PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leon Lentz (ranked 1665 p4p, 2353 weight class) and Travis Copeland (ranked 236 p4p, 332 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Lentz
vs
Copeland

178 cm
26
182
14 - 5 - 0

175 cm
29
165
17 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leon Lentz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Travis Copeland!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lentz throws the kick towards the body but Copeland avoids it.
Copeland swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Copeland throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lentz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Copeland swings for the body but Lentz moves out of range.
Lentz throwing a counter right hand but Copeland manages to avoid it.

Copeland closes the distance and clinches.

Lentz breaks from the clinch.
Copeland lands a nice shot that snaps Lentz's head back.
Lentz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Copeland throws out the jab.
Copeland connects with a crisp jab.
Lentz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Copeland just misses with a punch to the body.
Copeland fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lentz manages to avoid it.

Copeland moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Copeland just leaning against Lentz, taking a breather.
Copeland tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Copeland gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Leon Lentz has been cut.
Copeland lands a body shot in the clinch.
Lentz lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland misses with a knee to the head.
Copeland looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Copeland is pushing Lentz up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Copeland slows down the pace here.
Copeland is trying to stall.

Lentz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Copeland fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lentz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Copeland now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Copeland slips under a jab.
Copeland throws a hook to the side of Lentz's head but Lentz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lentz misses the shot to the body.
Copeland appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lentz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Lentz throws out a loose jab but Copeland uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lentz lands a really nice looking cross but Copeland seems unphased.
Copeland throws a lazy uppercut
and Lentz counters with a left and a right that stings Copeland.
Lentz dodges the punch combination from Copeland.
Copeland moves in looking to clinch but Lentz pushes him off.
Travis Copeland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Copeland misses.
Lentz misses the shot to the body.
Copeland tries to close the distance and clinch but Lentz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lentz connects with a good right hand that stumbles Copeland. Copeland circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Lentz with a jab.
Copeland missing with a left hand there. Lentz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lentz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lentz keeps the fight on the outside.
Copeland lands with a cross.
Lentz misses with a left hand
enabling Copeland to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland cracks Lentz with an open hand slap.
Copeland misses with a hook.
Copeland throws out a loose jab but Lentz uses good head movement to avoid it.
As Copeland looks to move away, Lentz throws a big counter combo but Copeland just gets out of the way.
Copeland tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Copeland clinches.
Lentz can't break the clinch.
Lentz stalling the fight.
Copeland landing knees to the head.
Lentz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lentz tries to break free but Copeland pushes him back against the cage.
Lentz is trying to break the clinch but Copeland has him pressed against the cage.
Lentz tries to circle away but Copeland has him pinned against the cage.
Lentz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Copeland has Lentz pressed against the cage, preventing Lentz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Lentz manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lentz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lentz connects with a body shot that sends Copeland's belly button to the back.
Lentz throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Copeland tries to clinch but Lentz is having none of it.
It looked like Lentz was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Copeland lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lentz circles away quickly and effectively.
Copeland is looking to clinch but Lentz is avoiding it.
Lentz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Copeland.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Copeland waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lentz.
Copeland moves in looking to clinch but Lentz pushes him off.
Copeland on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Copeland scores with a nice head shot.
Lentz gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Copeland rushes Lentz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Copeland has Lentz pressed against the cage.
Lentz working hard to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Travis Copeland will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Leon Lentz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sloppy strikes from Lentz. Those never looked like landing.
Copeland tries to clinch there but Lentz circles away.
Copeland misses with the combination.
Copeland looks to land a left hand but Lentz moved out of range nicely.
Copeland tries to clinch there but Lentz circles away.
Lentz throwing a counter right hand but Copeland manages to avoid it.
Lentz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Copeland is looking to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Copeland.
Lentz goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Copeland swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Leon Lentz is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Copeland clinches up with Lentz and pushes him back against the cage.
Copeland misses with an elbow strike.
Lentz scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lentz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Copeland misses with a body punch.
Copeland pushes off an throws an elbow but Lentz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lentz lands a shot to the body.
Copeland lands a body punch.
Copeland tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lentz's elbow.
A bit of stalling here from Copeland.
Lentz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Lentz breaks from the clinch.
Copeland is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Lentz misses the target.
Lentz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Copeland rushes Lentz and presses him up against the cage.
Copeland taking a breather.
Travis Copeland seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Copeland crunches a lovely knee into Lentz's ribcage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland stalling the fight.
Copeland will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lentz up against the cage.
Copeland with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Lentz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Copeland clinches with his opponent.
Lentz wants to break the clinch but can't.
Copeland avoiding damage as Lentz throws knees to the body.
Copeland lands a nice knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Copeland misses with a knee to the head.
Copeland lands a nice elbow.
Copeland has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lentz blocks an elbow strike.
Copeland connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lentz's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lentz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lentz managing to block the knees to the body from Copeland.
Copeland pushes off an throws an elbow but Lentz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Lentz manages to break the clinch.
Copeland misses with a looping right.
Lentz misses the shot to the body.
Copeland uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lentz has time to react.
Lentz looks to throw the jab but Copeland is out of range.
Copeland tries to clinch there but Lentz circles away.
Copeland uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lentz.

