arms but Copeland gets an underhook and turns him. Now Syndal has his back to the cage.
Copeland trying to land knees to the body.
Copeland is struggling to control the position.
A nice left hand lands by Syndal.
Syndal tries to work over Copeland's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Copeland leaning against his opponent.
Syndal throws a punch but it's blocked by Copeland.
Syndal misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Syndal.
Syndal working aggressively here.
Copeland throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Copeland scores with a hook to the body.
Copeland tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Syndal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Syndal lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syndal softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Syndal misses with the head strike.
Copeland throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Syndal blocks it with crossed arms.
Syndal misses with some punches.
Copeland creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Copeland misses with a knee strike.
A right hand to the body from Copeland.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Copeland lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Copeland is trying to stall.
Copeland stalling in the clinch.
Copeland comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Syndal tries to stall but Copeland uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Syndal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Copeland throws a lazy right hand but Syndal sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Syndal walks into a straight right hand from Copeland.
Copeland slips a jab from Syndal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Travis Copeland will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maverick Syndal's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Copeland fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Copeland tries to clinch but Syndal is having none of it.

Copeland clinches with his opponent.
Syndal scores with a shot to the side of Copeland's head.
Syndal can't break the clinch.
Copeland doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Syndal.
Syndal lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Syndal is looking to control Copeland's arms but Copeland gets an underhook and turns him. Now Syndal has his back to the cage.
Copeland misses with a knee strike.
Syndal trying to stall but Copeland improves his position.
Nice elbow from Copeland.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Copeland unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Syndal working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Syndal as Copeland tries to tie him up.
Copeland is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Syndal is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syndal blocks the elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Copeland.
Syndal blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Syndal avoids a wild elbow strike from Copeland.
Copeland pushes off an throws an elbow but Syndal leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Syndal avoids the elbow strike from Copeland, against the cage.
Copeland lands a damaging elbow.
Copeland displaying some good clinch control by pressing Syndal up against the cage.
Copeland is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Syndal is defending well for now.
Syndal stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Syndal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Syndal controlling the action here for a moment.
A right handed body shot lands from Copeland.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland taking a breather.
Syndal blocks an elbow strike from Copeland.
Copeland blocking some punches.
Syndal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Copeland pushes off an throws an elbow but Syndal leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Syndal takes an elbow to the temple.

Syndal breaks from the clinch.
Copeland doesn't manage to clinch there - Syndal circles away.
Copeland tries to close the distance and clinch up but Syndal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Copeland tries to clinch there but Syndal circles away.
Copeland misses the jab.
Syndal is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Copeland.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Syndal throws a leg kick which misses Copeland's front leg but catches the back leg as Copeland tries to avoid it.
Syndal keeps the fight on the outside.
Syndal looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Copeland.
Syndal swats away the attempt to clinch by Copeland.
Syndal misses with an uppercut.
A quick step to the side and Copeland tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Copeland clinches with his opponent.
Syndal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Syndal avoids the elbow strike from Copeland, against the cage.
Syndal taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Copeland misses with a punch to the body.
Maverick Syndal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Syndal lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Copeland throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Copeland creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Copeland blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Copeland looking to throw knees to the head but Syndal is blocking nicely.
Syndal has a couple of punches blocked by Copeland.
Copeland looking to throw knees to the head but Syndal is blocking nicely.
Syndal blocks an elbow strike.
Syndal lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syndal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Copeland misses with an elbow strike.
Syndal stalling against the cage.
Copeland lands an elbow inside that Syndal shrugs off.
With the fighters up against the cage, Copeland throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Syndal swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Copeland misses with an elbow strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Copeland trying to land knees to the body.
Syndal lands a right hand that snaps the head of Copeland backwards.

Syndal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Copeland fails with an attempt to clinch.
Syndal scores with a hook.

It looks like Travis Copeland has been cut.
Copeland checks the leg kick nicely there.
Travis Copeland is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Syndal throws a low kick but Copeland moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Travis Copeland.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Copeland, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Copeland!
A very excited looking Travis Copeland made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.