PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alan Copeland jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rugg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alan Copeland jr has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Copeland jr
vs
Rugg

188 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

174 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

MMA's Best Nutrition The PIT INC

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Alan Copeland jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Rugg!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rugg shoots for a double leg takedown but Copeland jr sprawls well. He's pushed Rugg's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

A big head kick from Rugg and Copeland jr is sent sprawling to the canvas!

Copeland jr is rocked!

It looks like Alan Copeland jr has been cut.
Rugg stands up over Copeland jr, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Oh Copeland jr is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rugg trying to control but Copeland jr is working from the bottom.
Copeland jr tries to strike from the bottom.
Copeland jr knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rugg on the ground.
Copeland jr looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rugg puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Copeland jr seems to have got his legs back now.
Rugg prevents Copeland jr from standing back up.
Rugg trying to control the action but Copeland jr is working from the bottom.
Copeland jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rugg is trying to control. Copeland jr wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Copeland jr blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rugg.
Rugg has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Copeland jr tries to keep at a distance but Rugg has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rugg landing knees to the head.

Rugg lands a big knee to the head and Copeland jr goes down! Rugg is looking to finish!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rugg working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Rugg passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Copeland jr!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland jr flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

Rugg has hold of Copeland jr's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Copeland jr manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rugg looking to control but Copeland jr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Copeland jr swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Copeland jr is trying to stand.
Rugg breaks from Copeland jr's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Copeland jr is looking to improve his position but Rugg isn't that keen on the idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rugg can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Copeland jr is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rugg prevents Copeland jr from getting the reversal.
Rugg throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
You get the feeling that Copeland jr really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Copeland jr is breathing heavily.
Rugg looking to finish Copeland jr with some ground and pound. This is bad for Copeland jr!

Copeland jr defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rugg.
Copeland jr can't escape the position.
Rugg tries to control but Copeland jr wriggling away.
Copeland jr holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rugg tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Rugg wants to finish this one by submission but Copeland jr is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rugg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland jr blocking the ground and pound.
Rugg lands a heavy elbow.

Rugg jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Copeland jr manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Copeland jr wants to get back to his feet but Rugg drags him back down.

Rugg tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rugg has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Rugg wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Copeland jr, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland jr tries to improve position but can't.
Copeland jr really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rugg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Copeland jr keeps working.
Copeland jr tries to buck Rugg off but Rugg is having none of it.

Rugg is trying to get an arm triangle but Copeland jr is defending well.
Rugg trying to control the action but Copeland jr is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rugg dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alan Copeland jr's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rugg tries to clinch there but Copeland jr circles away.

Rugg tries to keep at a distance but Copeland jr has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rugg connects with a nasty looking knee right to Copeland jr's face.

Alan Copeland jr's cut is getting worse.
Rugg misses with a knee strike.
Rugg with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rugg slows down the pace here.

Rugg has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Copeland jr uses from the top position.
Copeland jr wants to stand but Rugg has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Rugg looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rugg trying to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland jr wants to stand but Rugg is controlling his posture from full guard.
Copeland jr with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rugg avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rugg bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Copeland jr's guard.
Rugg trying to control the position from guard on top but Copeland jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rugg is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Rugg gets to his feet - Copeland jr follows without any prompting.
Alan Copeland jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Rugg closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rugg lands in his opponent's guard.

Rugg thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rugg drops back looking for a leg! Copeland jr is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Copeland jr manages to kick Rugg off! Rugg jumps back into Copeland jr's guard.
Copeland jr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rugg drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rugg jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Copeland jr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Copeland jr is working an open guard so Rugg takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Rugg closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Come on Rugg - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rugg gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nice elbow from Rugg.
Come on Rugg - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rugg lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rugg stalling in the clinch.
Rugg stops a takedown attempt from Copeland jr.
Rugg stalling in the clinch.
Rugg keeps control of Copeland jr as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rugg lands an elbow inside.
Rugg is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rugg lands an elbow that stopped Copeland jr in his tracks for a moment.
Rugg comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rugg lands a right hand.
Rugg slows down the pace here.
Rugg lands a damaging elbow.
Rugg lands a knee to the head.
Rugg throws a knee to the head but misses.
Copeland jr wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rugg slows down the pace here.
Rugg has a couple of punches blocked by Copeland jr.
Copeland jr can't break the clinch.
Rugg connects with a knee to the head.
Copeland jr is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rugg is working for takedown but Copeland jr is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rugg throws an elbow but it misses.
Copeland jr tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rugg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alan Copeland jr's cut.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rugg moves into the clinch.

Copeland jr gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rugg wants to control but Copeland jr is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Copeland jr thows a huge punch but Rugg dodges it nicely.

Rugg looking for submissions off his back.
Copeland jr throwing shots but Rugg is blocking nicely.
Copeland jr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rugg moves into full guard.

Rugg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Copeland jr can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rugg manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rugg gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Nice body punch from Copeland jr.
Copeland jr swings for the body but Rugg moves out of range.
Rugg tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Copeland jr counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rugg wants to clinch
and Copeland jr connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Rugg has Copeland jr up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Copeland jr tries to score a body lock takedown but Rugg shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Copeland jr takes an elbow to the temple.
Copeland jr takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rugg with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Rugg has picked Copeland jr up - he's going for a ride! Rugg dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Rugg passes to side control.
Rugg misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Rugg is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Copeland jr is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rugg postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Copeland jr striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Rugg looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland jr pushes Rugg away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rugg gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rugg works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Copeland jr is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Copeland jr tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

Copeland jr has left one of his arms exposed and Rugg doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Copeland jr screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matt Rugg!