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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Rusev (ranked 2596 p4p, 4020 weight class) and Salvatore Coppola (ranked 328 p4p, 493 weight class). Coppola has chosen Duality as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Alexander Rusev has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Alexander Rusev seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?
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| 189 cm
23
223
7 - 3 - 0 |
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201 cm
23
210
4 - 15 - 0 |
BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful |
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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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Rusev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Salvatore Coppola!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rusev throws a good cross that connects.
Rusev lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rusev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Coppola circles away.
Alexander Rusev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rusev connects with a nice looking jab.
Coppola takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rusev lands with a hook. Coppola tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rusev fails with a takedown attempt.
Rusev punishes Coppola's body with a nice straight punch.
Rusev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Coppola.
No joy there for Rusev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev looks to throw the jab but Coppola is out of range.
Coppola drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rusev defends it well.
Rusev avoids the head kick by Coppola.
Rusev lands with a hook. Coppola tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rusev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Rusev connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Coppola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rusev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rusev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Coppola.
Coppola is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Rusev throws a jab but it's blocked by Coppola.
A slow jab from Rusev misses its intended target.
Coppola uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rusev.
Rusev fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Coppola sprawls well initially but Rusev persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coppola is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rusev pulls his head out easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rusev passes to side control.
Rusev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Coppola is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rusev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Coppola knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Coppola wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rusev thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Coppola tries to improve position but can't.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Coppola tries to escape but Rusev is in control.
Coppola is not content to let Rusev control the position.
Rusev has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Rusev controlling his opponent.
Coppola is squirming around, avoiding Rusev's attempts to control the action.
Rusev controlling from mount.
Coppola sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rusev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rusev is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Coppola sees it coming and defends easily.
Rusev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Coppola does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rusev trying to mount his opponent but Coppola defends it.
Coppola is not content to let Rusev control the position.
Rusev wants to pass the guard but Coppola is defending well.
Coppola looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rusev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Coppola defends it well.
Rusev moves into full mount! Coppola won't be happy about that!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Alexander Rusev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Coppola decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rusev regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rusev trying to control the position here.
Coppola wants to control from the top but Rusev keeps moving.
Rusev working for a triangle but Coppola defends it easily.
Rusev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Coppola gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coppola trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Coppola drops back looking for a leg! Rusev is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rusev manages to kick Coppola off! Coppola jumps back into Rusev's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rusev is on top in guard.
Rusev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Coppola has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rusev has managed to get both his arms back between Coppola's legs - danger averted.
Rusev stays in close to Coppola's body and controls the position.
Rusev forces his way into half guard.
Rusev is pressing down on Coppola's thigh, looking to free his foot. Coppola is holding on for now.
Coppola is looking to improve his position.
Coppola looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Coppola defends it well.
Rusev works his foot free and advances to mount.
Coppola regains half guard.
Rusev uses his free foot to push down on Coppola's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Coppola.
Coppola is looking to get to half guard.
Alexander Rusev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rusev tries to control but Coppola wriggling away.
Rusev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rusev trying to control but Coppola is having none of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coppola really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Coppola tries to hold on but Rusev postures up.
Coppola is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Rusev locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Coppola is forced to tap!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alexander Rusev!
Alexander Rusev seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
44% |
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