PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tero Rokka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Cope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rokka kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Drowning Pool - Bodies. The crowd seem to be enjoying Cope's choice of entrance music: I Against I. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Rokka
vs
Cope

166 cm
25
144 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

176 cm
28
148 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

5th Round Clothing
ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30

5th Round Clothing
Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tero Rokka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Cope!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cope misses with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Rokka.
Rokka throws a sloppy head kick and Cope moves out of range easily.
An inside leg kick from Rokka misses.
Rokka sizes up Cope with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rokka tries to score with a low kick but Cope moves his leg out of the way.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rokka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rokka throws a head kick that misses.
Rokka throws a low kick, looking for Cope's leg but Cope calmly moves out of range.
Rokka thows a leg kick but Cope checks it
and Cope cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rokka moves forwards but Cope connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cope connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rokka stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cope.

Cope throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rokka tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cope is in Rokka's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Cope trying to control the position from guard on top but Rokka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cope is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Copeis looking to pass into half guard but Rokka pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rokka is in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cope keeping full guard, as Rokka tries to pass.
Rokka has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cope is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mike Cope.
Cope moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tero Rokka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Rokka.
Cope blocks a leg kick.
Rokka throws the kick towards the body but Cope avoids it.
Rokka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rokka there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cope lands with a hook. Rokka tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rokka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cope.

Cope scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cope taking a breather here.
An elbow from Cope crashes against the mat.
Rokka is looking for a sweep.
Cope throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rokka tries to improve position but can't.
Cope throws an elbow but Rokka slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cope wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rokka keeps working.
Cope tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Cope working the strikes but Rokka uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Rokka is staying active underneath Cope, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cope sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rokka defending well though.
Cope is looking to advance position but Rokka won't allow it.
Cope prevents Rokka from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cope missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rokka wants to control but Cope is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cope lands strikes from half guard.
Cope throwing shots but Rokka is blocking nicely.
Cope tries to pass to full mount but Rokka defends it.
Cope trying to control from half guard but Rokka is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Cope dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cope with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rokka misses with a body kick.
Rokka looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rokka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cope was well out of range. Poor timing from Rokka.
Cope shoots in looking for a takedown but Rokka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cope's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cope bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rokka's head.
Cope walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Cope throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rokka tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rokka takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cope checks a low kick from Rokka.
Cope has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rokka's corner calls for a 1-2. Rokka obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rokka throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rokka checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Nice body punch from Rokka.
Rokka throws the left hand but Cope avoids the punch easily.
Cope fails with a takedown attempt.
Cope throws a jab but it's blocked by Rokka.
Tero Rokka is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Cope lands.
Rokka looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rokka crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Cope - the referee stops the clock and Rokka gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Cope. Rokka manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Cope throws a shot from downtown. Rokka moves away and avoids it.
Rokka looks to land a right hand but Cope moved out of range.
Both fighters circling a little - Rokka finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Cope cracks a nice hook into Rokka's ribs.
Cope closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rokka circles away.
Tero Rokka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Cope.
Rokka throws a head kick that misses.
A lazy body kick from Rokka
and Cope counters with a head kick.
Cope throws the left hand but Rokka avoids the punch easily.
Rokka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rokka takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cope thows a body shot but no joy.
Cope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rokka was well out of range. Poor timing from Cope.
Rokka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rokka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rokka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cope connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cope is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rokka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cope throws a hook but Rokka blocks it.
Rokka misses with a head kick.
Cope throws a head kick that misses.
The fighters circling - Rokka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rokka lands a right hook to the body.
Rokka throws a leg kick that misses.
Cope swings for the body but Rokka moves out of range.

Cope looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rokka!
Cope can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rokka is looking to escape.
Mike Cope has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokka tries to hold on but Cope pushes him away.
Cope throws some wild stikes that Rokka manages to avoid easily.
Rokka is trying to escape the mount.
Cope raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cope lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cope has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cope raining down hammerfists from mount.
Cope sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cope tries to control but Rokka wriggling away.
Rokka tries to hold on but Cope postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cope lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Cope showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rokka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A nice leg kick lands there from Rokka.
Cope fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rokka on the side of the head.
Good standup being displayed there by Cope as he connects with a hook.
Cope changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rokka tries to avoid it but Cope manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rokka to the ground. Rokka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rokka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rokka moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rokka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cope dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cope fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Cope gets a takedown into half guard.
Rokka is holding on to half guard well.
Cope controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cope.
Cope not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cope thows a huge punch but Rokka dodges it nicely.
Cope stalling.
Rokka trying to control but Cope postures up.
Tero Rokka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rokka is refusing to be controlled, as Cope sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cope lands a lovely overhand right.
Rokka throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cope.
Cope lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rokka's sensitive parts.
Rokka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cope sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rokka misses with a low kick.
Rokka throws a body punch but Cope moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Rokka.
A bone on bone clash there as Cope blocks the leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of Rokka 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Cope uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rokka.
Cope lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokka does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cope scores with a hook.

Cope is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rokka's half guard.
Rokka wants to get back to his feet.
Rokka trying to hold on to Cope's head to control him but Cope postures up.
Cope throwing shots but Rokka is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cope not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cope lands a nice short elbow.
Cope is trying to control the action in half guard but Rokka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cope throws a strike but Rokka avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Cope trying to control but Rokka is working from the bottom.
Cope working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cope controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cope scoring with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Cope comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cope has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Cope!
An out of breath Mike Cope thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.