PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edgar Avetisyan (ranked 2142 p4p, 3851 weight class) and Travis Copeland (ranked 296 p4p, 452 weight class). Travis Copeland told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Avetisyan
vs
Copeland

182 cm
30
169
19 - 14 - 1

175 cm
27
165
13 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Edgar Avetisyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Travis Copeland!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Copeland tries to close the distance and clinch up but Avetisyan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Avetisyan half committed to a counter leg kick.

Copeland gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Avetisyan avoids the elbow strike from Copeland, against the cage.
Copeland throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Avetisyan blocks it with crossed arms.

Avetisyan manages to break the clinch.
Copeland is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Avetisyan.
Avetisyan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Copeland tries to clinch up.
Avetisyan has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Avetisyan there as he acknowledges the shot.
Copeland tries to clinch up but Avetisyan circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Copeland looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Avetisyan throws a counter high kick but Copeland was just alert enough to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Copeland steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Avetisyan.
Copeland scores with a jab to the body.
Copeland looks to throw the jab but Avetisyan is out of range.
Avetisyan takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Copeland has Avetisyan up against the cage in a clinch.
Avetisyan can't break the clinch.
Avetisyan working hard to break the clinch.
Avetisyan has had enough of the clinch but Copeland keeps him there for the moment.
Copeland scores a nice knee to the body.
Avetisyan takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Edgar Avetisyan has been cut.
Avetisyan avoids a wild elbow strike from Copeland.

Avetisyan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Copeland moves in looking to clinch but Avetisyan pushes him off.
Avetisyan swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Copeland closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Avetisyan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Avetisyan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Copeland lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Copeland throws a right hand that Avetisyan ducks under and follows up with a left that Avetisyan also avoids with ease.

Copeland moves into the clinch.

Avetisyan manages to break the clinch.
Copeland lands with a hook. Avetisyan tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 throws a combination. Avetisyan tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Copeland throws the left hand but Avetisyan avoids the punch easily.
Copeland tries to clinch up but Avetisyan circles away and keeps his distance.
Copeland looks to land a right hand but Avetisyan moved out of range.
Copeland tries to clinch there but Avetisyan circles away.

Copeland gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Copeland missing with knees to the body.
Copeland misses with an elbow strike.
Avetisyan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Copeland throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Copeland throws an elbow that misses.
Copeland utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Avetisyan avoids the elbow strike from Copeland, against the cage.
Copeland with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Copeland trying to land knees to the body.
Avetisyan is trying to break the clinch but Copeland has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland slows down the pace here.
Copeland prevents Avetisyan from breaking the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Copeland just misses with a elbow thrown towards Avetisyan's brow.
Copeland utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Copeland throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Avetisyan definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Avetisyan takes an elbow to the forehead.
Copeland misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Avetisyan.
Copeland throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Avetisyan blocks it with crossed arms.
Copeland throws an elbow that misses.
Avetisyan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Copeland smiles and moves away.

Copeland forces Avetisyan back against the cage and clinches.
Copeland creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avetisyan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Avetisyan is trying to force a seperation but Copeland has the dominant position.
Avetisyan is looking to break free of the clinch but Copeland has double underhooks.

Avetisyan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Copeland lunges at Avetisyan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Avetisyan's hand.
Copeland throws a looping overhand right but Avetisyan ducks down to avoid it.
Avetisyan walks into a stiff left hand from Copeland.

Copeland rushes Avetisyan and presses him up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Copeland is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Avetisyan is trying to break free.
Avetisyan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Copeland has Avetisyan pressed against the cage.
Avetisyan blocks an elbow strike.
Avetisyan blocks an elbow strike from Copeland.

Avetisyan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Copeland dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Edgar Avetisyan's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Avetisyan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Copeland darts in and clinches Avetisyan up against the cage.
Avetisyan avoids the elbow strike from Copeland, against the cage.
Avetisyan is trying to break the clinch but Copeland is controlling him.
Copeland misses with an elbow strike.
Copeland misses with a knee strike.
Copeland digs a right hand into Avetisyan's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Avetisyan's gas tank.
Copeland has Avetisyan pressed against the cage, preventing Avetisyan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Avetisyan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Copeland tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Avetisyan breaks from the clinch.

Copeland gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Avetisyan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Copeland lands a damaging elbow.
Copeland lands an elbow just above Avetisyan 's eye.
Avetisyan blocks an elbow strike from Copeland.
Copeland has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Copeland trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland throws an elbow but it misses.
Copeland keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Avetisyan's efforts to push away.
Avetisyan dodges an elbow strike from Copeland.
Avetisyan is trying to break free.
Avetisyan takes an elbow to the temple.

Edgar Avetisyan's cut is getting worse.
With the fighters up against the cage, Copeland throws an elbow but misses.

Avetisyan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Avetisyan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Copeland rushes Avetisyan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Avetisyan wants to break the clinch but can't.

Avetisyan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Avetisyan misses with a hook
and Copeland cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Copeland has closed the distance and engaged Avetisyan in a clinch.
Travis Copeland seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Avetisyan is trying to push Copeland away but Copeland has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Avetisyan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Avetisyan is trying to break free.
Avetisyan can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Copeland throws an elbow but misses.
Copeland missing with knees to the body.
Copeland is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Avetisyan tries to circle away but Copeland has him pinned against the cage.

Avetisyan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Copeland tries to clinch but Avetisyan is having none of it.
Copeland steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Avetisyan.

Copeland takes the fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Copeland is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Avetisyan is defending well for now.
Avetisyan tries to pull guard but Copeland forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Avetisyan tries to pull guard but Copeland won't allow it.
Avetisyan tries to circle away but Copeland has him pinned against the cage.
Copeland is struggling to control the position.
Copeland content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Copeland just misses with a elbow thrown towards Avetisyan's brow.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Avetisyan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Avetisyan is trying to force a seperation but Copeland has the dominant position.
Copeland lands a damaging elbow.
Copeland looking to slow down the pace here.
Copeland gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Avetisyan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Copeland lands an elbow that stopped Avetisyan in his tracks for a moment.

Edgar Avetisyan's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Copeland tries to land a knee to the head but Avetisyan blocks with his arms.

Avetisyan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Copeland misses with a looping left.

Copeland has managed to clinch.
Copeland with a knee to the head.

Avetisyan is rocked!

Jeez, Edgar Avetisyan's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Avetisyan is trying to break free.
Oh Avetisyan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Avetisyan breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avetisyan goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Travis Copeland seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Copeland throws a series of strikes that have Avetisyan backpedaling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A left and a right from Copeland both land. Nice combination.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Edgar Avetisyan's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Travis Copeland!
A victorious Travis Copeland thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.