PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mikel Kopparberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kris Napiera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kopparberg
vs
Napiera

178 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mikel Kopparberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kris Napiera!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kopparberg gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Napiera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kopparberg avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Napiera is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The fighters circling - Kopparberg throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
No joy there for Napiera, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Napiera goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nice shot by Napiera.
Napiera throws a series of punches but Kopparberg moves out of range.
Napiera closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Napiera misses with a jab, cross combination.

Kopparberg darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kopparberg tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Napiera.
Napiera tries to roll over but Kopparberg keeps him under control.
Kopparberg looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kopparberg looks to land a strike but Napiera avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Kopparberg wants to stand but Napiera has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Napiera wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kopparberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Napiera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kopparberg wants to get up but he can't break Napiera's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Napiera lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Napiera swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kopparberg.

Kopparberg shoots in and bounces Napiera off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Napiera is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kopparberg wants to get back to his feet.
Kopparberg on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kopparberg tries to get out of the position.
Kopparberg scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Napiera manages to mount him!
Kopparberg is breathing heavily.
Napiera wants to control the pace but Kopparberg is squirming around nicely.

Napiera get's back to his feet.

Napiera clinches.

Kopparberg breaks from the clinch.
Kopparberg dodges the punch combination from Napiera.
Napiera scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kopparberg drives through and clinches with Napiera against the cage.

Kopparberg lands a takedown into guard.
Kopparberg tries to stand but Napiera is controlling from the bottom.
Kopparberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Napiera is retaining full guard.
Kopparberg throws and elbow that misses. Napiera uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kopparberg's guard. Nice move by Napiera!
Napiera slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Napiera decides to stand back up.
No luck for Napiera with that takedown attempt.
Kopparberg throws a right hand that Napiera ducks under and follows up with a left that Napiera also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Napiera both land. Nice combination.
Kopparberg tries for a takedown but Napiera sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Napiera is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Napiera works over Kopparberg's head and body with a nice combination.
Napiera fails to land the takedown.
Napiera lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Napiera lands a two punch combo.
Napiera fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kopparberg is out of range.
Napiera is working the combinations to good effect here.
Napiera shoots in and drives through. Kopparberg sprawls well.
Mikel Kopparberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kris Napiera.
Napiera wants to clinch up but Kopparberg keeps it at a distance.
Napiera looks to land a combination. Kopparberg sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kopparberg has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Napiera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kopparberg has closed the distance and engaged Napiera in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kopparberg is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Napiera pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Napiera fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kris Napiera dominated that 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.

Napiera lands a two punch combo.
Napiera's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Napiera duly obliges.
Napiera wants to clinch up but Kopparberg keeps it at a distance.
Kopparberg looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Kopparberg darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Napiera wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Napiera is trying to control but can't.
Kopparberg wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kopparberg trying to mount his opponent but Napiera defends it.
Kopparberg not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Napiera is looking to escape.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Napiera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kopparberg shoots in but Napiera avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Napiera throws a nice looking combination but Kopparberg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kopparberg shoots for a takedown but Napiera saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Napiera closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kopparberg can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikel Kopparberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kopparberg prevents Napiera from breaking the clinch.
Napiera is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Kopparberg manages to break the clinch.
Napiera checks a low kick from Kopparberg.
Napiera defending well as Kopparberg loads up on a big left hand.
Napiera throws a one two combo.
Kopparberg avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kopparberg misses with the combination.
Napiera misses with a few strikes there.
Kopparberg shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Napiera but Napiera pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kopparberg slips a jab and a cross from Napiera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Napiera fails to land with a series of punches.
Napiera fails in his attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Napiera misses.
A left and a right from Napiera both land. Nice combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Napiera misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Napiera tries to clinch but Kopparberg moves away

and Kopparberg counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Napiera!
Napiera tries to hold on but Kopparberg pushes him away.
Napiera regains half guard.

Napiera has one foot on Kopparberg's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Napiera misses with a jab, cross combination.
Napiera misses with a jab, cross combination.
Napiera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kopparberg as he avoids it easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Napiera.
Kopparberg tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Napiera counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kopparberg swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Napiera counters with a left and a right that stings Kopparberg.
Napiera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kopparberg paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Napiera throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kopparberg throws a jab when Napiera was well out of range.
Kopparberg tries to clinch but Napiera moves out of range.
Napiera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kopparberg.
Horrible takedown by Napiera or perhaps it was just good defense by Kopparberg which made him look bad.
Napiera tests Kopparberg's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kopparberg throws a combination that misses
and Napiera counters with a nice uppercut.
Kopparberg shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kopparberg.
Kopparberg takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Napiera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Napiera throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kopparberg misses with a series of wild punches.
Napiera lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kris Napiera will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kopparberg dodges the punch combination from Napiera.

Kopparberg fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Napiera, pushing him back against the cage.
Napiera wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Napiera is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kopparberg is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Napiera to the mat. Napiera regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kopparberg wants to stand and escape but instead Napiera has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Napiera passes into half guard.
Napiera content to control rather than advance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Napiera wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kopparberg keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Napiera stalling.
Napiera is keen to just control but Kopparberg is a slippery customer.
Kopparberg is trying to stand up here but Napiera is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kopparberg is looking for a sweep. Napiera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Napiera scores with a three punch combo!
Kopparberg is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kopparberg shoots in for a double leg but Napiera sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Napiera lands with a nice combination. Kopparberg backs away looking to recover.
Napiera misses with the combination.
Kopparberg motions for Napiera to come forward. Kopparberg throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Napiera wants to clinch

and Kopparberg counters by clinching up.
Napiera wants a takedown but no success here.
Kopparberg drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Napiera has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kopparberg avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Napiera is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kopparberg is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Napiera gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikel Kopparberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kopparberg is looking to break free of the clinch but Napiera has double underhooks.
Kopparberg is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Napiera is looking to control Kopparberg's arms but Kopparberg gets an underhook and turns him. Now Napiera has his back to the cage.
Napiera is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Napiera wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Napiera tries to pull guard but Kopparberg holds him up against the cage and eventually Napiera drops back down to his feet.
Napiera drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kopparberg gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mikel Kopparberg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Napiera tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage 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 Mikel Kopparberg.
I think Napiera has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kris Napiera!