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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 Will Banks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cope kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Let's Go. Banks has chosen All I do Is win as his entrance music. Will Banks told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!
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| 176 cm
29
147 lbs
21 - 6 - 0 |
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175 cm
27
156 lbs
16 - 7 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
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
21 - 6 - 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
16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Will Banks!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Chad Campbell.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cope looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cope connects with a single shot there.
Danga de danga de dang - Cope scores with a four punch combination!
Cope scores with a leg kick.
Banks on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Cope throws a series of punches but Banks moves out of range.
Banks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A jab from Cope misses.
Banks takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Banks looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Banks misses with a right hand
and Cope counters with a stiff right hand.
Banks takes one to the side of the head.
Banks scores with a leg kick.
Cope throws a sloppy body shot
and Banks counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cope escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Banks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Banks postures up in Cope's guard and throws a big left but Cope blocks it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks throws a big right hand that misses.
Banks looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cope working a defensive guard here.
Cope tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Banks looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cope is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Banks is aware though and is defending well.
Banks throws a big elbow that misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Banks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Banks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cope swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cope tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cope throws his legs up looking for a submission but Banks uses it to pass to side control.
Cope parries the strikes from Banks easily there. Banks is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cope to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cope tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Banks in side control lands a decent elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cope is looking for a sweep.
Cope manages to get back to half guard.
Banks content to control rather than advance.
Cope is not content to let Banks control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cope is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cope looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cope taking some punishment here, with Banks in his half guard.
Cope makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cope.
Banks's corner is telling him to maintain position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Banks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Banks tries to free his leg and advance position but Cope is retaining full guard.
Banks distracts Cope with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Banks preventing the sweep.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Banks postures up in Cope's guard and throws a big left but Cope blocks it.
Banks postures up in Cope's guard and throws a big left but Cope blocks it.
Cope looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cope looking for a sweep. Not yet Cope, not yet.
Banks tries to free his leg and advance position but Cope is retaining full guard.
Banks trying to control the position from guard on top but Cope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banks keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cope's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cope escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Banks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cope looking for a guillotine here but Banks defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Will Banks will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Banks throws a big shot that misses.
Cope misses with a body kick.
Cope looks to score with a jab to the body but Banks is just out of range.
Cope connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Banks momentarily.
Nice straight punches there by Cope. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Cope.
Cope throws a hook but Banks avoids it easily.
Cope sizes up Banks with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cope connects with a good right hand that stumbles Banks. Banks circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A swing and a miss from Cope.
Cope throws a low kick but it's checked well by Banks.
Banks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cope.
Nice cross by Cope.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cope throws a shot from downtown. Banks moves away and avoids it.
Banks takes a swing at Cope's ribcage but misses.
A slow jab from Cope misses its intended target.
Cope lands with a shot to the body.
Cope throws a leg kick
and Banks counters with a stiff right hand.
Cope misses with a wild body shot.
Cope lands a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Banks. Cope does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cope throws a front kick aimed at Banks's knee but Banks avoids it well.
Cope scores with a body shot.
Cope throws a jab but it's blocked by Banks.
Cope gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Banks.
Banks avoids the body shot from Cope.
Banks looks to throw the jab but Cope is out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cope.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cope fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Banks manages to avoid it.
Banks misses with an uppercut. Cope saw that one coming.
Cope misses with an uppercut.
Cope fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cope connects with a leg kick. Banks looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Banks thows a body shot but no joy.
Cope throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Banks.
Cope shoots in and drives through. Banks sprawls well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big right from Cope misses.
Cope takes one on the button.
Banks fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cope has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cope fails to land with a series of punches.
Banks has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cope.
Cope lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mike Cope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banks throws a right and a left that Cope avoids nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks shoots for a double leg takedown but Cope sprawls well. He's pushed Banks's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cope shoots in but Banks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Cope. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Banks. No joy for Cope on that attempt.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cope checks a leg kick.
Banks swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Banks. Cope does a little dance to reset his feet.
Banks takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Banks has a takedown stuffed.
Cope looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Banks's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cope misses with an uppercut.
Cope misses with a hook. Banks ducked under it nicely.
Banks misses with a looping right.
Donk. Banks catches Cope right on the button with a cross.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cope lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cope moves into range and connects with a jab.
Banks missing with a left hand there. Cope was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Banks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cope circles away quickly and effectively.
Cope checks a leg kick nicely.
Nice shot lands for Cope.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cope. Banks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cope fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Banks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Banks tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Banks blocks a low kick nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Banks misses with an uppercut. Cope saw that one coming.
Cope with a nice cross.
Banks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cope stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Mike Cope dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Banks stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Banks wants it to stay on the feet.
Cope misses with a hook
and Banks counters with a left to the body.
Cope throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cope is looking to chop away at Banks's legs.
Cope misses with a hook.
Cope misses the shot to the body.
A lazy left from Banks finds it's target.
Banks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cope.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cope.
Banks avoids the head kick by Cope.
Banks uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cope.
No joy there for Banks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cope blocks a low kick nicely.
Cope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banks was well out of range. Poor timing from Cope.
Banks takes a jab right on the kisser.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cope shoots in for a double leg but Banks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Banks throws a body punch but Cope moves out of range.
Banks throws out a loose jab but Cope uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cope fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Banks has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Banks throws an overhand right that lands on Cope's shoulder, as Cope tries to avoid the shot.
Banks throws out a loose jab but Cope uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cope falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cope displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Banks throws out the jab.
Cope throws the left hand but Banks avoids the punch easily.
