PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Travis Copeland (ranked 1987 p4p, 2498 weight class) and Doko Dokov (ranked 250 p4p, 305 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Copeland
vs
Dokov

175 cm
31
165
19 - 21 - 1

178 cm
32
170
13 - 25 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Travis Copeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Doko Dokov!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Copeland dives in and scores a takedown into Dokov's guard.
Dokov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dokov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Copeland trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dokov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Dokov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Copeland wants to improve his position but Dokov is controlling well.
Dokov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Copeland does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Copeland manages to get to full guard.

Copeland is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dokov wanted to stand there but Copeland had control of the position.
Dokov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dokov is working Copeland over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Copeland looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Copeland has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dokov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Copeland has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dokov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Dokov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Copeland throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Copeland working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dokov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dokov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dokov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dokov works over Copeland with some ground and pound from guard.
Dokov is looking to stand up but Copeland won't let him.
Dokov cracks Copeland with a solid left hand.
Dokov cracks Copeland with a solid left hand.

Dokov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Travis Copeland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dokov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dokov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Copeland swings wildly with an uppercut but Dokov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dokov tries a body shot but Copeland blocks it.
Copeland looking to stall.
Dokov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Copeland lands with a short shot to the head.
Copeland lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Doko Dokov has been cut.
Dokov prevents a body shot from Copeland.

Dokov jumps guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dokov wants to stand and escape but Copeland is having none of it.
Copeland is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at 3Band MMA that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Dokov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dokov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dokov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Dokov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Copeland advances to half guard.
Copeland wants to free his trapped foot but Dokov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Dokov is staying active underneath Copeland, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dokov punching from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dokov is trying to stand.
Dokov is trying to get back to full guard.
Dokov is trying to control but can't.

Copeland stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Copeland drives through and clinches with Dokov against the cage.
Dokov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Copeland smiles and moves away.
Dokov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dokov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dokov moves into range and clinches up with Copeland.

Dokov lands a takedown into guard.

Copeland throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dokov forces his way into half guard.

Copeland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Copeland manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Copeland wants to sweep here but Dokov controlling him for the moment.
Dokov is working Copeland over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Copeland is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dokov wants to get up but he can't break Copeland's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Doko Dokov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Doko Dokov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Copeland pushes Dokov up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Copeland.
Dokov misses with a punch on the inside.
Dokov is struggling to control the position.
Copeland misses with a hook to the ribs.
Copeland misses with some punches.
Dokov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Dokov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Copeland closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dokov is trying to force a seperation but Copeland has the dominant position.
Copeland avoiding damage.
Dokov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dokov misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland throws a punch but it's blocked by Dokov.
Dokov jumps guard but Copeland turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Copeland blocks an elbow strike from Dokov.
Dokov tries a body shot but Copeland blocks it.
Copeland lands a left hand.
Dokov tries to score a body lock takedown but Copeland shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Copeland tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Copeland misses with a hook from the clinch.

Dokov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Copeland fails with an attempt to clinch.
Copeland tries to clinch up.

Copeland gets tackled into the cage by Dokov. Dokov maintains the clinch.
Dokov has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Copeland seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Dokov can turn it around.
Travis Copeland has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Come on Copeland - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Dokov misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland has Dokov pressed against the cage.
Copeland effectively controlling the action here.
Copeland seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Dokov stalls.
Good body shot from Copeland.
Copeland controlling the action here for a moment.
Dokov prevents a body shot from Copeland.
A short uppercut from Dokov.

It looks like Travis Copeland has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland is stalling here.
Copeland pressing his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Travis Copeland.
Copeland tries to clinch there but Dokov circles away.
Dokov wants to clinch up but Copeland keeps it at a distance.
Dokov wants to clinch.
Copeland tries to clinch up but Dokov circles away and keeps his distance.
Copeland avoids a punch combination nicely.

Dokov gets tackled into the cage by Copeland. Copeland maintains the clinch.
Copeland tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Copeland misses with a punch on the inside.
Copeland misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland leaning against his opponent.
A right hand to the body from Dokov.
Copeland misses with a hook to the ribs.
Copeland misses with a short punch on the inside.
Copeland stalls.
Dokov being controlled against the cage.
Dokov blocks an uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Dokov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Copeland trying to stall but Dokov improves his position.
Copeland lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Copeland dominated that second round.
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 fails with an attempt to clinch.
Copeland is looking to clinch.
Dokov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Copeland is fending him off so far but Dokov persists. Nope, Copeland circles away and we're back to standing.
Dokov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Copeland swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dokov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Dokov misses with a takedown attempt
and Copeland cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Dokov clinches with his opponent.
Copeland is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Dokov tries to pull guard but Copeland forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Travis Copeland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Doko Dokov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short body shot lands from Copeland as the two fighters clinch.
Copeland scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dokov.
Dokov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Copeland fails to land.
A short uppercut from Copeland.
Dokov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Copeland just stands there and leans against the cage.
Copeland lands a nice uppercut.
Dokov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dokov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dokov prevents a body shot from Copeland.

Copeland successfully pulls guard.

Copeland looking for a guillotine here but Dokov defends easily.
Dokov wants to stand but Copeland is controlling his posture from full guard.
Copeland lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dokov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Copeland stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dokov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Copeland throws a strike but Dokov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Dokov tries to stand but Copeland is controlling from the bottom.
Dokov is in close to Copeland's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Copeland is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dokov defends well.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Dokov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Copeland, up you get!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Copeland gets through Dokov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Copeland tries to work over Dokov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Copeland.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland swings wildly with an uppercut but Dokov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Copeland pushes Dokov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Copeland manages to break the clinch.

Dokov takes the fight into the clinch.
Dokov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Copeland can't find room to land a body shot as Dokov controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dokov.

Dokov successfully pulls guard.
Dokov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Copeland looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland stopping the sweep attempt from Dokov.
Copeland stops Dokov from standing up.
Doko Dokov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Copeland stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Copeland uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dokov.
Dokov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Dokov forces Copeland back against the cage and clinches.
Copeland misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dokov has Copeland pressed against the cage.
Copeland will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dokov up against the cage.
Dokov throws an elbow but it misses.
A head punch on the inside from Dokov fails to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Travis Copeland.
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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Travis Copeland!
A relieved looking Travis Copeland thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.