PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Lee Murray (ranked 5575 p4p, 24663 weight class) and Helio Coptor (ranked 510 p4p, 540 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Murray
vs
Coptor

195 cm
23
220
6 - 4 - 0

190 cm
28
215
4 - 1 - 0

World class MT
Cardio machine

Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Lee Murray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Helio Coptor!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coptor swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Murray.
Coptor misses with a low kick.
Murray was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Murray is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lee Murray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Coptor gets tackled into the ropes by Murray. Murray maintains the clinch.
Coptor avoids a wild elbow strike from Murray.
Murray just leaning against Coptor, taking a breather.
Murray keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Coptor's efforts to push away.
Murray lands an elbow that stopped Coptor in his tracks for a moment.
Murray trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coptor looking to slow down the pace here.
Murray throws an elbow that misses.

Coptor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Murray slips a straight right by Coptor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coptor takes a jab right on the kisser.
Murray has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Murray there as he acknowledges the shot.
Coptor slips a jab and a cross from Murray.
Murray misses with a looping right.
A nice combination there by Murray.
Murray fails with an attempt to clinch.
Coptor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Murray throws a sloppy head kick and Coptor moves out of range easily.
Coptor attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Murray gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Coptor.
We've been informed that Coptor has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Coptor misses the shot to the body.
Murray misses with a hook.
Coptor connects with a body shot that sends Murray's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murray tries to score with a low kick but Coptor moves his leg out of the way.
Murray misses the jab.
Murray swings for the body but Coptor moves out of range.
Murray fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Coptor manages to avoid it.
Coptor wants to slow Murray down by chopping away at his legs.
Coptor slips under a jab.
Coptor chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Murray can pounce on him.
A lazy body kick from Coptor
and Murray counters with an outside leg kick.
Coptor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Murray fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Coptor.
Murray throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Murray moves into the clinch.
Coptor takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Helio Coptor has been cut.
Coptor dodges an elbow strike from Murray.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Murray dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Helio Coptor's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Coptor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A head kick misses from Coptor.
Murray connects with a nice looking jab.
Murray lands a glancing blow to the side of Coptor's head.
Coptor takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Coptor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murray looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Coptor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Coptor pivots, looking for a leg kick but Murray is out of range and Coptor settles back down.
Coptor just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromMurray.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coptor blocks the body kick.
A head kick misses from Murray.
Murray is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Coptor can do to turn this around?
A looping hook to the body misses from Coptor. Murray does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murray is looking to score with low kicks.
It seemed like Coptor was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Murray throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Murray goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Murray misses with a low kick.
Coptor throws a sloppy head kick
and Murray counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Murray tests Coptor's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Coptor takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Murray scoring well with a low kick there.
Coptor scores with a jab to the jaw.

Murray has managed to clinch.
Murray tries a knee to the head but Coptor blocks it.
Murray is looking to control Coptor's arms but Coptor gets an underhook and turns him. Now Murray has his back to the ropes.
Coptor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Murray lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murray lands an elbow inside that Coptor shrugs off.
Murray throws an elbow but it misses.
Coptor is trying to force a seperation but Murray has the dominant position.
Murray will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Coptor up against the ropes.
Murray tries to land a knee to the head but Coptor blocks with his arms.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murray prevents Coptor from breaking the clinch.
Coptor can't break the clinch.
Murray connects with a knee to the head.
Murray is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Coptor is defending well for now.
Murray trying to land knees to the body.
Murray throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Murray throws an elbow but it misses.
Coptor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Murray dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Helio Coptor's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Murray swings widly with a right hand
and Coptor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Coptor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Murray looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Coptor misses with a double jab.
Coptor blocks the body kick.
Murray looks to score with a jab to the body but Coptor is just out of range.
Coptor is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Murray rather than just go for the knockout.
Coptor misses with an attempted mid kick.
Coptor cracks a nice hook into Murray's ribs.
Helio Coptor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Coptor throws a shot to the body.
Murray tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Coptor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murray bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Coptor's head backwards.
Murray misses the shot to the body.
Murray misses with a leg kick.
Murray seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Coptor tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coptor misses with a hook
and Murray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Murray fails in his attempt to clinch.
Coptor throws a wild body kick that Murray sees coming a mile off.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Murray lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Coptor has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Coptor and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Murray swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Coptor.
A swing and a miss from Murray.
Lee Murray is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Coptor tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Coptor swinging wildly here.
Murray bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Coptor's head backwards.
Murray jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Murray uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Coptor has time to react.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coptor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Coptor throws a sloppy head kick and Murray moves out of range easily.
Coptor looks to land a right hand but Murray moved out of range.

Murray closes the distance and pushes Coptor back into the ropes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Coptor wants to get back to striking at distance but Murray won't allow it.
Coptor wants to break free but Murray has control.
Murray throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Murray.
Coptor tries to break free but Murray pushes him back against the ropes.
Coptor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

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 Lee Murray.
Well Murray 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lee Murray!
An out of breath Lee Murray thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.