Banks is looking to chop away at Cope's legs.
Cope ducks under a wild hook from Banks.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Banks, right into the meat.
Cope attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Banks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cope.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks moves out of range as Cope strikes.
Cope ducks under a wild hook from Banks.
Banks dodges the punch combination from Cope.
Banks takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cope throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Cope swings for the body but Banks moves out of range.
Cope throws out a leg kick but Banks moves out of range and Cope only half commits.
Mike Cope is winning the standup battle so far.
Cope missing with a left hand there. Banks was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A lazy left from Cope finds it's target.
Cope keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Banks throws a head kick but Cope moves out of range.
Cope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banks was well out of range. Poor timing from Cope.
Banks takes one on the button.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cope takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Banks gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Cope attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Banks throws the left hand but Cope avoids the punch easily.
Banks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cope.
Banks connects with a nice looking jab.
Cope connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Banks's hands.
Banks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cope misses with a wild body shot.
Banks shoots in looking for a takedown. Cope tries to sprawl out of it but Banks 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 body punch but Banks moves out of range.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cope swings widly with a right hand
and Banks counters with a nice body shot.
Banks keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cope misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cope tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Banks is able to avoid easily.
Banks scores with a body shot.
Banks slips a jab from Cope.
Cope lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Banks at a distance.
Cope throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Banks stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Banks wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Cope. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Banks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cope sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cope scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Banks doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cope misses with an uppercut.
Cope connects with a body shot that sends Banks's belly button to the back.
Cope misses with a takedown attempt - Banks sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Mike Cope clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Cope throws a series of punches but Banks moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cope. Banks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cope throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nice straight punches there by Banks. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Banks.
Banks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Banks lands with a nice body punch.
Cope ducks under a wild hook from Banks.
Cope uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banks.
Cope throws a leg kick
and Banks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cope explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Cope connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Banks momentarily.
Cope takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Cope closes this distance looking for a takedown but Banks circles away.
Banks thows a body shot but no joy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cope counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Cope.
Cope throws a looping overhand right but Banks ducks down to avoid it.
Banks misses with a double jab.
Banks thows a body shot but no joy.
Cope connects with a right hand. Banks shakes it off.
Cope feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bankss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Banks blocks the body kick.
Cope connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Banks takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A left lands for Cope.
Banks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cope.
Cope 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.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banks throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cope on the side of the head.
No luck for Banks with that takedown attempt.
Cope throws a low kick, looking for Banks's leg but Banks calmly moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cope.
Banks bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cope's head.
Cope looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Banks keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cope.
Banks thows a body shot but no joy.
Banks blocks a low kick nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cope misses with a hook.
A head kick misses from Banks.
Cope checks the leg kick.
Cope lands with a hook. Banks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cope scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cope lands a nice looking body shot.
Cope throws a hook to the side of Banks's head but Banks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cope looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cope lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Banks has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Banks lands a jab to Cope's midsection.
Cope throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Banks's waist but Banks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cope off to one side.
The fighters circling - Banks throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Banks missing with a left hand there. Cope was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cope misses with a looping right.
Banks blocks a jab.
Cope misses with a two punch combination.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cope checks a leg kick.
Cope misses with an attempted mid kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banks takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cope throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cope looks to land a body kick but Banks moved away.
Banks takes a swing at Cope's ribcage but misses.
Cope throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Banks misses with a looping right.
Banks throws a jab but it's blocked by Cope.
Cope swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A combination from Banks does no damage.
Banks ducks under a wild hook from Cope.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cope misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cope throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Banks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cope.
Cope swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Mike Cope had his way with Will Banks in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Banks smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Banks crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Cope - the referee stops the clock and Banks gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Cope. Banks manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Cope throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Banks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cope manages to avoid it.
Banks slips a straight right by Cope.
A telegraphed right hand from Cope misses the target.
Cope throws a leg kick that misses.
A jab from Banks misses.
Banks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Banks misses with a wild body shot.
Cope misses with a low kick.
Banks throws a hook to the side of Cope's head but Cope sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Banks throws a leg kick but Cope moved away.
Cope shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Banks looks to score with a jab to the body but Cope is just out of range.
Banks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
No joy there for Cope, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Banks uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cope.
Cope looks to land a body kick but Banks moved away.
Banks misses with a body shot.
Cope paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cope scores with a body shot.
Cope misses with a straight right.
Banks takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cope.
Cope scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cope throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Banks is trying to get back to half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cope sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Banks is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Cope throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Banks works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Cope is trying to control. Banks wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cope not landing any meaningful shots this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Banks trying to control here.
Banks holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Cope throwing shots but Banks is blocking nicely.
Will Banks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cope is looking to take a break and control but Banks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cope throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cope.
Banks wants to control but Cope is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Banks preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Banks is looking to improve his position.
Will Banks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Banks keeping hold of Cope's head, controlling as best he can.
The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Will Banks wasn't active enough on the ground.
A cross from Cope lands.
Cope drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cope bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Banks's head.
Cope moves into range and connects with a jab.
Cope throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Banks takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cope.
Cope throws a low kick but Banks moves out of range easily.
Banks has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Cope.
Banks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cope lands a jab to Banks's midsection.
Cope misses with a series of wild punches.
Banks just misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cope avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Banks takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cope's corner calls for a 1-2. Cope obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Cope showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cope has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 49:46
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 49:46
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 49:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Cope!
Mike Cope is the new featherweight champion!
A very excited looking Mike Cope made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
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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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