PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Cope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henrik Stahl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cope comes to the cage accompanied by You're Going Down. Stahl is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 'Return to Jericho' by Asian Dub Foundation. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cope
vs
Stahl

176 cm
22
152 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
155 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

5th Round

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Cope!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Henrik Stahl!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cope ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Stahl lands a right hook to the body.
Stahl keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cope.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Cope. Stahl shrugs it off though.
Cope throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cope throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stahl walks into a straight right hand from Cope.
Cope throws an overhand right that lands on Stahl's shoulder, as Stahl tries to avoid the shot.
A left lands for Stahl.
Cope moves forwards but Stahl connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A jab from Stahl misses.
Some wild striking there from Cope.
Cope on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cope misses with a low kick.
Cope shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stahl as he jumps to the side.
Stahl looks to throw the jab but Cope is out of range.
Cope blocks a jab.
Cope misses with a straight right.
Cope misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cope drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Stahl jabs Cope right on the nose. Cope blinks but takes it well.
A jab from Cope misses.
Cope lands a head kick. Stahl smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Cope swings for the body but Stahl moves out of range.
Cope throws a hook but Stahl avoids it easily.
Stahl checks a leg kick.
Cope swings for the body but Stahl moves out of range.
Stahl jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cope gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Stahl.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cope.
Cope sizes up Stahl with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A big left from Cope misses.
Stahl throws a combination that misses
and Cope counters with a good low kick that Stahl was not able to check.
Stahl throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cope throws a hook to the side of Stahl's head but Stahl sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slow jab from Stahl misses its intended target.
Stahl misses with a wild body shot.
Cope dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stahl checks a leg kick.
Stahl looks to land a right hand but Cope moved out of range.
Cope scores with a punch to the head.

