|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Zaire (ranked 3304 p4p, 3341 weight class) and Salvatore Coppola (ranked 376 p4p, 379 weight class). Coppola has chosen Duality as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
 |
|
 |
| 180 cm
36
215
23 - 16 - 0 |
|
201 cm
31
210
15 - 34 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
KO power |
|
Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
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 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abdullah Zaire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 34 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Salvatore Coppola!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Anthony Taglia and Jorge Garcia.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coppola pushes Zaire up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Coppola.
Coppola lands a good knee to the midsection. Zaire won't want to take too many of those.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Coppola.
Coppola landing knees to the body.
Zaire drags the fight down to the ground.
Coppola wants to stand but Zaire is controlling his posture from full guard.
Coppola decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Zaire, up you get!
Coppola is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire fails with a takedown attempt.
Coppola drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Zaire defends it well.
Zaire swats away the attempt to clinch by Coppola.
Zaire fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Coppola, pushing him back against the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Coppola looking to slow down the pace here.
Zaire swings wildly with an uppercut but Coppola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zaire misses with a body punch.
Coppola wants to get back to striking at distance but Zaire won't allow it.
Zaire pulls guard.
Zaire tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zaire is working hard here to advance position.
Coppola is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Zaire 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.
Zaire is working an open guard so Coppola takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coppola tries to clinch there but Zaire circles away.
Coppola misses with a wild body shot.
Coppola staying out of range there.
A big left from Zaire misses.
Coppola changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Coppola darts in and clinches Zaire up against the cage.
Zaire misses with a short punch on the inside.
Coppola has picked Zaire up - he's going for a ride! Coppola dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Coppola is looking to advance position but Zaire won't allow it.
Zaire might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Coppola decides to stand up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaire moves away from the strike by Coppola.
Zaire darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Coppola wants to control the action here but instead Zaire manages to pass to full mount!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coppola wants to hold on but Zaire pushes him away.
Zaire throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Coppola is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Coppola is trying to stand up.
Coppola is looking to improve his position but Zaire isn't that keen on the idea.
Zaire moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Coppola has worked his arm free - good work by Coppola!
Coppola wants to control but Zaire postures up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coppola is looking to regain half guard here but Zaire keeps moving and retains side control.
Coppola wants to get back to his feet.
Coppola dodges the ground and pound from Zaire.
Zaire goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Coppola has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Zaire but great work by Coppola.
Zaire is looking for a sweep.
Zaire struggling a bit here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Salvatore Coppola dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Coppola gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Coppola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zaire is trying to pull guard but Coppola turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Coppola lands a good knee to the midsection. Zaire won't want to take too many of those.
With the fighters up against the cage, Coppola throws an elbow but misses.
Coppola is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Zaire can't fight it off and eventually Coppola manages to take the fight to the floor. Zaire looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zaire looking for a guillotine here but Coppola defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zaire has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Coppola can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zaire definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Coppola is stalling in the full guard.
Coppola wants to control from the top but Zaire keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Coppola wants to stand but Zaire has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zaire looking for a sweep. Not yet Zaire, not yet.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Coppola has managed to clinch.
Coppola tries to break the clinch but Zaire is controlling the position.
Coppola lands a body punch.
Zaire dodges an elbow strike from Coppola.
Coppola is trying to stall.
Coppola being controlled against the cage.
Zaire looking for a takedown.
Coppola will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Zaire up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire has a couple of punches blocked by Coppola.
Zaire throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Zaire manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Coppola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Coppola is stalling in the full guard.
Coppola works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Coppola gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Zaire gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Coppola is looking to stand up but Zaire won't let him.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Coppola must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Coppola tries to free his leg and advance position but Zaire is retaining full guard.
Coppola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Coppola tries to stand but Zaire is controlling from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zaire working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Coppola.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Salvatore Coppola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Zaire tries to close the distance and clinch up but Coppola swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick misses from Zaire.
Coppola cracks Zaire with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zaire shoots in looking for a takedown. Coppola tries to sprawl out of it but Zaire keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Coppola manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Coppola fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zaire moves into range and clinches up with Coppola.
A bit of stalling here from Coppola.
Coppola escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Coppola moves into the clinch.
Coppola tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zaire avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coppola wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Coppola blocks an elbow strike.
Coppola manages to break the clinch.
Coppola throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zaire throwing a counter right hand but Coppola manages to avoid it.
Zaire takes a swing at Coppola's ribcage but misses.
Coppola looks for the body kick but Zaire saw that one coming.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Coppola scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zaire is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Coppola fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Salvatore Coppola has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zaire struggling a bit here.
Coppola decides to stand up, so the ref orders Zaire to his feet.
Coppola lands a front kick.
Abdullah Zaire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coppola misses with a head kick.
Coppola checks the leg kick nicely there.
Coppola tries to clinch up.
Coppola lands with a slapping head kick.
Coppola shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zaire napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Coppola lands a nice forearm strike.
Zaire tries to bench press Coppola off him but Coppola keeps the position.
Coppola is looking to take a break and control but Zaire is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zaire regains half guard there - taking advantage of Coppola's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coppola with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Zaire is refusing to be controlled, as Coppola sits in half guard.
Zaire wants to control but Coppola is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Coppola decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Zaire blocks a head kick by Coppola.
Coppola tries to close the distance and clinch but Zaire swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A big left from Zaire misses.
Zaire throws a push kick but Coppola slaps the foot to one side.
Coppola closes the distance and pushes Zaire back into the cage.
Zaire pulls guard effortlessly.
Zaire preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Coppola would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Salvatore Coppola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Coppola has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salvatore Coppola!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Salvatore Coppola made sure he mentioned Shadow Realm Apparel, along with how happy he was to win his fight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
35% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
