PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David Copeland (ranked 7970 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benny Wilder (ranked 6262 p4p, 619 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Copeland
vs
Wilder

161 cm
22
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, David Copeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Benny Wilder!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jonathan Paton and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilder throws a head kick that misses.
Copeland ducks under a wild hook from Wilder.
A head kick misses from Wilder.
Wilder connects with a good right hand that stumbles Copeland. Copeland circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Copeland takes one to the chin there.

Copeland closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Copeland lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Wilder down.
Wilder is pushing Copeland's head away, looking to escape. Copeland manages to hold on to the position though.
Copeland connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Wilder some visible discomfort.
Wilder pushes Copeland away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Copeland gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Wilder wants to get back to his feet but Copeland is dominant here and he's now got Wilder's back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wilder is trying to stand back up.
Copeland could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Wilder manages to stand up with Copeland still on his back. Eventually Copeland drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Wilder tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Copeland throwing a counter right hand but Wilder manages to avoid it.
Copeland shoots in and drives through. Wilder sprawls well.
Wilder misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder tries a head kick but it misses.
Wilder throws a sloppy head kick

and Copeland counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Copeland postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wilder wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Copeland manages to pass to side control.
Copeland prevents Wilder from standing back up.
Copeland keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Wilder is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Copeland scores with a couple of nice shots.
Wilder wants to get back to his feet.

Copeland is working for a submission of some sort.
Copeland lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Copeland is working for a submission of some sort.
Copeland controlling the pace.
Wilder is trying to escape back to his feet but Copeland uses the scramble to pass into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Copeland thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Wilder wants to get back to his feet but Copeland is dominant here and he's now got Wilder's back!
Copeland has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wilder fending off the submission attempt from Copeland.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Wilder is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Copeland softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Copeland softening up his opponent with strikes here.

Wilder manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Wilder will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Copeland takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Benny Wilder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilder misses with a straight left.
Wilder lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Copeland blocks a jab.

Copeland feints and as Wilder raises his hands in defense, Copeland changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Copeland slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Copeland connects with a couple of short punches.
Wilder is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Copeland is working Wilder over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Copeland is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Copeland prevents Wilder from getting back to his feet.
Copeland cracks Wilder with a solid left hand.
Copeland prevents Wilder from getting back to his feet.
Copeland keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Wilder's head.
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 David Copeland will probably get the nod.
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.

Wilder tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wilder lands a head kick!
A low kick from Wilder is predictable there

and Copeland counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Copeland is trying to pull guard but Wilder has him pressed against the cage.
Copeland tries to pull guard but Wilder holds him up against the cage and eventually Copeland drops back down to his feet.
Wilder tries to circle away but Copeland has him pinned against the cage.
Copeland fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Copeland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Copeland tries to pull guard but Wilder forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Wilder can't break the clinch.
Copeland jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wilder walks away with a smile on his face. Copeland gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Copeland doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilder tries a head kick but it misses.
Copeland was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Wilder lands a nice shot to the body.
Wilder throws a leg kick that is checked

so Copeland counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Copeland drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Copeland jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder is looking to stand up but Copeland isn't so interested in that idea.
Wilder is wriggling around but Copeland manages to pass to half guard.
Copeland working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Copeland looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Wilder with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Copeland is controlling the pace.
Wilder is looking to escape.
Wilder on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Wilder wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wilder is defending against the submission attempts here by Copeland.
Wilder wants to get back to his feet.
Wilder is trying to escape back to his feet but Copeland uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Copeland controls the position.

Copeland is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Wilder has escaped the position, nice work there.
Wilder is pushing Copeland's head away, looking to escape. Copeland manages to hold on to the position though.
Wilder is looking to get back to his feet here but Copeland is keeping cool and he's managed to take Wilder's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland lands shots from the back.
Wilder wants to get back to his feet.
Wilder is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Wilder is trying to get back to his feet but Copeland has full control of the position and if anything, Wilder has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Wilder defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Copeland's arms.

Wilder manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.

Copeland gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Wilder breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilder throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Copeland's head.
A head kick from Wilder lands but Copeland takes it in his stride.
Wilder is breathing heavily.
Wilder lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Copeland tries to clinch there but Wilder circles away.
A head kick misses from Wilder.
Copeland takes one to the chin there.
Wilder throws a leg kick which misses Copeland's front leg but catches the back leg as Copeland tries to avoid it.
Wilder thumps Copeland with a low kick.

Copeland has taken the fight to the clinch.

Copeland pulls guard successfully.
Copeland manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wilder manages to get himself to full guard.

Copeland makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Copeland is in close to Wilder's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that David Copeland will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Copeland showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wilder.
Copeland shoots in for a takedown but Wilder shows good takedown defense.
Copeland blocks a head kick by Wilder.
It looked like Copeland wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wilder connects with a nice looking jab.
Wilder lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A head kick misses from Wilder.
Copeland avoids the head kick by Wilder.
Copeland is looking for a counter combo.
Copeland shoots in for a takedown but Wilder shows good takedown defense.
Copeland dives in and grabs Wilder's left leg, looking for a takedown. Wilder pushes down on Copeland's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Copeland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Wilder finds it's way through Copeland's defenses.
Wilder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wilder lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Wilder tries a head kick but it misses.
Copeland slips under a jab from Wilder.
Copeland throwing a counter right hand but Wilder manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder tests Copeland's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wilder has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Copeland chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Wilder can pounce on him.

Copeland feints and as Wilder raises his hands in defense, Copeland changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Copeland prevents Wilder from getting back to his feet.
Copeland landing with the ground and pound.
Copeland working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Copeland drops back looking for a leg! Wilder is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Wilder manages to kick Copeland off! Copeland jumps back into Wilder's guard.
Copeland distracts Wilder with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilder is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Copeland is controlling him.
Copeland is standing up over Wilder. Wilder looks to escape but Copeland dives into side control.
Wilder takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Wilder tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Wilder in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Copeland takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Wilder really wants to buck Copeland off and get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wilder is trying to stand but he's just given Copeland his back.
Wilder is trying to stand back up.
Copeland really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Wilder.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Copeland working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Wilder is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Copeland has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Wilder taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). David Copeland!