PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jan Kopacz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Durachok (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kopacz
vs
Durachok

225 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jan Kopacz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ivan Durachok!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Reed Andrews and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durachok circles away from the clinch attempt
and Durachok counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Kopacz slaps away a takedown attempt from Durachok, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kopacz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Durachok manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kopacz wants to clinch
and Durachok counters with a head kick. That will keep Kopacz thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kopacz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Durachok counters with a low kick, right behind Kopacz 's knee.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kopacz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kopacz is looking to clinch.
Durachok throws a low kick, looking for Kopacz's leg but Kopacz calmly moves out of range.
Kopacz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kopacz tries to clinch up

and Durachok counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Durachok.
Kopacz is trying to stall.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Durachok tries to break free but Kopacz pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durachok wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Durachok takes a knee to the side of the body.
Durachok trying to stall but Kopacz improves his position.
Durachok tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kopacz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Durachok's face.
Kopacz tries a knee to the head but Durachok blocks it.
Durachok is trying to force a seperation but Kopacz has the dominant position.
Durachok working aggressively here.
Kopacz utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Durachok looks winded!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kopacz trying to control the position but instead, Durachok has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kopacz into the cage.
Durachok drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kopacz gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Durachok takes a knee to the side of the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Durachok as Kopacz tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durachok tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jan Kopacz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Durachok.

Durachok pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kopacz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Durachok paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Durachok swats away the attempt to clinch by Kopacz.
Kopacz tries to close the distance and clinch but Durachok swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kopacz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Durachok swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kopacz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kopacz tries to clinch but Durachok moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Durachok or perhaps it was just good defense by Kopacz which made him look bad.
Kopacz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kopacz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Durachok paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kopacz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Durachok swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Durachok avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kopacz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Durachok keeps the fight on the outside.
Kopacz tries to clinch there but Durachok circles away.
Durachok fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jan Kopacz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kopacz is looking to clinch but Durachok is avoiding it.
Jan Kopacz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kopacz tries to clinch up but Durachok circles away and keeps his distance.
Kopacz tries to clinch but Durachok is having none of it.
Durachok swats away the attempt to clinch by Kopacz.
Kopacz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Durachok circles away from the clinch attempt
and Durachok makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kopacz tries to clinch

and Durachok counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Durachok.
Durachok tries to break free but Kopacz pushes him back against the cage.
Durachok changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kopacz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kopacz is looking to clinch.
Kopacz moves in looking to clinch but Durachok pushes him off.
Kopacz tries to clinch but Durachok is having none of it.
Kopacz wants to clinch up but Durachok keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kopacz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kopacz moves in looking to clinch but Durachok pushes him off.
Kopacz tries to clinch there but Durachok circles away.
Kopacz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Durachok circles away from the clinch attempt.
Durachok keeps the fight on the outside.
Durachok circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kopacz is looking to clinch but Durachok is avoiding it.
Kopacz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kopacz tries to clinch but Durachok is having none of it.
Durachok keeps the fight on the outside.
Kopacz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Durachok counters with a nice kick to the body.
Kopacz tries to clinch but Durachok is having none of it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kopacz wants to clinch but Durachok slips to the side
and Durachok counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kopacz moves in looking to clinch but Durachok pushes him off.
Kopacz doesn't manage to clinch there - Durachok circles away.
Durachok avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durachok circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kopacz tries to clinch up but Durachok circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Kopacz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kopacz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kopacz tries to clinch but Durachok moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kopacz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Durachok tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kopacz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Durachok is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kopacz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Durachok shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kopacz is trying to defend but Durachok finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Durachok works his way into full mount!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Durachok punching from mount but Kopacz doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durachok thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Durachok throwing strikes here but Kopacz is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Kopacz avoids a series of strikes thrown by Durachok.
Durachok can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kopacz is looking to escape.
Durachok misses with a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durachok with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Durachok jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kopacz is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kopacz and Durachok has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Durachok postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Durachok decides to stand back up.
Durachok swats away the attempt to clinch by Kopacz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kopacz tries to clinch but Durachok is having none of it.
Durachok shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kopacz as he avoids it easily.
Kopacz tries to clinch there but Durachok circles away.
Kopacz keeps the fight on the outside.
Durachok throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kopacz's waist but Kopacz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Durachok off to one side.
Jan Kopacz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Durachok.
Durachok is breathing heavily.
Kopacz is looking to clinch but Durachok is avoiding it.
Kopacz wants to clinch

