PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doug Copley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franklin
vs
Copley

189 cm
26
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
26
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eddie Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Doug Copley!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Copley is looking to clinch.
Copley tries to clinch up but Franklin circles away and keeps his distance.
Franklin fails with the takedown.

Copley gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Franklin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Copley is on top in guard.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Copley from controlling successfully.
Copley throwing strikes but missing.
Franklin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copleyis looking to pass into half guard but Franklin pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Franklin is in guard.

Copley is looking for a triangle here but Franklin uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Copley trying to remain calm as Franklin controls from the top position.
Copley tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Copley is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Franklin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Copley is trying to maintain the position but Franklin is very close to passing his half guard.
Franklin trying to control the action but Copley is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copley is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Franklin jumps into side control!
Copley is looking to reverse the position.
Copley wants to get back to his feet but Franklin drags him back down.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Franklin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copley manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Franklin is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Eddie Franklin wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Copley sprawls well. Copley wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Franklin gets slowly back to his feet.
Franklin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Copley avoids it really well and circles away.
Copley doesn't manage to clinch there - Franklin circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Copley throws a right hand that Franklin ducks under and follows up with a left that Franklin also avoids with ease.
Copley throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown but Copley shows good takedown defense.

Franklin is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Copley's half guard.
Copley is in trouble now - Franklin has advanced to mount!
Copley working to try and regain half guard.
Franklin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Franklin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Franklin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Eddie Franklin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Copley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franklin shoots in for a double leg but Copley sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Franklin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Copley is looking for a sweep. Franklin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Copley looks like he's trying to stand up.
Franklin wants to take a breather but Copley is having none of it.
Copley is trying to get back to full guard.
Franklin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Copley actively working from the bottom here.
Copley is looking to improve his position.
Franklin trying to control the action but Copley is working from the bottom.
Franklin passes into side control, despite Copley's attempt to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Copley tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Franklin in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Copley tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Franklin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copley is not content to let Franklin control the position.
Copley is trying to get back to his feet.
Copley tries to improve position but can't.
Franklin trying to control the action but Copley is working from the bottom.
Franklin staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

We're going to have a standup here because Eddie Franklin wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown but Copley shows good takedown defense.

Franklin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Copley is trying to defend but Franklin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Copley tries to kick Franklin off in order to stand up. Franklin Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Copley tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Franklin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Franklin dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Franklin shoots in looking for a takedown. Copley tries to sprawl out of it but Franklin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Copley manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Franklin slips a jab and a cross from Copley.
Nice sprawl there from Copley as Franklin shoots in.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin looks for a takedown but Copley sprawls well.
Copley fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franklin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Copley defends it nicely.
Copley throws a series of punches but Franklin avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copley scores with a jab.
Franklin takes a kick to the side of the head.
Copley moves in looking to clinch but Franklin pushes him off.
Copley fails in his attempt to clinch.
Copley tries to clinch but Franklin moves out of range.
Franklin shoots for a takedown but Copley saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Copley throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Franklin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Copley pinned against the cage. Copley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Doug Copley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Copley throws a right and a left that both miss.
Franklin slips a jab and a cross from Copley.
Copley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franklin shoots in and gets a takedown into Copley's guard.
Franklin sitting in guard here, content to control.

Copley is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Franklin defends well.
Franklin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Franklin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Copley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Eddie Franklin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Franklin stands up and waves to Copley to follow him.

Franklin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Copley kicks Franklin off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copley takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Copley as he jumps to the side.
Copley throws out a loose jab but Franklin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Copley throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Copley tries to sprawl but Franklin drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Copley is looking to get back to is feet but Franklin passes into side control.
Copley being controlled for a moment.

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 Eddie Franklin.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Franklin, 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddie Franklin!