PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tanner Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Copeland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Speed comes to the cage accompanied by Funky Kingston / Toots And The Maytals. Copeland has chosen Avenged Sevenfold-Beast and the Harlot as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Speed
vs
Copeland

188 cm
27
212 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

187 cm
24
217 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tanner Speed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jay Copeland!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Copeland blocks the body kick.
Copeland circles away from the clinch attempt

and Copeland counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Copeland postures up.
Speed on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Speed tries to get out of the position.
Copeland content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Copeland loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Copeland throwing strikes from guard but Speed blocks nicely.
Copeland loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Speed knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Copeland on the ground.
Copeland throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Speed works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Copeland is looking to work some ground and pound but Speed has wrist control.
Copeland working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Copeland is looking to work some ground and pound but Speed has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Copeland accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Copeland works over Speed with some ground and pound from guard.
Copeland postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Copeland throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Speed works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Copeland wants to control from the top but Speed keeps moving.
Copeland throwing strikes from guard but Speed blocks nicely.
Speed keeping moving, preventing Copeland from controlling successfully.
Speed is trying to keep Copeland in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Copeland throwing shots but Speed is blocking nicely.
Copeland perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Copeland throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Copeland is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Speed has managed to free his arm - good work.
Copeland slips a nice elbow through Speed's hands, connecting with Speed's forehead.
Copeland has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Speed is staying active underneath Copeland, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Copeland sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Speed defending well though.
Copeland throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed blocking the ground and pound attempt from Copeland.
Copeland trying to control the action but Speed is working from the bottom.
Copeland throwing shots but Speed is blocking nicely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Copeland looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Copeland throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Copeland wants to work for an arm triangle but Speed is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Speed blocking the ground and pound attempt from Copeland.
Copeland missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Speed keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland trying to mount his opponent but Speed defends it.

Copeland is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Speed is just riding it out for now. Copeland eventually gives up the hold.
Copeland thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Speed's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Copeland missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Copeland with the ground and pound but Speed uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Speed is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Copeland dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Copeland tries to clinch but Speed is having none of it.
Speed tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Copeland manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Copeland avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Copeland. Those never looked like landing.
Copeland shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Speed as he jumps to the side.
Speed cracks Copeland with a right hand to the side of the head.

It looks like Jay Copeland has been cut.

Speed gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nice body punch from Speed - that landed with a thud.
Speed blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Copeland drops down looking for an ankle pick but Speed pulls his leg out and moves away.
Speed fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed tries to clinch up but Copeland circles away and keeps his distance.
Speed lands a front kick.
Some wild striking there from Copeland.
Copeland takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Copeland gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Speed with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Speed tries to clinch up but Copeland circles away and keeps his distance.
Speed throws a body kick that misses
and Copeland counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Speed jabs Copeland right on the nose. Copeland blinks but takes it well.
Speed swings away with a leg kick that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Speed tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Copeland manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jay Copeland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Speed thuds his shin into the meat of Copeland's side.
Nice jab there from Speed.
Speed fails in his attempt to clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Speed.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Speed.
Speed is looking to clinch but Copeland is avoiding it.
Speed throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Copeland.
Tanner Speed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Copeland.
Speed tests Copeland's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Speed lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed misses with an attempted mid kick.
Speed thows a leg kick but Copeland checks it

and Copeland counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Speed blocking the ground and pound attempt from Copeland.

Copeland is working for a submission of some sort.
Copeland with the ground and pound but Speed uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Copeland working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland postures up in Speed's guard and throws a big left but Speed blocks it.
Copeland loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Copeland accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Copeland trying to control the position from guard on top but Speed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Copeland working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Copeland trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Copeland trying to control the position from guard on top but Speed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Speed is pulling down on Copeland's head to control his posture.
Copeland throwing strikes from guard but Speed blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner Speed dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jay Copeland's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

An inside leg kick from Copeland misses.

Speed clinches up against the cage.
Speed tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Speed managing to block the knees to the body from Copeland.
Copeland looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Speed blocks an uppercut.
Copeland is trying to drag Speed to the mat but Speed just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Copeland tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A frustrated look appears on Copeland's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Copeland is looking for a takedown.
Speed is trying to maintain a safe position but Copeland gets an underhook and turns Speed into the cage.
Speed dodges an elbow strike from Copeland.
Speed gets through Copeland's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Speed struggles to land a body shot inside as Copeland controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Speed obliges.
Copeland takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Copeland takes a knee to the side of the body.
Speed trying to stall but Copeland improves his position.
Speed putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Copeland in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Speed missing with knees to the body.
Speed pressing his opponent against the cage.
Speed connects with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Speed misses with an elbow over the top.
Speed manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Speed is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Copeland is looking for a takedown.
Tanner Speed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Copeland.
Speed tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Copeland can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland is looking to take this one to the mat.
Copeland blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Speed misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Copeland.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Speed creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Speed lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Speed with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Speed lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Copeland has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Copeland misses with a body punch.
Speed digs a right hand underneath Copeland's ribcage. Copeland let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Speed landing knees to the head.
Speed using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Copeland has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Speed lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Copeland crunches a lovely knee into Speed's ribcage.
Copeland takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tanner Speed has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed with a knee to the head.
Speed landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Speed.
Copeland blocks a body shot from Speed.
Copeland tries to throw a body punch but Speed avoids it by throwing Copeland back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Speed tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Speed lands a hook to the side of the head.
Copeland goes for a takedown in the clinch but Speed prevents it.
Speed with a knee to the head.
Copeland wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Speed has him pressed against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Speed takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Copeland lands a knee to the head.
Speed lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Copeland.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short right from Speed.
Speed landing knees to the head.
Speed lands a body punch in the clinch.
Speed gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Copeland.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Speed obliges.
Come on Copeland - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Copeland is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Copeland misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Copeland is working for takedown but Speed is calmly controlling the position for now.
Speed landing knees to the head.
Speed tries to work over Copeland's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tanner Speed showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Speed 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tanner Speed!
A relieved looking Tanner Speed thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.