PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Norberto Baldeli (ranked 4462 p4p, 4537 weight class) and Kenneth Copeland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Baldeli
vs
Copeland

180 cm
18
180
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
177
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Norberto Baldeli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenneth Copeland!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baldeli throws a lazy head kick
and Copeland counters with a nice uppercut.

Baldeli looking to score a takedown here. Copeland is defending well but Baldeli drives through and ends up in Copeland's guard.
Baldeli trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Baldeli throwing strikes but missing.
Baldeli connects with a couple of short punches.
Copeland is trying to keep Baldeli in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Copeland keeping moving, preventing Baldeli from controlling successfully.
Baldeli showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baldeli is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Copeland looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baldeli is one step ahead there.
Copeland really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Baldeli. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Baldeli is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Baldeli wants to control from the top but Copeland keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Copeland misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baldeli.
Copeland fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baldeli manages to avoid it.
Nice takedown defense from Copeland. No joy for Baldeli on that attempt.

Baldeli gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Baldeli breaks the clinch.
Baldeli tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Copeland counters with a stiff right hand.
Copeland is looking to clinch.
Copeland fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Copeland throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Baldeli stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Copeland will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baldeli went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Baldeli.
Baldeli is looking to take a break and control but Copeland is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Baldeli presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Copeland tries to reverse the position but Baldeli maintains control.
Copeland wants to control but Baldeli is having none of it.
Baldeli scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Copeland is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baldeli with the ground and pound from mount.
Baldeli controlling from the full mount.
Baldeli working Copeland over with strikes here.

Baldeli is working for a guillotine from mount but Copeland frees his head quite easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baldeli putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Norberto Baldeli dominated that round.
That's time! Baldeli's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Copeland misses with a hook
and Baldeli counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Baldeli doesn't manage to clinch there - Copeland circles away.
Copeland is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Baldeli with a body shot.
Baldeli wants to clinch up but Copeland keeps it at a distance.
Good shot there by Copeland.
Copeland lands a slapping body shot.
Baldeli takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Copeland is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Baldeli rather than just go for the knockout.
Baldeli with a hook.
Baldeli ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Copeland tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Baldeli counters with a two punch combo.
Norberto Baldeli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Copeland misses.
It looked like Baldeli was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Baldeli throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Baldeli wants to clinch but Copeland slips to the side
and Copeland counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baldeli blocks a jab.
Baldeli tries to counter with a takedown but Copeland is quick to defend against it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland scores with a jab to the jaw.
Baldeli cracks Copeland with a good jab.
Copeland scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Baldeli is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Copeland can do to turn this around?
Copeland digs a good body shot into Baldeli's ribs.
Kenneth Copeland seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Copeland lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Baldeli backs up against the cage.
Baldeli swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baldeli defending well as Copeland loads up on a big left hand.
Copeland looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Baldeli shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Copeland pushes Baldeli up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baldeli looking for a takedown.
Copeland lands a body shot.
Baldeli has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Copeland is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Baldeli.
Copeland stops a takedown attempt from Baldeli.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norberto Baldeli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Copeland is trying to stall.
Copeland lands a right hand that snaps the head of Baldeli backwards.
Copeland can't find room to land a body shot as Baldeli controls the action.
Baldeli keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Copeland's efforts to push away.
Copeland stalling against the cage.
Copeland stalling in the clinch.
The crowd are getting on Copeland's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldeli looking to stall.
Copeland misses with a hook to the ribs.
Copeland fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Copeland breaks from the clinch.
Baldeli tries to bum rush Copeland with a series of wild strikes but Copeland uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Baldeli fails to land with a series of punches.
It seemed like Copeland was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Baldeli gets a double leg takedown into Copeland's guard.
Baldeli is stalling in the full guard.

Copeland working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Baldeli doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Baldeli manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland keeping moving, preventing Baldeli from controlling successfully.
Copeland trying to keep a closed guard but Baldeli is proving a slippery customer.
Baldeli is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Baldeli trying to control the position from guard on top but Copeland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kenneth Copeland showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Baldeli's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Baldeli gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Baldeli blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Copeland fails to land.
Copeland swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Copeland working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Copeland trying to stall but Baldeli improves his position.
Copeland tries to break the clinch but Baldeli is controlling the position.

Baldeli has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Copeland uses from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baldeli keeping moving, preventing Copeland from controlling successfully.
Copeland throws a big right hand that misses.
Copeland must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland prevents Baldeli from getting back to his feet.
Copeland throws a big elbow that misses.
Copeland looking to sit in guard and control but Baldeli gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Copeland keeping moving, preventing Baldeli from controlling successfully.
Baldeli postures up.

Baldeli gets to his feet - Copeland follows without any prompting.
Copeland dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Baldeli throws a wild body kick that Copeland sees coming a mile off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Baldeli manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Baldeli takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Baldeli doesn't manage to clinch there - Copeland circles away.
Copeland stuffs the takedown.
The crowd cheers as Baldeli lands an impressive looking overhand right. Copeland doesn't seem phased though.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Baldeli.
Copeland scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Baldeli doesn't seem bothered though.
Baldeli looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Copeland is fending him off so far but Baldeli persists. Nope, Copeland circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baldeli goes for a double leg but Copeland avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Copeland continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norberto Baldeli. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Copeland escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baldeli shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Copeland counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Baldeli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Copeland! But no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland scores with a jab to the body.
Baldeli walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A lazy left from Copeland finds it's target.
Copeland changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Copeland's jab looks to have found its range, popping Baldeli under the eye.
Copeland tries to clinch but Baldeli moves out of range.
Baldeli walks into a left hand.
Copeland throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Baldeli lands with a thumping leg kick.
Copeland lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A looping hook to the body misses from Copeland. Baldeli does a little dance to reset his feet.
Copeland is looking to clinch but Baldeli is avoiding it.
Baldeli quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baldeli misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Copeland to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Baldeli manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Copeland moves into the clinch.
Copeland gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Baldeli.
A head punch on the inside from Copeland fails to land.
Copeland softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Baldeli keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Copeland's efforts to push away.
Copeland tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Copeland stops a takedown attempt from Baldeli.
Copeland goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenneth Copeland comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Copeland has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenneth Copeland!