PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Taylor Kopczenski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mick Mulvaney (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.

Kopczenski
vs
Mulvaney

175 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Taylor Kopczenski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mick Mulvaney!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mulvaney drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Kopczenski manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Mulvaney fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kopczenski seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A combination from Mulvaney does no damage.
Mulvaney throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mulvaney misses with a looping left.
Mulvaney wants to clinch.
Kopczenski looks for a takedown but Mulvaney sprawls well.
Kopczenski fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mulvaney misses with a few strikes there.
Mulvaney scores with a jab. Kopczenski acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kopczenski shoots in but Mulvaney avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taylor Kopczenski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mulvaney throws a right hand that Kopczenski ducks under and follows up with a left that Kopczenski also avoids with ease.
Mulvaney lands a two punch combo.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kopczenski enables Mulvaney to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kopczenski manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Kopczenski has his feet on Mulvaney's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Kopczenski really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Kopczenski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
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!

Kopczenski has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mulvaney uses from the top position.
Mulvaney throws an elbow that misses. Kopczenski uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mulvaney's guard. Nice move by Kopczenski!

Kopczenski gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Kopczenski swats away the attempt to clinch by Mulvaney.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kopczenski swats away the attempt to clinch by Mulvaney.
Kopczenski throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kopczenski shoots in looking for a takedown but Mulvaney manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kopczenski's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mulvaney fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mulvaney looks to land a combination but Kopczenski avoids it well.
A combination from Mulvaney does no damage.
Kopczenski tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Mulvaney manages to circle out of the way.
Mulvaney misses with a jab, cross combination.

Kopczenski moves into range and clinches up with Mulvaney.
Kopczenski goes for a takedown attempt but Mulvaney pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mulvaney tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kopczenski defends well and Mulvaney ends up having to push Kopczenski into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Kopczenski moves into range and clinches up with Mulvaney.
Kopczenski wants a takedown.
Mulvaney is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kopczenski pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mulvaney looks winded!
Kopczenski tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kopczenski is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mulvaney gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kopczenski wants a takedown.
Mulvaney is trying to break the clinch but Kopczenski is controlling him.
Kopczenski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kopczenski is stalling here.

Kopczenski breaks from the clinch.
Mulvaney will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mulvaney falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kopczenski holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Mulvaney's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kopczenski tries to pull guard but Mulvaney holds him up against the cage and eventually Kopczenski drops back down to his feet.
Mulvaney tries to break free but Kopczenski pushes him back against the cage.
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 Taylor Kopczenski will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kopczenski shoots for a double leg takedown but Mulvaney sprawls well. He's pushed Kopczenski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kopczenski tries for a takedown but Mulvaney sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mulvaney moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kopczenski shoots for a takedown but Mulvaney saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taylor Kopczenski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mulvaney moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Mulvaney circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mulvaney moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mulvaney moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mulvaney tries to keep at a distance but Kopczenski has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kopczenski tries to pull guard but Mulvaney holds him up against the cage and eventually Kopczenski drops back down to his feet.
Kopczenski has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mulvaney after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kopczenski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kopczenski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kopczenski changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mulvaney misses with a double jab.
Mulvaney scores with a jab. Kopczenski acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Mulvaney throws a series of punches but Kopczenski avoids them all with ease.

Kopczenski has Mulvaney up against the cage in a clinch.
Kopczenski keeps control of Mulvaney as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mulvaney is pressed up against the cage. Kopczenski has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mulvaney down to the mat. Mulvaney avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kopczenski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mulvaney as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kopczenski shoots in but no luck this time.
Mulvaney has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mulvaney tries to clinch there but Kopczenski circles away.

Mulvaney clinches with his opponent.
Mulvaney wants to break free but Kopczenski has control.
Mulvaney has had enough of the clinch but Kopczenski keeps him there for the moment.
Mulvaney is looking to break free of the clinch but Kopczenski has double underhooks.
Mulvaney has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kopczenski avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kopczenski wants a takedown.
Mulvaney is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kopczenski to keep the fight standing.
Mulvaney has had enough of the clinch but Kopczenski keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kopczenski fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Kopczenski breaks from the clinch.
Kopczenski tries to clinch up but Mulvaney circles away and keeps his distance.
Mulvaney misses with a combination
and Mulvaney takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mulvaney looks for a takedown but Kopczenski sprawls well.
Kopczenski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mulvaney sprawls well. Mulvaney wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kopczenski gets slowly back to his feet.
Mulvaney tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kopczenski manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kopczenski tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Mulvaney manages to circle out of the way.
Mick Mulvaney seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mulvaney misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mulvaney throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kopczenski moves into the clinch.
Mulvaney tries to circle away but Kopczenski has him pinned against the cage.

Kopczenski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kopczenski shoots in looking for a takedown. Mulvaney tries to sprawl out of it but Kopczenski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mulvaney manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mulvaney closes the distance and clinches up with Kopczenski, looking for a takedown. Mulvaney pushes Kopczenski against the cage but Kopczenski circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kopczenski on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kopczenski fails with a takedown attempt.
Mulvaney ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mick Mulvaney showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kopczenski keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kopczenski displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mulvaney.
Kopczenski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mulvaney swivels and escapes.
Nice sprawl there from Mulvaney as Kopczenski shoots in.
Mulvaney tries to clinch up but Kopczenski circles away and keeps his distance.
Kopczenski is looking to clinch but Mulvaney is avoiding it.
Taylor Kopczenski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kopczenski showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mulvaney.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kopczenski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mulvaney lands a jab-cross combination.
Mulvaney closes the distance and clinches up with Kopczenski, looking for a takedown. Mulvaney pushes Kopczenski against the cage but Kopczenski circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Taylor Kopczenski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mick Mulvaney.
Mulvaney changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kopczenski tries to avoid it but Mulvaney manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kopczenski to the ground. Kopczenski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kopczenski gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kopczenski successfully pulls guard.
Kopczenski is pulling down on Mulvaney's head to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kopczenski is on top in guard.

Kopczenski postures up in Mulvaney's guard and throws a big left but Mulvaney blocks it.
Kopczenski throws a big elbow that misses.
Kopczenski trying to control the position from guard on top but Mulvaney is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kopczenski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mulvaney is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kopczenski passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kopczenski content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mulvaney really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kopczenski. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mulvaney keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kopczenski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kopczenski content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Kopczenski is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mulvaney defends it well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.
Mulvaney tries for a takedown but Kopczenski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mulvaney uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kopczenski has time to react.
Mulvaney tries to bum rush Kopczenski with a series of wild strikes but Kopczenski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mulvaney scores with a hook to the body. Kopczenski takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kopczenski fails with a takedown attempt.
Mulvaney lands with a nice combination. Kopczenski backs away looking to recover.
Mulvaney lands the left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mulvaney tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kopczenski swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kopczenski went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kopczenski fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mick Mulvaney.
I think Mulvaney has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mick Mulvaney!