PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenneth Copeland (ranked 3768 p4p, 5951 weight class) and Alex Cooper (ranked 475 p4p, 648 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Copeland
vs
Cooper

182 cm
18
177
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
175
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Knock Out Clothing

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenneth Copeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Copeland throws a shot from downtown. Cooper moves away and avoids it.
Copeland looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Copeland throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cooper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cooper walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Cooper will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Copeland fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A nice leg kick from Copeland, right into the meat of the thigh.

Copeland closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Copeland breaks the clinch.
Cooper takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cooper moves out of range of the strikes.
Cooper wants to counter with a clinch but Copeland pushes him away.
Cooper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A swing and a miss from Copeland.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cooper on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cooper misses with a two punch combination.
Copeland dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cooper. That did some damage!
Cooper showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Copeland.
Cooper fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper scores with a three punch combo!
Cooper takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cooper will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cooper throws a combination that misses
and Copeland counters with a nice uppercut.
Cooper tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Copeland has Cooper up against the cage in a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Copeland.

Copeland breaks from the clinch.
Copeland lands with a right hand.
Cooper looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Copeland drives through and clinches with Cooper against the cage.

Copeland breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Copeland pushes Cooper up against the cage in a clinch.
Cooper tries to break the clinch but Copeland is controlling the position.
Copeland keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cooper's efforts to push away.

Copeland breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland dodges the punch combination from Cooper.
Copeland connects with a right hand. Cooper shakes it off.
Cooper looks to land a combination but Copeland avoids it well.

Cooper gets tackled into the cage by Copeland. Copeland maintains the clinch.
Copeland working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cooper wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Copeland has him pressed against the cage.
Copeland tries to work over Cooper's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Copeland misses with a body punch.

Copeland manages to break the clinch.
Cooper takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cooper throws a nice looking combination but Copeland bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Copeland dips to his left and cracks Cooper with an uppercut!
Cooper takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Copeland bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cooper's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper takes a jab right on the kisser.
No joy there for Cooper, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Alex Cooper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That kick from Copeland tenderised Cooper's leg. Cooper is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cooper is looking to clinch but Copeland is avoiding it.
Copeland scores with a leg kick.
Cooper lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Copeland circles away quickly and effectively.
Copeland is looking to counter punch.
Cooper looks winded!
Cooper drops his hands momentarily and Copeland takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Copeland connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Copeland has Cooper up against the cage in a clinch.

Copeland breaks the clinch.
Copeland slips a jab and a cross from Cooper.
Kenneth Copeland is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cooper takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice uppercut lands for Copeland. That snapped Cooper's head back.
A slapping leg kick lands for Copeland.
Copeland dodges the punch combination from Cooper.

Copeland moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Copeland's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Left hook, right uppercut from Copeland.

Copeland closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cooper throws a knee to the head but misses.
Copeland lands an uppercut.
Copeland lands a hook to the side of the head.
Copeland lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Copeland breaks from the clinch.
Copeland connects with a crisp jab.
Copeland is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

Copeland gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Copeland lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cooper backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooper being controlled against the cage.
Copeland presses Cooper against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kenneth Copeland dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

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.
Cooper fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Copeland manages to avoid it.
Cooper takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A head kick misses from Cooper.
Copeland looks to score with a jab to the body but Cooper is just out of range.
Kenneth Copeland is winning the standup battle so far.
Copeland takes a swing at Cooper's ribcage but misses.
Copeland digs a good body shot into Cooper's ribs.

Copeland moves into range and clinches up with Cooper.

Copeland breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Copeland's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cooper under the eye.

Copeland rushes Cooper and presses him up against the cage.
Copeland lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short left from Copeland.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Copeland tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Copeland is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Copeland is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper prevents a body shot from Copeland.
Kenneth Copeland has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cooper misses with a punch to the body.
Cooper tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Copeland lands a body punch in the clinch.
Copeland working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cooper wants to get back to striking at distance but Copeland won't allow it.
Cooper has had enough of the clinch but Copeland keeps him there for the moment.
Copeland prevents Cooper from breaking the clinch.

