PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Copeland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Copeland comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Avenged Sevenfold-Beast and the Harlot kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jones
vs
Copeland

190 cm
31
221 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

187 cm
28
217 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.
LOD: Affordable Quality

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 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Jay Copeland!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Copeland clinches.
Copeland can't get the takedown.
Copeland tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jones avoids it.
Copeland tries to land knees in the clinch but Jones avoids the damage to the body.
Jones wants to get back to striking at distance but Copeland won't allow it.
Jones blocks a body shot from Copeland.
Jones is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Copeland with a knee to the head.

It looks like Paul Jones has been cut.
Copeland utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Jones breaks the clinch.
Jones misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jones throws a jab when Copeland was well out of range.
Jones throws a looping overhand right but Copeland ducks down to avoid it.
Jones throws a nice looking combination but Copeland bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jones throws a lazy uppercut

and Copeland counters with a shoot takedown into half 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Jones blocking the ground and pound attempt from Copeland.
Copeland works his way into full mount!
Jones holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Copeland tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
We've been hearing good reports from Jones's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Copeland is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Jones to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Jones shrugs it off.
Jones tries to reverse the position but Copeland maintains control.
Copeland avoids the attempt from Jones to control.
Jones suckers Copeland into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Jones is now in Copeland's guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland 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.
Jones trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Copeland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jones pushes down on Copeland's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Copeland is staying active underneath Jones, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jones wants to advance to full mount but Copeland doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Copeland controls Jones momentarily but Jones frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones passes Copeland's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Copeland won't allow Jones to pass to mount.
Copeland is staying active underneath Jones, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jones seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Copeland moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Copeland utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jones throws a strike but Copeland rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Jones manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Jones thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Copeland tries to hold on but Jones postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones controlling his opponent.
Copeland has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Jones is in the full mount, landing strikes.
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 Paul Jones will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Paul Jones's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Copeland shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The fighters circling - Jones throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Copeland slips a jab and a cross from Jones.
Copeland goes for a double leg but Jones avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jones continues to drive forward.
Copeland tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Copeland keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jones's efforts to push away.
Jones working hard to break the clinch.
Copeland swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Copeland missing with knees to the body.
Copeland looking to throw knees to the head but Jones is blocking nicely.
Copeland missing with knees to the body.
Jones wants to get back to striking at distance but Copeland won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland misses with a punch to the body.
Jones is trying to break free.
Copeland throws an elbow that misses.
Jones wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jones blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Copeland throws an elbow but it misses.
Jones has Copeland pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Copeland manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Copeland is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jones pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Paul Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Copeland.
Copeland misses with a hook from the clinch.
Copeland just leaning against Jones, taking a breather.
Copeland lands an elbow that stopped Jones in his tracks for a moment.
Copeland tries to land a knee to the head but Jones blocks with his arms.
Copeland with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Copeland trying to land knees to the body.
Copeland lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Copeland misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones takes a knee to the side of the body.
Jones working hard to break the clinch.
Copeland tries to land knees in the clinch but Jones avoids the damage to the body.
Jones takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Copeland lands a good knee to the midsection. Jones won't want to take too many of those.
Copeland missing with knees to the body.
Copeland misses with some punches.
Jones blocks an elbow strike from Copeland.
Jones wants to break the clinch but can't.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Copeland.
Copeland looking to throw knees to the head but Jones is blocking nicely.
Copeland gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Copeland looking to throw knees to the head but Jones is blocking nicely.
Jones wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Jones is trying to force a seperation but Copeland has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Copeland has him pressed against the cage.
Copeland tries to land a knee to the head but Jones blocks with his arms.
Copeland scores with a knee to the head.
Copeland effectively controlling the action here.
Jones tries to break free but Copeland pushes him back against the cage.
Copeland pushes off an throws an elbow but Jones leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Copeland tries to land a knee to the head but Jones blocks with his arms.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Copeland.

Paul Jones's cut is getting worse.
Jones is trying to break the clinch but Copeland is controlling him.
Copeland lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jones blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Copeland with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Copeland looking to throw knees to the head but Jones is blocking nicely.
Jay Copeland seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Jones on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Copeland lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Copeland creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Copeland tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jones avoids it.
Copeland with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jones can't break the clinch.
Copeland tries to stall but Jones uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jones wants to get back to striking at distance but Copeland won't allow it.
Jones is trying to break free.
Copeland creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Jones's defenses.

Paul Jones's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Copeland tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Copeland using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jones has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones avoids a wild elbow strike from Copeland.
Copeland has Jones pressed against the cage, preventing Jones from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Copeland lands an elbow just above Jones 's eye.
Jones avoids the elbow strike from Copeland, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Copeland showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Paul Jones's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Jones throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Copeland.
Jones shoots in but no luck this time.
Jones throws a lazy uppercut

and Copeland counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Jones!
Copeland tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Copeland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jones keeps working.
Jones managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Copeland.
Copeland is trying to ground and pound but Jones uses the momentary lack of control by Copeland to regain half guard.
Jones is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Copeland is pressing down on Jones's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jones is holding on for now.
Jones is trying is best to control the position here.
Copeland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jones keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones keeps control of the position for the meantime.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Copeland is pressing down on Jones's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jones is holding on for now.
Jones is controlling Copeland's position as best he can from this difficult position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jones throws a nice looking combination but Copeland bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jones ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Copeland moves away.
Paul Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones's corner calls for a 1-2. Jones obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones lands a nice looking body shot.
Copeland staying out of range there.
Copeland shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.
Jones lands a body shot.
Jones cracks Copeland with a right hand to the side of the head.
Copeland ducks under a wild hook from Jones.
Copeland takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jones throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from Jones misses.
Good exchange - Jones coming out on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jones.
Jones lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Jones looks to score with a jab to the body but Copeland is just out of range.
Copeland lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Jones takes a swing at Copeland's ribcage but misses.
Copeland steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jones.
Jones misses with a straight left.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Copeland uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jones.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Copeland throws a shot to the body.
Copeland shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paul Jones.
I think Jones 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Paul Jones!
Paul Jones seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.