PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Copeland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reyanne Ignacio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ignacio has chosen see you again chris brown as his entrance music. Rodney Copeland has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Copeland
vs
Ignacio

181 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
142 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodney Copeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Reyanne Ignacio!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ignacio takes the fight into the clinch.

Ignacio lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Copeland is controlling Ignacio's trapped leg to prevent Ignacio from advancing to side control.
Ignacio throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Copeland flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Copeland is concentrating on defense, preventing Ignacio from advancing position.
Copeland has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Copeland manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ignacio keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Copeland goes for a takedown attempt but Ignacio pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Ignacio rushes Copeland and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignacio managing to block the knees to the body from Copeland.

Copeland breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Copeland really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Ignacio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Copeland's half guard.

Copeland has one foot on Ignacio's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Ignacio shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Copeland manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ignacio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ignacio looks winded!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Copeland holds on and takes a little breather.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Copeland is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ignacio is controlling him.
Ignacio throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignacio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ignacio must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Copeland escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ignacio gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Copeland is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ignacio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Copeland working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ignacio.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Copeland kicks Ignacio off and gets to his feet.
Ignacio tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A counter left hand to the body from Copeland misses its target.

Ignacio closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I wouldn't like to be where Copeland is right now.
Ignacio working away.
Copeland throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Ignacio throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Copeland has one of Ignacio's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
You can see the frustration on Copeland's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Copeland lands with an elbow strike from the bottom.
Copeland is pushing Ignacio's head away, looking to escape. Ignacio manages to hold on to the position though.

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 keeps Ignacio under control for a moment.
Ignacio throws a strike aimed at the side of Copeland's head but Copeland avoids it well.
Copeland can't do much from the bottom here.
The strikes coming from Ignacio are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Copeland wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Copeland shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Copeland showed some decent athleticism there.
Copeland prevents Ignacio from improving his position.
Copeland is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rodney Copeland will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ignacio.

Copeland explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Copeland blocks a head kick by Ignacio.
Ignacio throws a right and a left that Copeland avoids nicely.
Ignacio lands a head kick!
Copeland fails to land the takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ignacio gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Copeland is in close to Ignacio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Copeland decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ignacio, up you get!
Ignacio is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ignacio fails to land with a series of punches.

Copeland shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ignacio manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Ignacio is working an open guard so Copeland takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Copeland dives in and grabs Ignacio's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ignacio pushes down on Copeland's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodney Copeland. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Copeland shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Copeland working the head and body with strikes.
Ignacio is trying to maintain the position but Copeland is very close to passing his half guard.

Copeland escapes and gets back to his feet.
Ignacio keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ignacio tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ignacio shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
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!
Copeland tries to kick Ignacio off but Ignacio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Copeland manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ignacio keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Copeland.
Ignacio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Copeland lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ignacio backwards.
Copeland is trying to drag Ignacio to the mat but Ignacio just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A short body shot lands from Copeland as the two fighters clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland crunches a lovely knee into Ignacio's ribcage.
Ignacio stops a takedown attempt from Copeland.
Ignacio is trying to break the clinch but Copeland is controlling him.
Ignacio wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Copeland goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Copeland pushes Ignacio back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Copeland can't get the takedown.
Ignacio on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Ignacio pulls guard effortlessly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignacio looking to hit a scissor sweep but Copeland is one step ahead there.

Copeland stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Copeland shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ignacio is trying to defend but Copeland finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Ignacio is defending against the submission attempts here by Copeland.

Copeland escapes and gets back to his feet.
Ignacio lands with a kick to the ribs.

Ignacio has Copeland up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Copeland dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Ignacio misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ignacio misses with a double jab.
Ignacio has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Copeland is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Ignacio closes the distance and clinches.

Ignacio successfully pulls guard.

Copeland decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ignacio, up you get!

Ignacio has closed the distance and engaged Copeland in a clinch.
Copeland pushes Ignacio back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Copeland tries to score a body lock takedown but Ignacio shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Copeland tries a body shot but Ignacio blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Copeland is leaning against Ignacio and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Copeland manages to break the clinch.
Ignacio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ignacio pushes Copeland up against the cage in a clinch.

Copeland breaks from the clinch.
Rodney Copeland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignacio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Copeland.

Copeland closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ignacio taking some punishment here, with Copeland in his half guard.

Copeland is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Copeland working Ignacio over with strikes.
Copeland is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Copeland.

Copeland is looking for a kimura here.
Copeland working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Copeland is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Copeland is trying to work for a kimura but Ignacio is defending well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Copeland lands a nice short elbow.
Copeland scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ignacio has hold of Copeland's hands but Copeland slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Copeland is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ignacio is trying to get back to full guard.
Copeland winds up and cracks Ignacio with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Copeland is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ignacio is trying to maintain the position but Copeland is very close to passing his half guard.
Ignacio wants to get back to full guard.

Copeland decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Copeland throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ignacio was covering up waiting for the punch and Copeland finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Copeland decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Copeland gets a double leg takedown into Ignacio's guard.

Copeland stands and steps away. Ignacio gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Ignacio closes the distance and clinches.
Reyanne Ignacio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Copeland lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ignacio avoiding damage as Copeland throws knees to the body.
Copeland tries to throw a body punch but Ignacio avoids it by throwing Copeland back against the cage.
Copeland misses with a body punch.
Copeland struggles to land a body shot inside as Ignacio controls his hands.
Rodney Copeland is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Copeland manages to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodney Copeland showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Copeland, 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodney Copeland!
Reyanne Ignacio was interviewed post fight and said 'hes got lucky'.