PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salvatore Coppola (ranked 3716 p4p, 4734 weight class) and Jack Reaper (ranked 443 p4p, 524 weight class). Coppola kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Duality. 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.

Coppola
vs
Reaper

201 cm
21
210
2 - 8 - 0

178 cm
20
207
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

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 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Salvatore Coppola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Reaper!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coppola is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reaper sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Reaper tries to counter by closing the distance.
Reaper slips a straight right by Coppola.
Reaper looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Coppola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reaper swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Coppola blocks a head kick by Reaper.
Reaper pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Coppola fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've been informed that Reaper has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Reaper misses the shot to the body.
Coppola throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Reaper counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Reaper.
Reaper fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Reaper misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reaper tries a body shot but Coppola blocks it.
Coppola looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Reaper throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Coppola blocks it with crossed arms.
Coppola is trying to push Reaper away but Reaper has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A head punch on the inside from Reaper fails to land.
Coppola blocks an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper blocks an uppercut.
Reaper misses with the head strike.
Coppola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Coppola wants to get back to striking at distance but Reaper won't allow it.
Reaper tries a body shot but Coppola blocks it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Reaper lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Salvatore Coppola has been cut.
Coppola tries to pull guard but Reaper forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salvatore Coppola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reaper tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Coppola avoids it.
Coppola definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Coppola is trying to pull guard but Reaper has him pressed against the cage.
Reaper tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Coppola avoids it.
Coppola is trying to pull guard but Reaper turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Reaper tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Coppola's elbow.
Reaper stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Reaper scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Coppola on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reaper trying to land knees to the body.
Reaper is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Coppola is defending well for now.
Coppola is trying to break the clinch but Reaper is controlling him.
Reaper lands a body shot in the clinch.
Coppola has a couple of punches blocked by Reaper.
Reaper blocking some punches.
Stalling in the clinch from Reaper.
Coppola stops a takedown attempt from Reaper.
Reaper with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Coppola misses with a short punch on the inside.
Reaper throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Coppola looking to stall.
Coppola tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Coppola throws a punch but it's blocked by Reaper.
Coppola wants to break free but Reaper has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Coppola gets control of Reaper's arms and successfully pulls guard. Coppola will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Coppola working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Reaper.
Reaper content to stall in guard here.
It looks like Reaper might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Reaper with a flurry of punches that miss.

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.
Coppola wants to stand and escape but Reaper is having none of it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Coppola keeping full guard, as Reaper tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Reaper has taken the fight to the clinch.
Reaper using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Coppola has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Coppola misses with some punches.
Reaper tries to land knees in the clinch but Coppola avoids the damage to the body.
Reaper throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Coppola breaks from the clinch.
Coppola slaps away a takedown attempt from Reaper, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Coppola ducks under a wild hook from Reaper.
Coppola tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Reaper manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Reaper dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Salvatore Coppola's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Coppola fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Salvatore Coppola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Coppola throws a sloppy head kick and Reaper moves out of range easily.
Coppola will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Reaper is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Coppola lands with a hook. Reaper tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Reaper slaps away a takedown attempt from Coppola, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Coppola takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Reaper showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Coppola.
Coppola ducks under a wild hook from Reaper.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reaper lands a right hook to the body.
Coppola blocks a head kick by Reaper.
Coppola throws a head kick that misses.
Coppola blocks a head kick by Reaper.
Reaper looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Coppola shoots in for a double leg but Reaper sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Reaper wants to counter with a clinch but Coppola pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coppola takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A low kick from Coppola misses

so Reaper counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reaper throws a big right hand that misses.
Reaper's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Reaper passes into half guard.
Reaper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Reaper throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Reaper looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Reaper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reaper working Coppola over with strikes.
Reaper controlling the action here.
Coppola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Reaper.
Coppola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Reaper.
Reaper thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Coppola's head.
Reaper slips a nice elbow through Coppola's hands, connecting with Coppola's forehead.
Coppola is looking for a sweep. Reaper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Reaper throwing shots but Coppola is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reaper looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Reaper has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Coppola pushes Reaper off looking to stand but Reaper dives back in and keeps control.
Reaper seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Coppola throws a left and a right that both miss

and Reaper counters by clinching up.
Coppola misses with a punch on the inside.
Coppola on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Reaper.
Reaper lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Coppola gets underhooks to prevent Reaper's takedown attempt.
Reaper pushes Coppola back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Reaper stops a takedown attempt from Coppola.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salvatore Coppola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reaper blocks an uppercut.
Reaper throws a punch but it's blocked by Coppola.
Jack Reaper seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coppola stalling in the clinch but Reaper improves position.
Coppola blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Coppola has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Reaper after a bit of a struggle.
Coppola working hard to break the clinch.
Coppola wants to get back to striking at distance but Reaper won't allow it.
Reaper misses with a hook to the ribs.
Reaper misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Coppola.
Coppola misses with a hook from the clinch.
Coppola drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Reaper gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Reaper drops Coppola with a big knee straight up the middle! Coppola is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Coppola is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
BAM! Reaper delivers a spinning backfist that drops Coppola like a ragdoll! This is all oooooveeeer! He was out before he hit the ground!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Spinning Backfist). Jack Reaper!