PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salvatore Coppola (ranked 1026 p4p, 2190 weight class) and Tj Pen (ranked 149 p4p, 306 weight class). Coppola comes to the cage accompanied by Duality. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Tj Pen enters the cage!

Coppola
vs
Pen

201 cm
24
210
7 - 16 - 0

188 cm
27
190
12 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Salvatore Coppola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tj Pen!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pen stuffs the takedown.

Coppola looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Coppola moves nicely into side control.
Pen tries to improve position but can't.
Pen looks to move to half guard but instead Coppola has passed into mount! Damn!
Pen tries to hold on but Coppola pushes him away.

Coppola looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Pen tries to hold on but Coppola postures up.

Coppola working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Coppola wants to finish this one by submission but Pen is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Coppola.
Pen wants to control but Coppola is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Coppola has hold of Pen's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Pen manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Coppola is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Pen to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Pen shrugs it off.

Coppola looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Pen is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Coppola is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Pen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Coppola working for a submission but Pen is keeping him at bay.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Coppola avoids the attempt from Pen to control.
Pen working to try and regain half guard.

Coppola is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Pen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Coppola but Coppola pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Pen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pen jumps guard but Coppola turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Coppola tries for a takedown. No joy.
Pen 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 has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Pen uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Coppola working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Coppola seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Coppola escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Coppola is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Pen has his hands clasped together but Coppola extends and breaks Pen's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Coppola.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Salvatore Coppola!
Salvatore Coppola opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.