PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anatoly Kopylov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wilson Baldoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baldoza has chosen Last Resort as his entrance music. 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.

Kopylov
vs
Baldoza

194 cm
26
246 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

195 cm
30
258 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 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 Rio de Janeiro, Anatoly Kopylov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wilson Baldoza!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Matheus Silva and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baldoza checks a low kick from Kopylov.

Baldoza shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kopylov's guard.
Baldoza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kopylov is keeping the position for now.
Baldoza works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Baldoza is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Baldoza decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Baldoza avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Baldoza moves out of range of the body kick from Kopylov.
Kopylov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Baldoza closes the distance and clinches.
Baldoza keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kopylov's efforts to push away.
Baldoza looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baldoza misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kopylov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baldoza gets control of Kopylov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Baldoza will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kopylov tries to free his leg and advance position but Baldoza is retaining full guard.
Baldoza throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Baldoza has a closed guard, preventing Kopylov from standing up.
Kopylov wants to control from the top but Baldoza keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anatoly Kopylov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kopylov misses with a straight left.
Anatoly Kopylov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kopylov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Baldoza steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kopylov.
Kopylov throws a lazy right hand but Baldoza sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kopylov throws a jab when Baldoza was well out of range.

Baldoza clinches.
A short right from Baldoza.

Baldoza breaks the clinch.
Baldoza throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kopylov shoots in looking for a takedown. Baldoza tries to sprawl out of it but Kopylov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Baldoza manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kopylov moves in looking to clinch but Baldoza pushes him off.

Baldoza closes the distance and clinches.
Kopylov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Baldoza jumps guard and drags Kopylov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kopylov wants to control from the top but Baldoza keeps moving.

Baldoza has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kopylov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kopylov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baldoza paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Baldoza clinches.
Kopylov wants to get back to striking at distance but Baldoza won't allow it.
Baldoza connects with a knee to the head.
Kopylov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Baldoza jumps guard but Kopylov stands there with Baldoza around his waist. Baldoza gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kopylov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kopylov blocks the elbow strike.
Kopylov is trying to force a seperation but Baldoza has the dominant position.
Baldoza trying to land knees to the body.
Kopylov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Baldoza's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baldoza jumps guard.

Baldoza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kopylov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kopylov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Baldoza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baldoza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Baldoza keeping full guard, as Kopylov tries to pass.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kopylov wants to control from the top but Baldoza keeps moving.
Baldoza trying to strike off his back.
Baldoza doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Baldoza kicks Kopylov off and gets to his feet.
Kopylov has his takedown stuffed

and Baldoza counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kopylov's guard now.
Baldoza looking to pass the guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baldoza accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kopylov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baldoza distracts Kopylov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Baldoza wants to control from the top but Kopylov keeps moving.
Kopylov keeping full guard, as Baldoza tries to pass.
Baldoza is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Baldoza forces his way into half guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Baldoza sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Baldoza is looking to advance position but Kopylov won't allow it.
Baldoza thows a huge punch but Kopylov dodges it nicely.
Baldoza throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kopylov is not content to let Baldoza control the position.
Baldoza works his way into side control.
Baldoza misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Baldoza is working to tighten is grip on Kopylov's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Kopylov has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Baldoza is really squeezing tight and eventually Kopylov passes out! Baldoza breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Wilson Baldoza!