PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adam Copeland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taras Bulba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Copeland comes into the arena with Metalingus by Alter Bridge blaring out of the sound system. The key to victory for Adam Copeland has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Copeland
vs
Bulba

205 cm
22
275 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

180 cm
27
230 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Adam Copeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taras Bulba!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Copeland misses with a few strikes there.
Copeland lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Taras Bulba has been cut.
Copeland throws a series of strikes that have Bulba backpedaling.
Bulba takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bulba shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Copeland counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bulba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Copeland is fending him off so far but Bulba persists. Nope, Copeland circles away and we're back to standing.
Bulba takes one to the chin there.

Bulba closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bulba lands in his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Copeland being controlled here, momentarily.
Bulba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bulba passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bulba working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Bulba scores with a couple of short elbows.
Bulba trying to control the action but Copeland is working from the bottom.
Bulba might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Copeland kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulba controlling the position.
Bulba scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Copeland to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulba staying calm.

Bulba looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bulba has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bulba is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Copeland can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Copeland tries to hold on but Bulba postures up.
Bulba takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Copeland knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bulba on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bulba won't let Copeland get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taras Bulba dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Taras Bulba's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Copeland throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bulba stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bulba tries for a takedown but Copeland sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bulba shoots for a double leg takedown but Copeland sprawls well. He's pushed Bulba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Copeland throws out a powerful jab.
A right-left combo lands from Copeland.
A combination from Copeland does no damage.
Bulba shoots in and drives through. Copeland sprawls well.
Adam Copeland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taras Bulba.
Copeland throws a one two combo.
Copeland wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bulba shoots in for a double leg but Copeland sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Copeland throws a combination. Bulba tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Copeland is looking to clinch but Bulba is avoiding it.
Copeland closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Copeland throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bulba.
Copeland misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland moves into range and connects with a jab.
Jab from Copeland.
No joy there for Copeland, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Copeland misses with a series of wild punches.
Copeland throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A nice combination there by Copeland.
Some wild striking there from Copeland.
Copeland lands a nice looking body shot.
Copeland misses with the combination.
Copeland checks a leg kick.
Bulba dodges the punch combination from Copeland.
Copeland is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulba shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Copeland pinned against the cage. Copeland gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A left and a right from Copeland both land. Nice combination.
Copeland throws a right and a left that Bulba avoids nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Copeland fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Bulba closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Copeland to the mat! Copeland manages to get full guard.
Bulba postures up in Copeland's guard and throws a big left but Copeland blocks it.
Bulba engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Copeland can't keep his opponent in guard - Bulba advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulba is looking to take a break and control but Copeland is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bulba passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bulba controlling the position easily from mount.
Copeland on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Copeland tries to get out of the position.
Bulba tries to control but Copeland wriggling away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bulba controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Copeland dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Taras Bulba'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.

Copeland scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Copeland displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bulba.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bulba.
Copeland tries to bum rush Bulba with a series of wild strikes but Bulba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Copeland fails to land with a series of punches.
Bulba shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Copeland defends it nicely.
Adam Copeland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taras Bulba.
Bulba shoots for a double leg takedown but Copeland sprawls well. He's pushed Bulba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Copeland throws a right and a left that both miss.
Copeland tests Bulba's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bulba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Copeland scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Copeland misses with the combination.
Copeland tries to clinch there but Bulba circles away.
Adam Copeland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bulba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Copeland sprawls well. Copeland wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bulba gets slowly back to his feet.

Copeland closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Copeland breaks the clinch.
Copeland tries to bum rush Bulba with a series of wild strikes but Bulba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Copeland scores with a one two! Bulba had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Copeland sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bulba somewhat.
Bulba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Copeland gets the takedown into side control.
Bulba regains half guard, as Copeland was trying to land strikes.
Bulba moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bulba looking for a sweep. Not yet Bulba, not yet.
Bulba has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Bulba's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copeland loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Bulba looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bulba is trying to control the position but Copeland postures up.
Copeland with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bulba is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Copeland throwing strikes from guard but Bulba blocks nicely.
Bulba trying to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Taras Bulba was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nice body punch from Copeland.
Copeland displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bulba.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Copeland closes the distance and clinches.
Bulba avoiding damage as Copeland throws knees to the body.
Bulba goes for a takedown attempt but Copeland pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bulba's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Copeland connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Bulba scrambles back to his feet.

Bulba scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Copeland is defending against the submission attempts here by Bulba.
Bulba is keen to just control but Copeland is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Copeland clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Taras Bulba's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Copeland clinches with his opponent.

Copeland breaks the clinch.
Copeland throws a right and a left that both miss.
Copeland misses with a series of wild punches.
Copeland lands with a straight right. Bulba didn't see that one coming.
Bulba shoots in for a double leg but Copeland sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Copeland scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Copeland fails to land with a series of punches.
Copeland is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Bulba shoots in and bounces Copeland off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bulba controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bulba is working Copeland over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bulba wants to control from the top but Copeland keeps moving.
Copeland wants to stand and escape but Bulba is having none of it.
Bulba showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Taras Bulba was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Bulba slips a jab and a cross from Copeland.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Copeland misses with a wild combination.
Copeland tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bulba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Adam Copeland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bulba looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Bulba trying to control but Copeland is working from the bottom.
Bulba slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bulba advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulba is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Copeland's shoulder. That is not cool.
Bulba trying to control the position but Copeland is working away.
Bulba works to advance to full mount. Copeland defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Taras Bulba has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland wants to control but Bulba is having none of it.
Bulba looking to control and managing it successfully.

Copeland is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Bulba locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Copeland is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Taras Bulba!