PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sonny Bill Williams (ranked 6256 p4p, 6597 weight class) and Salvatore Coppola (ranked 650 p4p, 668 weight class). Coppola comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Duality kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Williams
vs
Coppola

192 cm
18
205
0 - 1 - 0

201 cm
19
210
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

88 Fight Club Clothing & Laundry 20%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sonny Bill Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Salvatore Coppola!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Williams instigates a clinch.
Williams gets through Coppola's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Williams has picked Coppola up - he's going for a ride! Williams dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Coppola looking for subs from the bottom but Williams mounts him!
Coppola wants to hold on but Williams pushes him away.

Williams goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Coppola turns into him and now he's in Williams's guard.

Williams looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Williams on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Williams tries to get out of the position.

Coppola avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Coppola postures up and lands a big shot to Williams's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Williams had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Coppola defends it easily.
Coppola wants to control from the top but Williams keeps moving.
Williams looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Williams working for a triangle but Coppola defends it easily.
Coppola trying to control but Williams is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.

Williams looking for a guillotine here but Coppola defends easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Coppola passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Williams is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Williams wants to get back to his feet but Coppola drags him back down.
Williams wants to control but Coppola postures up.
Coppola trying to control the position but Williams is working away.
Williams prevents Coppola from improving position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coppola in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Coppola wants to control but Williams is keeping him busy.
Williams tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Williams struggling a bit here.
Coppola prevents Williams from escaping the position.

Coppola is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Williams knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Williams regains half guard.
Williams is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at 88Fight Club Gym88.. 700pw, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Williams is looking to control Coppola's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Williams avoid being mounted?
Williams is trying to stand.

Williams actively working from the bottom here.
Williams is refusing to be controlled, as Coppola sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Williams throws a jab when Coppola was well out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Williams has taken the fight to the clinch.

Williams has clasped his hands together around Coppola's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Coppola tries to bench press Williams off him but Williams keeps the position.

Williams decides to stand up, so the ref orders Coppola to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sonny Bill Williams will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A big right from Williams misses.
Coppola shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Williams as he avoids it easily.
Williams lands a head shot.

Williams darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Coppola pushes Williams off and gets back to his feet.
Coppola dives in and grabs Williams's left leg, looking for a takedown. Williams pushes down on Coppola's head and hops out.
Williams was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Williams cracks Coppola with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Williams throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Coppola tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Williams is in Coppola's guard.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Coppola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coppola wants to stand up but Williams is controlling him.

Coppola working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Williams doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Williams manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Coppola throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Williams drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Williams jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Williams stands and steps away. Coppola gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Coppola wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Williams drives through with a takedown into Coppola's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Coppola is working an open guard so Williams takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Coppola tries to keep at a distance but Williams has taken the fight into the clinch.
Coppola is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Coppola is looking to control Williams's arms but Williams gets an underhook and turns him. Now Coppola has his back to the cage.

Williams is trying to trip Coppola. He has hold of a leg but Coppola is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Williams persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Coppola wriggles free and stands up.

Williams scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Williams goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Coppola rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Williams's guard! Nice work there by Coppola!
Coppola wants to control from the top but Williams keeps moving.

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

Coppola instigates a clinch.
Williams lands with a right to the head.
Coppola is trying to maintain a safe position but Williams gets an underhook and turns Coppola into the cage.

Williams gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Williams looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Coppola is refusing to be controlled, as Williams sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams is thwarting Coppola's attempts to control the position.
Williams tries to pass to full mount but Coppola defends it.
Coppola wants to control but Williams is keeping busy.
Coppola is looking for a sweep. Williams is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Williams is looking for a kimura here.
Williams tries to pass to full mount but Coppola defends it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sonny Bill Williams 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. This is the final round!

Coppola has managed to clinch.

Coppola breaks from the clinch.
Coppola shoots in and drives through. Williams sprawls well.
Williams swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Williams just misses with a punch to the body.
Coppola throws a counter combo.
A nice combination there by Williams.
Williams ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Coppola moves away.

Williams is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Coppola's half guard.
Williams trying to mount his opponent but Coppola defends it.
Coppola pushes Williams off looking to stand but Williams dives back in and keeps control.

Williams is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Coppola doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Williams.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coppola wants to control but Williams is keeping busy.

Williams is trying to work for a kimura but Coppola is defending well.
Williams wants to free his trapped foot but Coppola is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Williams stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Coppola wants to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Williams.
Williams scores with a hook.
Coppola gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Williams lands a right hook to the body.
Coppola looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Coppola lands a head kick. Williams smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Sonny Bill Williams has been cut.
Coppola tries to clinch there but Williams circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coppola drops his hands momentarily and Williams takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Williams swings for the body but Coppola moves out of range.
Coppola drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Williams defends it well.
Coppola shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Williams but Williams pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sonny Bill Williams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Williams darts in and clinches Coppola up against the cage.

Coppola breaks the clinch.
Williams works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Coppola tries to clinch up but Williams circles away and keeps his distance.

Coppola tries to keep at a distance but Williams has taken the fight into the clinch.

Williams is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Coppola can't fight it off and eventually Williams manages to take the fight to the floor. Coppola looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Coppola wriggles free and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sonny Bill Williams is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williams is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Coppola.
Coppola changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Williams throws a series of punches but Coppola avoids them all with ease.

Coppola gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Coppola throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Salvatore Coppola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Coppola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Williams gets to his feet. Coppola looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Williams smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sonny Bill Williams is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Williams scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sonny Bill Williams showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Williams, 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sonny Bill Williams!