PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Hampton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Coopa (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.

Hampton
vs
Coopa

182 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
223 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Hampton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Coopa!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hampton, right into the meat.
Coopa tries to clinch there but Hampton circles away.
Hampton circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hampton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hampton scores with a shot to the side of Coopa's head.
Coopa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hampton avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Hampton pulls Coopa into guard.
Hampton can't keep his opponent in guard - Coopa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Hampton manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Hampton looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Coopa controlling Hampton's posture.
Hampton wants to stand and escape but instead Coopa has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hampton keeping moving, preventing Coopa from controlling successfully.
Hampton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Coopa is controlling him.
Coopa trying to control but Hampton is working from the bottom.
Hampton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Coopa sitting in guard here, content to control.
Coopa trying to control but Hampton is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Coopa throws a sloppy head kick and Hampton moves out of range easily.

Coopa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hampton manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hampton keeping full guard, as Coopa tries to pass.
Hampton keeping moving, preventing Coopa from controlling successfully.
Coopa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hampton's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coopa controlling from the top position.
Coopa won't allow Hampton to get back to his feet.
Coopa wants to get up but he can't break Hampton's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Coopa prevents Hampton from getting back to his feet.
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 James Hampton will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Coopa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Coopa clinches but Hampton breaks the clinch

and Hampton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Coopa's guard.
Coopa is trying to control the position but Hampton postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Coopa working for a triangle but Hampton defends it easily.
Hampton has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Coopa is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hampton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Coopa shoots and misses
and Hampton makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Coopa really felt that one!
Coopa is breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hampton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hampton tries a head kick but it misses.

Hampton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Coopa, pushing him back against the cage.

Hampton is trying to trip Coopa. He has hold of a leg but Coopa is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hampton persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hampton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coopa wants to sweep but no luck.
Coopa throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Coopa is adopting a defensive guard.
Coopa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hampton!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Coopa controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coopa tries to control but Hampton wriggling away.
Hampton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Coopa on the ground.
Hampton is in a horrible position here. Coopa smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

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.
Coopa has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hampton's face.
Hampton is bucking up trying to escape but Coopa cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Hampton defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Coopa.
Hampton trying desperately to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hampton dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hampton misses the shot to the body.
Coopa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hampton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Coopa misses with a low kick.
Coopa throws a head kick that misses

and Hampton counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Coopa!

Hampton is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Coopa shoots and misses

and Hampton counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Coopa's guard now.

Coopa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hampton stops Coopa from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hampton wanted to stand there but Coopa had control of the position.

Hampton stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coopa has his takedown stuffed

and Hampton counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hampton blocks the strikes from Coopa.

Hampton decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Hampton darts in and clinches Coopa up against the cage.
Coopa wants a takedown.
James Hampton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Coopa.
Hampton stalling.

Hampton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Coopa misses with a takedown attempt

and Hampton counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Coopa!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hampton gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Coopa tries for a takedown but Hampton circles away easily

and Hampton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Coopa's guard.
Coopa pulls Hampton in close to prevent any damage.

Hampton stands and steps away. Coopa gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Both fighters circling a little - Hampton finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hampton lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Coopa backs up against the cage.
Hampton loads up on a big right hand but Coopa slips the punch.

Coopa scores with a takedown into Hampton's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hampton keeping moving, preventing Coopa from controlling successfully.
Hampton is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Coopa dives into side control.
Coopa is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Hampton will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Coopa stands up.
Hampton with a lazy takedown attempt

and Coopa counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hampton's guard now.
Hampton is looking to stand up but Coopa isn't so interested in that idea.
Coopa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
John Coopa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Hampton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Coopa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hampton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Hampton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hampton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Hampton!