PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Copeland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Belfort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belfort has chosen Jesus Te Ama as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Copeland
vs
Belfort

180 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

CROWN
ENDLESS 152

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Copeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vitor Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Copeland with that takedown attempt.
Copeland looks to land a combination. Belfort sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Copeland uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Belfort.
Copeland fails with the takedown.
Belfort avoids the head kick by Copeland.
Copeland wants to clinch.
Copeland has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Copeland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big left from Belfort misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belfort swivels and escapes.
A slow jab from Belfort misses its intended target.
Copeland shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Belfort but Belfort pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Copeland.
Copeland throws a sloppy head kick and Belfort moves out of range easily.
Belfort throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Copeland sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Belfort stuffs the takedown attempt from Copeland. Copeland gets slowly back to his feet.
Belfort circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Copeland closes the distance and clinches up with Belfort, looking for a takedown. Copeland pushes Belfort against the cage but Belfort circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Copeland throws a nice looking combination but Belfort bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Copeland lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Belfort misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Copeland displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Vitor Belfort has been cut.
Copeland fails with an attempt to clinch.
Belfort keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Belfort throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Copeland sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland tries to close the distance and clinch up but Belfort swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Copeland fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Belfort manages to avoid it.
Belfort needs to keep his hands up - Copeland had a free shot at his head there.
Belfort misses with a jab, cross combination.
Belfort misses with a series of wild punches.

Copeland scores a takedown into full mount!
Belfort is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Belfort tries to buck Copeland off but Copeland takes his back!
Copeland wants to control but Belfort is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Belfort is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Belfort is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Belfort prevents Copeland from getting a body triangle.
Copeland biding his time, looking for the opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Copeland throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Belfort is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Copeland slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Copeland patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Copeland throwing sloppy strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Copeland dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vitor Belfort'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.

Belfort stuffs the takedown attempt from Copeland. Copeland gets slowly back to his feet.
Belfort stuffs the takedown.
Belfort connects with a nice looking jab.
Copeland fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Copeland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Copeland fails in his attempt to clinch.
Copeland misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belfort keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The fighters circling - Belfort throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Copeland shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Belfort as he avoids it easily.
Copeland shoots for a takedown but Belfort saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Copeland fails in his attempt to clinch.
Copeland shoots in and drives through. Belfort sprawls well.
Copeland tries to clinch up.
Belfort throws a jab but it's blocked by Copeland.
Copeland tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland closes this distance looking for a takedown but Belfort circles away.
Copeland bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Copeland throws a half hearted mid kick.
Belfort blocks a head kick by Copeland.
Copeland fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Belfort misses the target.
Belfort throws a hook but Copeland blocks it.
Johnny Copeland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Copeland doesn't manage to clinch there - Belfort circles away.
Copeland throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Belfort stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland tries to clinch up.
Belfort looks to land a right hand but Copeland moved out of range.
Copeland moves out of range of the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Copeland looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Copeland looks for the body kick but Belfort saw that one coming.
Belfort scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Johnny Copeland has been cut.
Copeland misses with the combination.
Copeland shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belfort keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Copeland moves in looking to clinch but Belfort pushes him off.
Copeland looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Copeland blocks a jab.
Copeland ducks under a wild hook from Belfort.
Copeland fails with an attempt to clinch.
Copeland misses with a low kick.
Johnny Copeland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Copeland slips a straight right by Belfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Belfort showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. This is the final round!

Copeland tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Belfort paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Copeland moves out of range as Belfort strikes.
Copeland tries to clinch there but Belfort circles away.
Copeland fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Copeland shoots in and drives through. Belfort sprawls well.
Copeland throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Copeland misses with a takedown attempt - Belfort sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Copeland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Copeland takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland shoots in for a takedown but Belfort shows good takedown defense.

Copeland closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Copeland lands in his opponent's guard.
Belfort wants to get back to his feet but Copeland is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Copeland gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Belfort misses with an uppercut. Copeland saw that one coming.
Vitor Belfort is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Copeland wants to clinch.
Copeland throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Belfort's waist but Belfort gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Copeland off to one side.

Copeland drives through with a takedown into guard.
Belfort is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Copeland wants to control from the top but Belfort keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland stops Belfort from standing up.
Copeland advances position into side control!
Copeland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belfort keeps working.

Copeland working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Copeland looks for a takedown but Belfort sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Copeland just misses with a punch to the body.
Belfort swats away the attempt to clinch by Copeland.
Copeland throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Belfort misses with an uppercut.
Belfort stuffs the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Copeland showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Copeland 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Copeland!