PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Copp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Fickett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fickett has chosen Yankee Rose as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Anderson Copp has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Copp
vs
Fickett

198 cm
22
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anderson Copp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blake Fickett!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fickett scores a takedown into full mount!
Copp is desperately trying to improve his position but Fickett has a good base and remains in mount.
Fickett throwing strikes here but Copp is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Copp is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fickett thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Fickett has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Copp's face.

It looks like Anderson Copp has been cut.

Fickett has control of Copp's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Copp regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Fickett won't let Copp get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Copp is squirming around, avoiding Fickett's attempts to control the action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Fickett cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fickett prevents Copp from getting the reversal.
Fickett throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Copp tries to improve his position but instead Fickett has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copp trying to control the hands but Fickett won't let him.

Fickett is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fickett trying to control.
Copp covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Fickett punches the canvas rather than the man.
Fickett is hanging on to Copp's back as he tries to escape.

Fickett working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Copp defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Fickett looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fickett wants to control the position but Copp frees himself and scrambles - Fickett manages to regain control in side control.
Copp is looking for a sweep.
Copp is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Fickett off and has taken his back!
Copp tries to get the hooks in deep but Fickett pushed the leg off.
Fickett rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Copp is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Fickett is trying to maintain the position but Copp is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fickett looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Fickett is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jab by Copp.
Copp lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Copp.
Copp stuns Fickett with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Copp throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Copp misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Fickett decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Fickett is working for a kimura but Copp is defending it quite comfortably.
Copp blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fickett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copp looks like he's trying to stand up.
Copp has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fickett is working away from the top position though.
Fickett slips a nice elbow through Copp's hands, connecting with Copp's forehead.
Fickett passes the guard and advances to mount!
Copp flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Copp is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Fickett working for a submission but Copp is keeping him at bay.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Copp is trying to stand.

Fickett is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Copp can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Fickett dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anderson Copp's cut.
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.

Copp lands with a nice combination. Fickett backs away looking to recover.
Copp with a nice cross.
Copp bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Fickett's head.

Fickett scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Fickett is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Copp is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Copp tries to improve position but can't.

Fickett is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Copp is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Fickett has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Copp is trying to control Fickett's posture but Fickett avoids it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Fickett working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fickett tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Fickett wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Copp, who protects the arm well.
Copp managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Fickett.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Copp is looking to reverse the position.

Fickett thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Copp is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Copp tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fickett wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Fickett tries for a kimura but Copp is defending well.
Fickett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Copp keeps working.

Fickett tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Copp tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Fickett is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Copp knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Copp's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Copp is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Fickett is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Fickett looking to control and managing it successfully.
Copp manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Copp slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fickett trying to control the position from guard on top but Copp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Copp looking to control.
Copp has momentary wrist control but Fickett slips an elbow through the middle.

Copp working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fickett doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fickett manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fickett working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fickett pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Copp is keeping the position for now.
Fickett passes into half guard.

Fickett is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Fickett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anderson Copp's cut.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Copp throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Copp lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Anderson Copp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Fickett shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Copp's guard.
Fickett works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Copp wants to improve his position but Fickett is controlling well.
Fickett passes to full mount!
Copp is working to get back to half guard.

Fickett looking to secure an arm triangle but Copp defends it well.
Fickett trying to control but Copp is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Fickett.
Fickett unloads with some shots from mount but Copp bucks and avoids them well.
Copp is in all sorts of trouble here.
Fickett with good strikes from the mount here!
Copp tries to lock up and control but Fickett gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Fickett tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Fickett jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Copp manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Fickett wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Copp, who protects the arm well.

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.

Fickett decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Copp throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fickett.
Copp thows a body shot but no joy.

Fickett gets the takedown into side control.
Blake Fickett has got the better of the ground game so far.
Copp sneaks back into half guard.
Fickett passes to full mount!
Copp is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Fickett avoids the attempt from Copp to control.

Fickett stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Copp darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Copp fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fickett looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Fickett rushes Copp and presses him up against the cage.

Fickett works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Fickett thows a big elbow that misses.

Copp throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Copp looking for a sweep. Not yet Copp, not yet.

Copp has his foot on Fickett's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fickett works his way back into a safe position though.
Fickett landing some decent shots from guard.
Fickett working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fickett trying to control the position from guard on top but Copp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fickett postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Copp is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Fickett, into his guard.

Fickett looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Copp wants to stand but Fickett is controlling his posture from full guard.
Fickett manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Copp manages to get himself to full guard.
Copp 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.
Anderson Copp has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fickett passes Copp's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Fickett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fickett 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Fickett!