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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Cope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janusz Niekonieczny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cope's entrance music is I Against I. A fine choice. Niekonieczny is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Metallica - Ride The Lightning. Mike Cope has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.
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| 176 cm
26
148 lbs
15 - 3 - 0 |
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164 cm
26
148 lbs
11 - 3 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
15 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Cope!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Janusz Niekonieczny!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niekonieczny misses with a body kick.
Niekonieczny throws a hook but Cope avoids it easily.
Cope tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cope misses with a wild combination.
Niekonieczny catches Cope with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Cope with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Niekonieczny throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cope just misses with a punch to the body.
Cope connects with a right hand. Niekonieczny shakes it off.
Cope looks to score with a jab to the body but Niekonieczny is just out of range.
Cope uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Niekonieczny.
Niekonieczny moves forwards but Cope connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A head kick misses from Cope.
Niekonieczny misses the shot to the body.
Cope checks a leg kick nicely.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cope scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Niekonieczny doesn't seem bothered though.
Cope misses with a few strikes there.
Niekonieczny moves out of range of the leg kick from Cope.
Niekonieczny scoring well with a low kick there.
Cope throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Niekonieczny gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Niekonieczny uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cope.
Niekonieczny closes the distance and clinches up with Cope, looking for a takedown. Niekonieczny pushes Cope against the cage but Cope circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Niekonieczny tries to land a front kick but Cope steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cope will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cope misses with a body shot.
Niekonieczny slips under a jab from Cope.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cope thows a body shot but no joy.
Cope moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Niekonieczny throws a low kick but Cope moves out of range easily.
Niekonieczny stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Niekonieczny wants it to stay on the feet.
No luck for Cope with that takedown attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Excellent takedown into side control there by Cope.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
You can see the frustration on Niekonieczny's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cope is looking to take a break and control but Niekonieczny is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Niekonieczny manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Niekonieczny moves into full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny is trying to control the position but Cope postures up.
Niekonieczny throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Niekonieczny throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Niekonieczny keeping moving, preventing Cope from controlling successfully.
Niekonieczny wants to sweep but no luck.
Niekonieczny preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cope throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cope won't allow Niekonieczny to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Niekonieczny is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cope trying to control the position from guard on top but Niekonieczny is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cope postures up in Niekonieczny's guard and throws a big left but Niekonieczny blocks it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny 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.
Cope has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cope trying to control but Niekonieczny is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Niekonieczny working for a triangle but Cope defends it easily.
Niekonieczny throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cope pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Niekonieczny is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Mike Cope dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Niekonieczny throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cope sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cope thows a body shot but no joy.
Cope comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cope bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Niekonieczny's head.
Cope missing with a left hand there. Niekonieczny was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cope dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Niekonieczny. That did some damage!
Cope is looking to wear down Niekonieczny with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cope throws a leg kick that misses.
Mike Cope is winning the standup battle so far.
Cope pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cope lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Niekonieczny circles away quickly and effectively.
Cope misses the shot to the body.
Niekonieczny avoids the head kick by Cope.
Cope moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cope misses with a straight right.
Niekonieczny misses with a body shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Niekonieczny.
Cope misses with an uppercut. Niekonieczny saw that one coming.
Cope motions for Niekonieczny to come forward. Cope throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Niekonieczny blocks a jab.
Niekonieczny staying out of range there.
Cope looks to land a combination. Niekonieczny sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Niekonieczny misses with a low kick.
Cope checks a leg kick.
Cope swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Niekonieczny counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Niekonieczny lands with an overhand left.
Cope uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Niekonieczny.
Niekonieczny with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cope blocks the body kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny scores with a hook to the body. Cope takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cope takes a swing at Niekonieczny's ribcage but misses.
Cope scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Cope turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cope walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Niekonieczny swings for the body but Cope moves out of range.
Niekonieczny shoots in looking for a takedown. Cope tries to sprawl out of it but Niekonieczny keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cope manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cope throws a push kick but Niekonieczny slaps the foot to one side.
Cope stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cope throws the left hand but Niekonieczny avoids the punch easily.
Niekonieczny throws a body kick that misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cope bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Niekonieczny's head.
Cope fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Niekonieczny checks it well.
Cope fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Niekonieczny to the ground. Cope is now in Niekonieczny's guard.
Cope stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Niekonieczny swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Niekonieczny not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cope working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Niekonieczny has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Cope has passed into side control.
Cope wants to lay and pray for a moment but Niekonieczny keeps working.
Cope connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Niekonieczny some visible discomfort.
Cope creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cope is looking to advance position but Niekonieczny won't allow it.
Niekonieczny wants to get back to full guard.
Cope is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Niekonieczny taking some punishment here, with Cope in his half guard.
Niekonieczny is trying to maintain the position but Cope is very close to passing his half guard.
Niekonieczny is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cope drops an elbow to the side of Niekonieczny's head.
Cope takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Mike Cope dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
That kick from Niekonieczny tenderised Cope's leg. Cope is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cope jabs Niekonieczny to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Niekonieczny throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Cope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cope.
Niekonieczny checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cope buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Niekonieczny cracks the inside of Cope's front leg.
Cope shoots in looking for a takedown but Niekonieczny manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cope's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Niekonieczny turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Cope throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cope swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Niekonieczny takes a swing at Cope's ribcage but misses.
Cope lands a body shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cope shoots in for a takedown but Niekonieczny shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cope swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Niekonieczny ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Niekonieczny lands a jab to the head.
Cope scores with a leg kick.
Cope avoids a kick to the body.
Cope is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Cope takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mike Cope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Niekonieczny swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Niekonieczny closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cope circles away.
Niekonieczny misses with a hook. Cope ducked under it nicely.