Copeland breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Copeland is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cooper can do to turn this around?
Cooper fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cooper misses with a series of wild punches.
Copeland throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cooper stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cooper fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland scores with a jab to the head.
Copeland lands with a cross.
Copeland connects with a nice looking jab.
Copeland turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooper throws a series of punches but Copeland avoids them all with ease.
Copeland throws a body punch but Cooper moves out of range.
Copeland catches Cooper with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
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.
Copeland scores with a nice right hand.
Cooper misses with a series of wild punches.
Cooper is breathing heavily.
Copeland uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cooper has time to react.
Cooper takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cooper defending well as Copeland loads up on a big left hand.
Copeland scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Copeland avoids the body shot from Cooper.
Copeland lands a nice shot to the body.
Cooper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Copeland digs a good hook to Cooper's body.
Copeland thuds his right hand into Cooper's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cooper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Copeland was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Copeland stuns Cooper with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Copeland has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cooper wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Copeland manages to break the clinch.
Copeland digs a good body shot into Cooper's ribs.
Cooper takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Copeland has Cooper up against the cage in a clinch.

Copeland breaks the clinch.
Nice shot by Copeland.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Copeland connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Copeland lands with a straight right. Cooper didn't see that one coming.
Copeland lands with a hook. Cooper tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Copeland smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Copeland scores with a jab. Cooper acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Copeland darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Good shot there by Copeland.
Cooper throws a body shot but no joy.
Cooper throws a left and a right that both miss
and Copeland counters with a straight right hand.
Copeland circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cooper on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Cooper throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Copeland.
Nice shot lands for Copeland.
Copeland dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Copeland throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cooper throws a series of punches but Copeland avoids them all with ease.
Copeland throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Copeland lands with a right hand.

Copeland moves into the clinch successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kenneth Copeland dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cooper swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Copeland counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cooper misses with a combination
and Copeland counters with a right hand to the body.
Copeland fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cooper looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A nice leg kick lands there from Copeland.
Copeland throws out a powerful jab.
Copeland slips under a jab.
A little feinted left hand from Copeland on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Copeland scores with a nice head shot.
Cooper walks into a left hand.
Cooper throws a left and a right that both miss
and Copeland counters with a leg kick.
Cooper misses with a jab, cross combination.
Copeland was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cooper gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Copeland stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cooper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jab from Copeland.
Cooper blocks a jab.
Cooper's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cooper rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Copeland moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cooper misses with a jab, cross combination.
Copeland jabs Cooper right on the nose. Cooper blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Copeland lands a left hand.

Copeland pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cooper has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Copeland moves into range and connects with a jab.
Cooper scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Copeland moves into the clinch.
Copeland lands an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Copeland.

Copeland breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cooper misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Copeland scores with a jab. Cooper acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Copeland misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Copeland cracks a nice hook into Cooper's ribs.

Copeland takes the fight into the clinch.

Copeland breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland scores with a jab to the head.
Cooper takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Copeland rushes Cooper and presses him up against the cage.
Copeland lands a shot to the body.

Copeland breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Copeland gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Copeland.
A short uppercut from Copeland.
Copeland controlling the action here for a moment.
Cooper prevents a body shot from Copeland.
Copeland has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Copeland breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cooper misses with a double jab.
Copeland moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Alex Cooper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Copeland moves into the clinch successfully.

Copeland's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cooper misses with an uppercut. Copeland saw that one coming.

Copeland rushes Cooper and presses him up against the cage.

Copeland manages to break the clinch.
Cooper throws a right hand that Copeland ducks under and follows up with a left that Copeland also avoids with ease.
Kenneth Copeland is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cooper takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Copeland throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Copeland moves into the clinch successfully.
Copeland lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Copeland breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Copeland dodges the punch combination from Cooper.
As Cooper looks to move away, Copeland throws a big counter combo but Cooper just gets out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cooper takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Copeland lands with a hook. Cooper tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Cooper throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Copeland.

Copeland clinches with his opponent.
A short right from Copeland on the inside.
Cooper tries to circle away but Copeland has him pinned against the cage.
A hook to the body from Copeland.

Copeland breaks from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cooper misses with an uppercut
and Cooper takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Alex Cooper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Copeland lands a jab to the nose.
Cooper throws a right hand that Copeland ducks under and follows up with a left that Copeland also avoids with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenneth Copeland showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Copeland 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

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