PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adam Copeland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Copeland comes to the cage accompanied by think you know me . Hank Rhodes has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Adam Copeland's chin.

Copeland
vs
Rhodes

196 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

183 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Nutrition Oracle

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Adam Copeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hank Rhodes!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Rhodes misses its intended target.
Copeland looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rhodes is fending him off so far but Copeland persists. Nope, Rhodes circles away and we're back to standing.
Rhodes throws a jab but it's blocked by Copeland.
Copeland gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Copeland fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rhodes lands a body shot.
A jab from Rhodes misses.
Rhodes works the jab nicely.
Rhodes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rhodes tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Copeland counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Copeland taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes can't do much from the bottom here.
Rhodes is not content to let Copeland control the position.
Copeland in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Adam Copeland has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rhodes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rhodes misses with a combination

and Copeland counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Copeland.
Rhodes being controlled here, momentarily.
Rhodes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Copeland.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Copeland stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Copeland misses with a left hand
and Rhodes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Copeland shoots in for a takedown but Rhodes shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Copeland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Copeland shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rhodes sprawls well. Rhodes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Copeland gets slowly back to his feet.
Rhodes looks to score with a jab to the body but Copeland is just out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Rhodes misses the target.
Rhodes should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Copeland avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Copeland fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes throws a series of punches but Copeland moves out of range.
Rhodes throws out a loose jab but Copeland uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rhodes works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rhodes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rhodes misses with a straight left.
Copeland circles away from the clinch attempt.
Copeland misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rhodes slaps away a takedown attempt from Copeland, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Copeland is breathing heavily.
Rhodes works the jab nicely.
Rhodes misses with a wild combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Copeland takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rhodes tries to clinch but Copeland moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hank Rhodes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Copeland's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Copeland misses with the combination.

Rhodes closes the distance and clinches.
Rhodes leaning against his opponent.
Copeland's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rhodes has Copeland pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Copeland manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rhodes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rhodes stops a takedown attempt from Copeland.
Copeland has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rhodes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rhodes tries to score a body lock takedown but Copeland shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rhodes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Copeland gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Adam Copeland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hank Rhodes.
Rhodes drops down looking for an ankle pick but Copeland pulls his leg out and moves away.
Copeland shoots in but no luck this time.
Rhodes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Copeland counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Copeland trying to control the position from guard on top but Rhodes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Copeland 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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Copeland passes Rhodes's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rhodes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Copeland. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Copeland is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

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.

Adam Copeland has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rhodes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Copeland.

Copeland shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Copeland takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland trying to control the action but Rhodes is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Copeland thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rhodes's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Copeland looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Adam Copeland just wasn't active enough.
Rhodes tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Copeland counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Copeland is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Copeland trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Copeland throws a strike but Rhodes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Copeland is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Copeland dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Copeland closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rhodes's guard.
Copeland slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Copeland trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rhodes working a defensive guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rhodes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Copeland was well out of range. Poor timing from Rhodes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes misses with a right hand

and Copeland counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Copeland trying to control but Rhodes is working from the bottom.
Copeland postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Copeland is looking to stand up but Rhodes won't let him.
Rhodes wants to hit a switch here but Copeland passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rhodes there!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rhodes can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rhodes is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rhodes is looking to escape.

Copeland working for a guillotine from mount but Rhodes is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland manages to capitalize on a mistake by Rhodes to take his back!
Copeland trying to control momentarily.
Adam Copeland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Copeland trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Rhodes doesn't escape.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Copeland's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Copeland will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rhodes trying to control the hands but Copeland won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adam Copeland showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Copeland has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

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