and Durachok counters by moving into the clinch.
Durachok is trying to maintain a safe position but Kopacz gets an underhook and turns Durachok into the cage.
Durachok misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durachok wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Durachok as Kopacz tries to tie him up.
Kopacz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Durachok as Kopacz tries to tie him up.
Durachok drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kopacz gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kopacz landing knees to the head.

It looks like Ivan Durachok has been cut.
The referee calls for Kopacz to work.
Kopacz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jan Kopacz.
Durachok fails with a takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kopacz moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kopacz is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Durachok is keeping busy.
Kopacz landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kopacz is trying to stall.
Kopacz can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ivan Durachok will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ivan Durachok's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Durachok keeps the fight on the outside.
Kopacz tries to clinch up.
Durachok tries to close the distance and clinch but Kopacz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kopacz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kopacz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Durachok swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Durachok throws a right and a left that Kopacz avoids nicely.
Durachok misses with a low kick.
Kopacz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kopacz tries to close the distance and clinch but Durachok swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kopacz wants to clinch.

Durachok instigates a clinch.
Kopacz wants to stall.
Maybe Kopacz would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.

Durachok pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kopacz wants to clinch
and Durachok counters with a three punch combo that has Kopacz backing up. Kopacz nods at Durachok to acknowledge the strikes.
Kopacz tries to close the distance and clinch but Durachok swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kopacz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jan Kopacz is winning the standup battle so far.
Kopacz tries to clinch up.
Durachok closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kopacz circles away.
Durachok takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kopacz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kopacz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kopacz keeps the fight on the outside.
Kopacz tries to clinch there but Durachok circles away.
Kopacz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Durachok swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kopacz moves in looking to clinch but Durachok pushes him off.
Kopacz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Durachok counters with a thumping low kick.
Kopacz tries to clinch but Durachok is having none of it.
Kopacz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kopacz stuffs the takedown.
Kopacz tries to clinch

and Durachok moves into the clinch.
Durachok jumps guard but Kopacz stands there with Durachok around his waist. Durachok gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jan Kopacz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Durachok.
Kopacz is trying to maintain a safe position but Durachok gets an underhook and turns Kopacz into the cage.
Kopacz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Durachok has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kopacz scores with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kopacz taking a breather.
Jan Kopacz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kopacz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kopacz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Durachok is rocked!
Kopacz with a knee to the head.
Durachok is still on wobbly legs! Can Kopacz finish him?
Kopacz connects with a knee to the head.
Kopacz trying to control the position but instead, Durachok has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kopacz into the cage.
Durachok seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kopacz seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Durachok is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Kopacz dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kopacz lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kopacz landing knees to the head.
Durachok is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kopacz working Durachok over with knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kopacz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Durachok's face.
Kopacz with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kopacz scores with a knee to the head.
Kopacz connects with a knee to the head.
Kopacz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Durachok's face.
Kopacz tries to land a knee to the head but Durachok blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kopacz throws a knee to the head but misses.
Durachok wants to break the clinch but can't.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kopacz tries to land a knee to the head but Durachok blocks with his arms.

Durachok breaks the clinch.
Durachok closes the distance and clinches up with Kopacz, looking for a takedown. Durachok pushes Kopacz against the cage but Kopacz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Durachok avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kopacz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kopacz stuffs the takedown.
Kopacz moves in looking to clinch but Durachok pushes him off.
Jan Kopacz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kopacz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kopacz tries to clinch up
and Durachok counters with a body kick.
Ivan Durachok has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kopacz tries to clinch up.
Durachok swats away the attempt to clinch by Kopacz.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jan Kopacz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kopacz 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight for Jan Kopacz!
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight for Jan Kopacz!
Judge John Roberts scores the fight for Jan Kopacz!

Jan Kopacz wins by unanimous decision!