It looks like Henrik Stahl has been cut.
A slow jab from Stahl misses its intended target.
Stahl misses the shot to the body.
Cope connects with a right hand. Stahl shakes it off.
Stahl lands with a straight right. Cope didn't see that one coming.
Stahl fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cope misses the body punch
and Stahl counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cope waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stahl.
Stahl throws a right and a left that Cope avoids nicely.
Stahl takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Stahl takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Stahl throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cope throws a predictable looking body shot
and Stahl counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cope lands a jab to the nose.
Stahl scores with a hook to the body. Cope takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cope lands a slapping body shot.
Stahl misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stahl looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cope jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cope gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Stahl swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stahl misses with a looping right.
Stahl uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cope.
Cope uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stahl.
Cope throws a head kick but Stahl moves out of range.
Stahl throws a body punch but Cope moves out of range.
Cope scores with a sloppy right hand. Stahl should have avoided that one.
Stahl blocks a jab.
Cope throws a jab but it's blocked by Stahl.
Cope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stahl pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stahl waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cope.
Cope takes a swing at Stahl's ribcage but misses.
Stahl misses with a series of wild punches.
Cope lands with a thumping leg kick.
Henrik Stahl is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cope comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nice shot lands for Cope.
Cope uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stahl.
Cope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stahl was well out of range. Poor timing from Cope.
Stahl lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A jab from Stahl does it's job there.
Stahl throws a big shot that misses.
Stahl misses with a shot to the body
and Cope counters with a nice body shot.
Cope connects with a crisp jab.
Cope throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stahl.
Cope throws a big shot that misses.
Cope jabs at Stahl's body.
Stahl misses with a hook. Cope ducked under it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stahl drops his hands momentarily and Cope takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cope throws a sloppy body shot
and Stahl counters with a nice uppercut.
Cope ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cope lands the left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Cope dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Henrik Stahl's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Good work by Stahl as he checks the leg kick.
Cope jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stahl throws a hook but Cope blocks it.
Stahl scores with a jab to the body.
Stahl takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cope throws an overhand right that lands on Stahl's shoulder, as Stahl tries to avoid the shot.
Stahl misses with a double jab
and Cope counters with a stiff right hand.
A slow jab from Cope misses its intended target.
Cope connects with a looping right hand.
Cope moves forwards but Stahl connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cope misses with a body kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Stahl.
Mike Cope is winning the standup battle so far.
Cope closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Cope avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cope misses the shot to the body.
Cope throws a sloppy body shot
letting Stahl counter with a right hand.
Stahl throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cope makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cope misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cope looks to land a left hand but Stahl moved out of range nicely.
Cope ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Cope.
A telegraphed right hand from Stahl misses the target.
A big left from Stahl misses.
Stahl looks to throw the jab but Cope is out of range.
Cope takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cope throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stahl checks a low kick from Cope.
A jab from Cope misses.
Cope throws a lazy right hand but Stahl sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cope throws a push kick but Stahl slaps the foot to one side.
Cope moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cope keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stahl.
Stahl misses with a straight right.
Stahl swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Cope counters with a straight right hand.
Stahl takes one to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stahl doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cope looks to throw the jab but Stahl is out of range.
Stahl throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stahl keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cope.
Cope connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A jab from Cope misses.
Cope throws a leg kick that misses.
Cope throws a hook but Stahl blocks it.
A cross from Cope lands.
Stahl takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cope swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Stahl counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cope scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cope misses with a head kick.
Cope misses with a double jab
and Stahl counters with a stiff right hand.
Stahl staying out of range there.
Stahl pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stahl takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stahl takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Stahl slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cope slips under a jab from Stahl.
Some wild striking there from Cope.
Stahl misses with an uppercut. Cope saw that one coming.
Cope lands a jab to Stahl's midsection.
Cope takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Stahl getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Stahl throws a looping overhand right but Cope ducks down to avoid it.
Stahl getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Stahl throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cope jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stahl throws the left hand but Cope avoids the punch easily.
Stahl misses with the combination.
A combination from Cope does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cope uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stahl.
Cope throws a big shot that misses.
Cope fails with the takedown.
Cope swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cope.
Stahl moves out of range of the body kick.
Cope pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cope is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stahl.
Cope dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Stahl. That did some damage!
Cope throws a big shot that misses.
Stahl misses with an uppercut.
Cope closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stahl stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Stahl scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Stahl misses with a hook. Cope ducked under it nicely.
Stahl dodges the punch combination from Cope.
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 Mike Cope will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Henrik Stahl's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stahl looks to throw the jab but Cope is out of range.
Stahl throws a lazy right hand but Cope sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cope loads up on a big right hand but Stahl slips the punch.
Cope scores with a nice head shot.
Cope swings for the body but Stahl moves out of range.
Cope throws a leg kick but Stahl sees it coming and moves out of range.
Stahl misses with a few strikes there.
A big right from Stahl misses.
Stahl connects with a body shot.
Cope uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stahl.
Cope steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stahl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cope goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Cope lands a right hook to the body.
Cope lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Stahl backs up against the cage.
A lazy left from Cope finds it's target.
Stahl blocks a leg kick.
Cope scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Stahl doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stahl moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Cope missing with a left hand there. Stahl was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stahl has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cope avoids the body shot from Stahl.
Cope punishes Stahl's body with a nice straight punch.
Cope staying out of range there.
Stahl throws a hook to the side of Cope's head but Cope sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cope pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cope keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stahl.
Cope takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Stahl tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cope was well out of range. Poor timing from Stahl.
Cope misses with a shot to the body
and Stahl connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cope!
Cope moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Stahl tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cope was well out of range. Poor timing from Stahl.
Cope scores with a nice strike.
A shot to the liver by Cope. Beautiful body shot.
Cope looks for a takedown but Stahl sprawls well.
Cope is looking to slow Stahl down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cope has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cope there as he acknowledges the shot.
Stahl avoids the body shot from Cope.
Stahl avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cope misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stahl.
Cope throws a jab but it's blocked by Stahl.
Cope keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big left from Cope misses.

