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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cole Steel (ranked 527 p4p, 2577 weight class) and Salvatore Coppola (ranked 19 p4p, 293 weight class). Coppola has chosen Duality as his entrance music. 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.
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| 193 cm
24
218
8 - 4 - 1 |
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201 cm
32
210
16 - 34 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank |
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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 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Cole Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 34 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Salvatore Coppola!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel scores with a nice right hand.
Steel connects with a single shot there.
A left lands for Steel.
Steel misses the jab.
Steel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cole Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Coppola feints and as Steel raises his hands in defense, Coppola changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Coppola avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Coppola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Coppola wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.
Coppola passes into half guard.
Coppola prevents Steel from improving his position.
Steel has his hands clasped together around Coppola's back. He's all about the action.
Steel moves into full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Coppola trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steel 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.
Steel is trying to keep Coppola in close.
Coppola stopping the sweep attempt from Steel.
Coppola slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Steel gets back to half guard.
Coppola is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Steel defends it well.
Coppola is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Coppola trying to control the action but Steel is working from the bottom.
Steel looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel tries to roll over but Coppola keeps him under control.
Steel gets full guard.
Steel pulls Coppola in to control the position.
Coppola in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel controls Coppola momentarily but Coppola frees himself.
Coppola drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Coppola jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Steel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Coppola wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.
Steel looking for a sweep. Not yet Steel, not yet.
Coppola is looking to work some ground and pound but Steel has wrist control.
Coppola 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.
Steel 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.
Coppola wants to stand but Steel is controlling his posture from full guard.
Steel wants to sweep here but Coppola controlling him for the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel is working hard here to advance position.
Coppola wants to pass the guard but Steel is keeping the position.
Steel is adopting a defensive guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Coppola preventing the sweep.
Steel is looking for a triangle but Coppola pushes his legs off easily.
Coppola stopping the sweep attempt from Steel.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Coppola can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Coppola trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Cole Steel dominated that round.
That's time! Steel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Steel lands a really nice looking cross but Coppola seems unphased.
Steel gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Steel lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Coppola tries to strike from the bottom.
Steel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Coppola's head.
Steel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Coppola's head.
Steel chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Steel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Steel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Coppola can do to turn this around?
Steel is in close to Coppola's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Steel stays in close to Coppola's body and controls the position.
Coppola working a defensive guard here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel works over Coppola with some ground and pound from guard.
Steel postures up and lands a big shot to Coppola's brow.
Steel lands a couple of digs.
Steel drops back looking for a leg! Coppola is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Coppola manages to kick Steel off! Steel jumps back into Coppola's guard.
Steel wants to pass the guard but Coppola is keeping the position.
Steel looking to sit in guard and control but Coppola gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Steel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coppola advances to half guard.
Steel makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Steel.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Coppola from controlling successfully.
Coppola passes into half guard.
Coppola thows a huge punch but Steel dodges it nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Steel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Steel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Coppola defends well.
Steel looking to control.
Steel seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel has a closed guard, preventing Coppola from standing up.
Steel has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Coppola has passed into side control.
Cole Steel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Coppola looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Steel is avoiding damage well.
Coppola tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Coppola has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Steel manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Steel is looking for a sweep. Coppola is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Steel is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Steel trying to control here.
Steel tries to roll over but Coppola keeps him under control.
Steel trying to control but Coppola postures up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel is trying to get back to full guard.
Steel is trying to control but can't.
Coppola is working for a submission of some sort.
Steel tries to roll over but Coppola keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steel is positioning himself well to prevent Coppola advancing to mount.
Coppola prevents Steel from improving his position.
Steel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Coppola.
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 Cole Steel will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Steel lands a nice looking body shot.
Coppola bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Coppola wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Steel, who protects the arm well.
Steel is working to avoid the ground and pound but Coppola connects with a decent elbow.
Steel manages to get back to half guard.
Steel wants to improve his position but Coppola is controlling well.
Steel trying to control but Coppola postures up.
Coppola is pressing down on Steel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Steel is holding on for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel regains full guard. Nicely done.
Coppola preventing the sweep.
Coppola got a little sloppy there for a moment and Steel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Coppola has managed to get both his arms back between Steel's legs - danger averted.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel controlling Coppola's posture.
Steel has his foot on Coppola's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Coppola works his way back into a safe position though.
Coppola trying to control but Steel is working from the bottom.
Coppola with a nice head shot there.
Steel is looking for a triangle but Coppola pushes his legs off easily.
Steel has his foot on Coppola's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Coppola works his way back into a safe position though.
Steel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Coppola trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steel seems keen to control Coppola's posture.
Steel 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.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coppola tries to free his leg and advance position but Steel is retaining full guard.
Steel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Coppola defends it easily.
Steel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Coppola doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Coppola manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Steel 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steel is controlling Coppola's posture.
Steel lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel distracts Coppola with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Steel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Coppola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Coppola working a defensive guard here.
Coppola keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
Steel is looking to pass into half guard but Coppola pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Coppola is in guard.
Steel has a closed guard, preventing Coppola from standing up.
Coppola throws a big elbow that misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coppola throwing strikes from guard but Steel blocks nicely.
Steel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Coppola is one step ahead there.
Coppola trying to control the position from guard on top but Steel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steel has control of Coppola's left arm, preventing Coppola from doing any damage.
Steel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Coppola postures up.
Steel lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Salvatore Coppola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cole Steel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Coppola is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Steel defends well.
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 Cole Steel.
Well Steel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cole Steel!
Cole Steel decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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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
32% |
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