PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Soboyt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Link Copper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Soboyt had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Soboyt
vs
Copper

183 cm
21
145 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

170 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny Soboyt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Link Copper!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Soboyt gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Copper drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Soboyt dives on top into guard.
Soboyt would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Copper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Copper really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Soboyt. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Soboyt gets to his feet. Copper looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Soboyt really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Soboyt shoots in but no luck this time.
Copper fails in his attempt to clinch.
Copper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Soboyt shoots in looking for a takedown. Copper tries to sprawl out of it but Soboyt keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Copper manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Soboyt has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copper gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Soboyt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Soboyt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Copper keeps control of Soboyt as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Soboyt gets underhooks to prevent Copper's takedown attempt.
Soboyt changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Copper fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Copper throws a leg kick that misses.

Copper looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Copper looks gassed!
Soboyt slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Copper trying to control the position from guard on top but Soboyt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soboyt manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Copper tries to lock up and control but Soboyt gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Copper is squirming around, avoiding Soboyt's attempts to control the action.
Copper is in a horrible position here. Soboyt smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Soboyt avoids the attempt from Copper to control.
Soboyt lands with some strikes.

Soboyt is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copper wants to clinch
and Soboyt counters with a body kick.
Soboyt doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Copper counters with a single leg into guard. Soboyt didn't expect that.
Copper wants to control from the top but Soboyt keeps moving.
Copper would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Soboyt will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Soboyt wants to stand up but Copper is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soboyt trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Soboyt keeping moving, preventing Copper from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Soboyt throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Copper throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Soboyt was covering up waiting for the punch and Copper finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Soboyt wants to stand but Copper is controlling the position.
Copper is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Soboyt trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Copper dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Soboyt gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Copper looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Soboyt 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.
Soboyt wants to get back to his feet but Copper is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Copper wanted to stand there but Soboyt had control of the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Copper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soboyt is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copper postures up.
Copper stops Soboyt from standing up.
Soboyt wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Copper fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Soboyt sprawls well initially but Copper persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Soboyt regains full guard. Nicely done.
Copper has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Soboyt is proving hard to escape from.
Copper won't allow Soboyt to get back to his feet.
Soboyt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Copper manages to get himself to full guard.

Soboyt stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Copper closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Copper stands up.
Soboyt stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Soboyt wants it to stay on the feet.

Copper shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Soboyt manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soboyt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Copper is controlling him.
Copper has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Soboyt is proving hard to escape from.
Copper trying to control but Soboyt is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soboyt working a defensive guard here.

Soboyt pushes Copper off and gets back to his feet.

Soboyt rushes Copper and presses him up against the cage.

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

Copper clinches with his opponent.
Soboyt changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Copper fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Soboyt gets caught flat footed, as Copper shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soboyt keeping moving, preventing Copper from controlling successfully.
Soboyt wants to stand but Copper is controlling the position.
Copper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Copper tries to free his leg and advance position but Soboyt is retaining full guard.
Copper looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Soboyt wants to sweep here but Copper controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Copper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Soboyt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Copper shoots in and bounces Soboyt off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Soboyt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Copper looking to pass the guard.
Link Copper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Soboyt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Copper is one step ahead there.

Copper drops back looking for a leg! Soboyt is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Soboyt manages to kick Copper off! Copper jumps back into Soboyt's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soboyt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Copper manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soboyt gets to his feet - Copper follows without any prompting.

Copper has taken the fight to the clinch.
Copper is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Soboyt gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Copper turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Copper manages to end up in side control.
Soboyt prevents Copper from moving into mount.
Copper wants to stand but Soboyt is controlling his arm.
Copper works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The referee asks Copper politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Copper prefers to stall for the moment though.
Soboyt manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copper wants to improve his position but Soboyt is controlling well.
Copper is trying to control but Soboyt manages to pass to mount!
Copper looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Soboyt controlling well, preventing Copper from escaping the position.

Copper defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
I really don't envy Copper right now.
Soboyt is looking to control Copper but Copper is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soboyt working for a choke but Copper is defending well.
I really don't envy Copper right now.
Copper is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Copper rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Soboyt wants to stand but Copper has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Copper is pressing down on Soboyt's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soboyt stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Soboyt steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Copper.
Soboyt tries a head kick but it misses.
Soboyt scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Copper wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Soboyt throws a head kick that misses.
Copper wants to clinch.
Copper shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Soboyt as he jumps to the side.
Johnny Soboyt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Copper drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

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 Johnny Soboyt.
I think Copper 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Link Copper!