PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Cope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cope comes into the arena with Let's Go blaring out of the sound system. Mike Cope has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cope
vs
Thompson

176 cm
29
147 lbs
23 - 6 - 0

170 cm
27
155 lbs
17 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Powerful

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 23 - 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 17 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Alyssa Summers and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cope lands with a straight right. Thompson didn't see that one coming.
Cope looks to land a right hand but Thompson moved out of range.
Cope shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thompson but Thompson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mike Cope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cope buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cope looks to land a body kick but Thompson moved away.
Cope feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thompson's calf.
Cope throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Thompson counters with a shoot takedown. Cope fights it but they end up in guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Thompson throws a big right hand that misses.

Thompson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Cope is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thompson is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cope preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cope escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thompson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thompson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thompson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Cope is retaining full guard.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thompson trying to control but Cope is working from the bottom.
Cope wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson cracks Cope with a solid left hand.

Thompson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cope has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thompson has managed to get both his arms back between Cope's legs - danger averted.
Thompson looking to pass the guard.
Thompson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thompson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Cope manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thompson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thompson trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cope with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thompson is looking to sweep but instead, Cope has passed into half guard.
Cope drops an elbow to the side of Thompson's head.
Cope lands with a punch from half guard.
Cope not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thompson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cope's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cope's back!
Cope tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Cope is trying to escape the mount.
Cope manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Cope trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cope is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thompson pulls his head out easily.
Cope is trying to stand.
Thompson passes into side control, despite Cope's attempt to control the position.
Thompson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Cope is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Thompson controlling the position from side mount.
Thompson gets to mount! Cope was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cope bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close 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.

Thompson closes the distance and clinches up with Cope, looking for a takedown. Thompson pushes Cope against the cage but Cope circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cope lands with a slapping head kick.
Cope throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Good exchange - Cope coming out on top.
Cope misses with a body shot.
Cope misses with a body shot.
Cope misses with a low kick.
A big right from Thompson misses.
Cope throws a sloppy head kick and Thompson moves out of range easily.
Cope walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Danga de danga de dang - Cope scores with a four punch combination!
Cope throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cope throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thompson.
Thompson blocks a leg kick.
Thompson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cope moves into range and connects with a jab.
Cope motions for Thompson to come forward. Cope throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cope blocks the body kick.
Billy Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Cope shows good takedown defense.
Thompson scores with a one two! Cope had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Thompson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cope sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mike Cope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Thompson.
Cope tried to score with a low kick but Thompson checks it.
Cope connects with a solid leg kick.
Cope shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thompson defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cope enables Thompson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cope manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Cope is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thompson is aware though and is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cope throws his legs up looking for a submission but Thompson uses it to pass to side control.
Thompson misses with the ground and pound.
Thompson slows the pace down.
Cope manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cope scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Thompson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cope throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cope is nestled in close to Thompson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cope working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cope is trying to control the action in half guard but Thompson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cope trying to pass the guard but Thompson defending well.
Cope trying to control the action but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Cope tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thompson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thompson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson is looking for a triangle here but Cope uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cope lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Thompson down.
Cope scores with punches from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cope cracks Thompson with a big elbow.
Cope passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Thompson!
Thompson working to try and regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cope landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Cope dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cope is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Thompson's half guard.
Cope is nestled in close to Thompson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Well, if Cope is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Thompson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cope tries to free his leg and advance position but Thompson is retaining full guard.
Thompson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cope's guard.

Cope is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Thompson rolls with it to try and escape but Cope cranks on the arm and Thompson is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike Cope!
Mike Cope retains his featherweight title!
A relieved looking Mike Cope thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.