No joy there for Cope, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cope lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Niekonieczny misses with a hook.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny lets loose with a powerful body kick. Cope will feel that in the morning.
Cope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An inside leg kick from Niekonieczny misses.
Niekonieczny slips a jab from Cope.
Cope takes a swing at Niekonieczny's ribcage but misses.
Cope throws a series of punches but Niekonieczny moves out of range.
Niekonieczny bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Niekonieczny will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Niekonieczny displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cope.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Cope. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cope throws a body punch but Niekonieczny moves out of range.
Cope just misses with a punch to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cope checks a low kick from Niekonieczny.
Horrible takedown by Niekonieczny or perhaps it was just good defense by Cope which made him look bad.
Cope lands a slapping body shot.
Cope misses with a wild body shot.
Niekonieczny moves out of range as Cope strikes.
Good work by Niekonieczny as he checks the leg kick.
Niekonieczny tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Niekonieczny shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cope pinned against the cage. Cope gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Niekonieczny has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cope checks a leg kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Cope.
Cope throws a hook but Niekonieczny avoids it easily.
Niekonieczny throws a big shot that misses.
Niekonieczny throws a chopping leg kick but Cope manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cope pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cope takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cope throws a low kick but Niekonieczny avoids it.
Cope looks to land a right hand but Niekonieczny moved out of range.
Cope misses with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Niekonieczny blocks a jab.
Cope throws a right hand that Niekonieczny ducks under and follows up with a left that Niekonieczny also avoids with ease.
Niekonieczny misses with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Mike Cope clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Niekonieczny throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Niekonieczny looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cope misses with an uppercut
and Niekonieczny counters with a right hand to the body.
Cope misses with an uppercut. Niekonieczny saw that one coming.
Niekonieczny throws an overhand right that lands on Cope's shoulder, as Cope tries to avoid the shot.
Niekonieczny with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cope misses with a kick to the body.
Cope thows a body shot but no joy.
Cope takes a swing at Niekonieczny's ribcage but misses.
Cope keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cope thows a body shot but no joy.
Cope looks to throw the jab but Niekonieczny is out of range.
Niekonieczny tries to clinch but Cope is having none of it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cope takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cope throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Niekonieczny sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Niekonieczny throws the kick towards the body but Cope avoids it.
Cope tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Niekonieczny is able to avoid easily.
Cope keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Niekonieczny closes the distance and clinches.
Niekonieczny ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Niekonieczny no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cope avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cope stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Niekonieczny swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Niekonieczny is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cope is aware though and is defending well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cope postures up in Niekonieczny's guard and throws a big left but Niekonieczny blocks it.
Cope loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cope postures up in Niekonieczny's guard and throws a big left but Niekonieczny blocks it.
Niekonieczny working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cope.
Cope stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Niekonieczny swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cope works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Niekonieczny is trying to get back to full guard.
Cope is trying to control the action in half guard but Niekonieczny is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Niekonieczny is trying to maintain the position but Cope is very close to passing his half guard.
Cope thows a huge punch but Niekonieczny dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cope is looking to advance position but Niekonieczny won't allow it.
Niekonieczny has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cope is working away from the top position though.
Cope is working for a kimura but Niekonieczny is defending it quite comfortably.
Niekonieczny works his way to full guard. Good work.
Niekonieczny doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Niekonieczny is looking for a triangle but Cope pushes his legs off easily.
Cope postures up in Niekonieczny's guard and throws a big left but Niekonieczny blocks it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cope scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cope lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cope pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Niekonieczny is keeping the position for now.
Mike Cope overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cope lands a couple of elbows.
Cope trying to control the position from guard on top but Niekonieczny is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Niekonieczny looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cope will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Niekonieczny striking off his back but it's not causing Cope any problems.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Niekonieczny keeping moving, preventing Cope from controlling successfully.
Niekonieczny working for a triangle but Cope defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that Mike Cope will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
A jab from Cope misses.
Niekonieczny avoids a kick to the body.
Niekonieczny avoids the body shot from Cope.
Cope moves out of range of the body kick from Niekonieczny.
Cope looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Niekonieczny is trying to control but can't.
Cope is looking to take a break and control but Niekonieczny is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cope lands with a punch from half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Niekonieczny is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cope scores with a couple of nice shots.
Niekonieczny works his way to full guard. Good work.
Niekonieczny is looking to sweep but instead, Cope has passed into half guard.
Cope prevents Niekonieczny from improving his position.
Niekonieczny tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cope lands a nice short elbow.
Cope throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Niekonieczny punching from the bottom.
Niekonieczny looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Niekonieczny is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Niekonieczny wants to control but Cope is keeping busy.
Janusz Niekonieczny has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny is defending against the submission attempts here by Cope.
Cope throwing shots but Niekonieczny is blocking nicely.
Niekonieczny is looking to improve his position.
Cope looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Niekonieczny punching from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niekonieczny on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cope prevents Niekonieczny from improving his position.
Cope wants to pass to mount but Niekonieczny is defending the position.
Niekonieczny avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cope.
Cope trying to control the action but Niekonieczny is working from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Cope there.
Cope passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cope with a couple of short strikes.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cope raining down hammerfists from mount.
Cope lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Cope lands a big shot there that rocks Niekonieczny but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Cope lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cope in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Niekonieczny throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Cope scoring with strikes but Niekonieczny is staying in there.
Niekonieczny is desperately trying to improve his position but Cope has a good base and remains in mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Niekonieczny throwing hammer fists to the chest of Cope. What's that going to do exactly?
Niekonieczny is wriggling around trying to escape.
Niekonieczny is bucking up trying to escape but Cope cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Cope showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cope, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 50:46
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 50:45
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 49:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Cope!
Mike Cope retains his featherweight title!
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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
100% |
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