Cope bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stahl parries the strikes from Cope easily there. Cope is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Stahl to escape.
Cope throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Stahl wants to control but Cope postures up.
Stahl is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cope advances to full mount.
Stahl takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stahl tries to hold on but Cope pushes him away.
Cope takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cope is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Stahl can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by Cope.
BOOM! Cope connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cope wants to control the pace but Stahl is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cope cracks Stahl with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Cope wants to control the pace but Stahl is squirming around nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stahl is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Cope clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Henrik Stahl's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cope misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The fighters circling - Cope throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cope misses with a hook. Stahl ducked under it nicely.
Cope swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cope rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stahl moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cope wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stahl lands with a hook. Cope tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Cope misses the shot to the body.
Cope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stahl misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stahl on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Cope has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cope there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cope lands with a good body shot.
Stahl blocks a leg kick.
Stahl fails to land with a series of punches.
A shot to the body from Cope misses
and Stahl counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cope looks to score with a jab to the body but Stahl is just out of range.
Stahl throws the left hand but Cope avoids the punch easily.
The fighters circling - Stahl throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stahl throws a looping overhand right but Cope ducks down to avoid it.
Cope throws a head kick that misses.
A combination from Stahl does no damage.

Cope closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stahl did well to prevent Cope getting side control.
Cope has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cope wants to pass the guard but Stahl is defending well.
Stahl is pressing down on Cope's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cope slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Cope wants to control from the top but Stahl keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stahl looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cope wants to control from the top but Stahl keeps moving.
Stahl utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cope throws a strike but Stahl rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Cope has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Stahl has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stahl working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stahl slips a straight right by Cope.
Stahl misses the shot to the body.
Cope lands a slapping body shot.
Cope scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A jab from Stahl does it's job there.
Stahl throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cope lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stahl ducks under a wild hook from Cope.
Cope misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cope throws a head kick but Stahl moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Cope - just one landing.
Cope throws a body punch but Stahl moves out of range.
Cope scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Stahl doesn't seem bothered though.
A jab from Stahl does it's job there.
Stahl lands with a shot to the body.
Stahl works the jab nicely.
Cope scores with a nice strike.
Stahl steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cope.
Cope blocks a jab.
Stahl lands the left hand.
Stahl swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stahl misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Cope counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stahl throws a combination that misses
and Cope connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Cope had his way with Henrik Stahl in that round.
The cut man is working on Henrik Stahl's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cope will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stahl lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cope at a distance.
Stahl takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cope goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Stahl moves out of range of the strikes.
Cope cracks Stahl with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Cope blocks a jab.
Stahl scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cope in his tracks.
Cope tries a head kick but it misses.
Stahl misses with a body shot.
Stahl thuds a left hand into Cope's body.
Cope throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cope uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stahl.
Stahl misses with a hook.
Cope throws a leg kick which misses Stahl's front leg but catches the back leg as Stahl tries to avoid it.
Stahl is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cope.
Cope shoots in for a double leg but Stahl sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stahl throws the left hand but Cope avoids the punch easily.
Cope misses with a body punch
and Stahl counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cope throws out a powerful jab.
Stahl throws a hook but Cope blocks it.
Cope throws a low kick but it's checked well by Stahl.
Cope takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Stahl ducks right into an uppercut from Cope.
Stahl throws a series of punches but Cope avoids them all with ease.
Cope throws a jab but it's blocked by Stahl.
Stahl missing with a left hand there. Cope was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stahl swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cope looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cope rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stahl moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stahl slips under a jab from Cope.

Cope is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stahl's half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Cope looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Henrik Stahl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cope is pressing down on Stahl's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stahl is holding on for now.
Cope missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cope not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stahl taking some punishment here, with Cope in his half guard.
Cope not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cope throws a strike but Stahl avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cope postures up and lands a big shot to Stahl's brow.

Cope got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stahl has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cope has managed to get both his arms back between Stahl's legs - danger averted.
Cope stays in close to Stahl's body and controls the position.
Cope advances position into side control!
Cope working the head with strikes.
Cope is working Stahl over with some ground and pound from side control.
Cope scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Stahl to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cope scores with a couple of short elbows.
Cope wants to control but Stahl is keeping him busy.
Cope tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Stahl is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Cope showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cope 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 50:45
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 50:45
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Cope!
Mike Cope retains his featherweight title!