|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salvatore Coppola (ranked 2131 p4p, 2594 weight class) and Abdullah Zaire (ranked 287 p4p, 339 weight class). Coppola's entrance music is Duality. A fine choice. Salvatore Coppola has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.
 |
|
 |
| 201 cm
33
210
17 - 36 - 0 |
|
180 cm
38
215
24 - 18 - 0 |
Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine |
|
Excellent grappler
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful |
|
| |
|
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 17 - 36 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Salvatore Coppola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abdullah Zaire!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coppola lands a head kick. Zaire smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Zaire has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Coppola.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Coppola scores with a knee to the head.
Coppola lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zaire gets control of Coppola's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zaire will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Coppola has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zaire is proving hard to escape from.
Zaire 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.
Zaire is trying to control the position but Coppola postures up.
Zaire looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Coppola chips away with some ground and pound.
Coppola pushes down on Zaire's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Coppola seems to be looking for submissions.
Zaire wants to improve his position but Coppola is controlling well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Coppola is looking for a kimura but Zaire is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Coppola to get the leverage.
Coppola is controlling the pace.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zaire manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zaire keeping full guard, as Coppola tries to pass.
Zaire looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zaire wants to sweep but no luck.
Coppola will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zaire is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zaire is trying to control the position but Coppola postures up.
Coppola stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zaire swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Coppola trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Coppola cracks Zaire with a solid left hand.
Coppola wants to control from the top but Zaire keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zaire is looking for a triangle but Coppola pushes his legs off easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Coppola slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Coppola has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Coppola trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Coppola postures up.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Coppola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice body kick from Coppola.
Zaire misses with an uppercut. Coppola saw that one coming.
Coppola changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Coppola connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A head kick misses from Coppola.
A head kick misses from Coppola.
Salvatore Coppola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zaire blocks a head kick by Coppola.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coppola throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Coppola throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Coppola explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Zaire fails to land the takedown.
Coppola drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zaire sprawls and moves away.
Zaire looks winded!
Coppola throws a head kick but Zaire moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaire moves in looking to clinch but Coppola pushes him off.
Coppola throws a lazy head kick
and Zaire counters with a stiff right hand.
Coppola drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Coppola working the head with strikes.
Coppola scores with punches from side control.
Coppola is trying to get an arm triangle but Zaire is defending well.
Coppola landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Salvatore Coppola dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Zaire shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Coppola manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Zaire throwing strikes from guard but Coppola blocks nicely.
Coppola bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zaire's guard.
Coppola postures up.
Zaire looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Coppola is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Coppola's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Coppola avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Coppola trying to control but Zaire is working from the bottom.
Coppola working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zaire's head.
Coppola wants to stand and escape but instead Zaire has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Zaire with a flurry of punches that miss.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coppola avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Salvatore Coppola overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Coppola trying to control the position.
Zaire wants to control from the top but Coppola keeps moving.
Zaire keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Coppola's head.
Coppola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Coppola is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zaire defends well.
Coppola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Coppola working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zaire.
Coppola is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Zaire trying to control the position from guard on top but Coppola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Coppola avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Coppola doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Zaire throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Coppola 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.
Coppola is adopting a defensive guard.
Coppola utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Coppola looking to control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zaire stopping the sweep attempt from Coppola.
Zaire postures up in Coppola's guard and throws a big left but Coppola blocks it.
Coppola keeping full guard, as Zaire tries to pass.
Zaire throws a strike but Coppola rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Zaire 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.
Zaire has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zaire looking for a guillotine here but Coppola defends easily.
Coppola looking to pass the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Abdullah Zaire showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Coppola tries to land a leg kick but Zaire saw it coming and moves away.
Coppola tries to clinch up but Zaire circles away and keeps his distance.
A little jabbing left from Zaire on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Coppola throws a sloppy head kick and Zaire moves out of range easily.
Coppola scores with a head kick. Zaire tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Zaire on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Coppola avoids the body shot from Zaire.
Coppola throws a body kick that misses.
Zaire gets caught napping as Coppola dives in and scores a takedown. Zaire manages to retain guard.
Coppola trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zaire looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Coppola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zaire keeping full guard, as Coppola tries to pass.
Zaire looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire keeping moving, preventing Coppola from controlling successfully.
Coppola stopping the sweep attempt from Zaire.
Zaire is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Coppola is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zaire not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Coppola wants to improve his position but Zaire is controlling well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coppola is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zaire scores with a couple of nice shots.
Zaire looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Zaire seems to be working for a kimura but Coppola defends the submission attempt.
Coppola wants to control but Zaire is keeping busy.
Coppola is not content to let Zaire control the position.
Zaire is thwarting Coppola's attempts to control the position.
Coppola is looking to improve his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire working the head and body with strikes.
Coppola gets back to full guard.
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 has his foot on Zaire's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zaire works his way back into a safe position though.
Zaire trying to control but Coppola is working from the bottom.
Coppola trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Coppola looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zaire is one step ahead there.
Zaire trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zaire lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coppola is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zaire defends well.
Coppola is looking to stand up but Zaire isn't so interested in that idea.
Coppola is trying to keep Zaire in close.
Coppola is looking to stand up but Zaire isn't so interested in that idea.
Zaire working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zaire trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Coppola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Coppola is trying to keep Zaire in close.
Zaire slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
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 Salvatore Coppola.
Well Coppola 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 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Salvatore Coppola!
Salvatore Coppola made sure to mention his sponsor, Shadow Realm Apparel in his post fight interview.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
34% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