Copeland drives through and clinches with Lentz against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lentz.
Copeland looking to throw knees to the head but Lentz is blocking nicely.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Copeland obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lentz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Copeland tries to clinch up but Lentz circles away and keeps his distance.

Copeland clinches up with Lentz and pushes him back against the cage.
Lentz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Copeland misses with an elbow strike.
Copeland stalls.
Lentz managing to block the knees to the body from Copeland.
Lentz stalling against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lentz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Copeland with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Lentz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Copeland fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lentz, pushing him back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Copeland throws an elbow but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Copeland showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Leon Lentz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Copeland scores with a punch to the head.
Copeland tries to clinch up but Lentz circles away and keeps his distance.
Copeland wants to clinch up but Lentz keeps it at a distance.
Lentz fires out a quick counter leg kick but Copeland just manages to avoid it.
Copeland tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lentz counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lentz throws a hook but Copeland blocks it.
Copeland fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Copeland moves in looking to clinch but Lentz pushes him off.
Copeland cracks Lentz with an open hand slap.
Lentz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lentz swats away the attempt to clinch by Copeland.
Copeland might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Copeland swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lentz swats away the attempt to clinch by Copeland.
Copeland doesn't manage to clinch there - Lentz circles away.
It looked like Lentz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Copeland stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lentz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland cracks a nice hook into Lentz's ribs.
Lentz moves out of range as Copeland strikes.
Lentz tries to move into range but Copeland moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Copeland scores with a punch to the head.
Danga de danga de dang - Copeland scores with a four punch combination!
Copeland fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lentz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A swing and a miss from Lentz.
Copeland tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lentz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lentz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A solid body kick from Lentz.
Copeland uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lentz.
Lentz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Copeland avoids a kick to the body.
Lentz digs a good body shot into Copeland's ribs.
Lentz just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Lentz misses
letting Copeland counter with a right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Copeland looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Copeland fails with an attempt to clinch.
Copeland lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Copeland.
A big left from Lentz misses.
Lentz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Lentz slips a straight right by Copeland.
Lentz swats away the attempt to clinch by Copeland.
Copeland tests Lentz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Copeland throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lentz on the side of the head.
Lentz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland tries to clinch up but Lentz circles away and keeps his distance.
Copeland throws a nice looking combination but Lentz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lentz connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Copeland throws a left and a right that both miss
and Copeland takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Copeland tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lentz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Copeland keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Copeland tries to clinch but Lentz moves out of range.
Copeland wants to clinch but Lentz slips to the side
and Lentz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Copeland rushes Lentz and presses him up against the cage.
Lentz stalling the fight.
Lentz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Copeland tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Copeland looking to stall.
Copeland's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lentz avoids the elbow strike from Copeland, against the cage.
Copeland using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lentz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lentz taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Copeland throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Copeland throws an elbow but misses.
Lentz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Copeland tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Lentz breaks the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Copeland moves away from the strike by Lentz.
Lentz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Copeland.
Copeland avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leon Lentz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Travis Copeland is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lentz slips a jab from Copeland.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Travis Copeland.
I've got Copeland winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Copeland!
A very excited looking Travis Copeland 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.