PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Copeland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaquan Dareal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jaquan Dareal has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rodney Copeland's chin.

Copeland
vs
Dareal

181 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodney Copeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jaquan Dareal!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Copeland fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dareal feints the counter takedown.

Dareal gets a clinch.
Copeland wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dareal has him pressed against the cage.
Copeland misses with some punches.
Copeland jumps guard but Dareal turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Dareal manages to break the clinch.
Copeland shoots for a takedown but Dareal saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodney Copeland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Copeland or perhaps it was just good defense by Dareal, which made it look bad.
Copeland shoots for a takedown but Dareal saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Dareal.

Dareal decides to stand up, so the ref orders Copeland to his feet.

Dareal feints and as Copeland raises his hands in defense, Dareal changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dareal controls the pace.
Dareal throwing strikes from guard but Copeland blocks nicely.
Copeland wants to sweep here but Dareal controlling him for the moment.
Copeland not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dareal is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dareal throwing strikes from guard but Copeland blocks nicely.
Dareal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dareal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Copeland throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Copeland is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dareal defends well.
Copeland keeping full guard, as Dareal tries to pass.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Copeland holds on and takes a little breather.
Dareal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Copeland works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dareal sitting in guard here, content to control.
Copeland controls Dareal momentarily but Dareal frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Copeland is defended easily by Dareal.

Dareal shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Copeland's guard.

Copeland manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Dareal manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Copeland on his heels. He'll look to pass Copeland's guard now, I'm sure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dareal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Copeland is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dareal is controlling him.
Copeland is pulling down on Dareal's head to control his posture.
Copeland keeping moving, preventing Dareal from controlling successfully.
Copeland working a defensive guard but Dareal manages to pass into side control anyway.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dareal is looking to take a break and control but Copeland is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Copeland's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaquan Dareal dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dareal shoots in and gets a takedown into Copeland's guard.

Copeland has his feet on Dareal's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Jaquan Dareal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dareal punishes Copeland's body with a nice straight punch.
Dareal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Dareal moves into range and clinches up with Copeland.
Dareal blocking some punches.
Copeland lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dareal.
Copeland is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Dareal gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dareal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Copeland.
Copeland really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Copeland jumps guard but Dareal stands there with Copeland around his waist. Copeland gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Copeland misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dareal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Copeland is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodney Copeland. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dareal jumps guard and drags Copeland to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Copeland working some strikes from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Copeland won't allow Dareal to sweep him here.
Dareal is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Copeland with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Copeland working some strikes from top position.
Copeland is working Dareal over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Dareal has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Copeland has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Dareal gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Copeland wants to stand and escape but Dareal is having none of it.

Copeland is working an open guard so Dareal takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Dareal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jaquan Dareal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dareal is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dareal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dareal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dareal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Copeland is looking to stand back up but Dareal counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Copeland.
Dareal seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Copeland is trying to maintain the position but Dareal is very close to passing his half guard.
Copeland might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dareal throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Copeland has his hands clasped together around Dareal's back. He's all about the action.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Dareal clinches up against the cage.
Copeland is trying to pull guard but Dareal turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A short right from Dareal on the inside.
Dareal stalling.
Copeland drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dareal pulls his leg out and moves away.

Dareal looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dareal tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Dareal stands up out of the half guard.
Dareal throws a combination that misses
and Copeland counters with a stiff right hand.

Copeland gets caught flat footed, as Dareal shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dareal wants to control from the top but Copeland keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaquan Dareal 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!

Copeland drives through and clinches with Dareal against the cage.

Dareal manages to break the clinch.
Copeland blocks a head kick by Dareal.

Dareal clinches up with Copeland and pushes him back against the cage.
Dareal lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Copeland.

Copeland turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Copeland manages to end up in side control.
Dareal tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Copeland wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dareal is still trying to improve position.
Dareal tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Copeland easily slips into full mount!
Copeland is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copeland manages to capitalize on a mistake by Dareal to take his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Copeland avoiding Dareal 's attempts to control his hands.

Copeland is looking for the choke from the back position but Dareal is controlling his hands well.
Dareal tries to break free.
Dareal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Copeland has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Dareal has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Dareal tries to escape but Copeland has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Copeland punches Dareal on the ear.
Copeland not allowing Dareal to control his hands.
Dareal is trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Copeland patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Copeland working for a choke but Dareal is defending well.
Copeland avoiding Dareal 's attempts to control his hands.
Copeland has the hooks in. Dareal is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Dareal is trapped and Copeland is scoring with shots to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dareal is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Copeland gets his way!

Copeland looking for the RNC.

Copeland looking for the choke from the back.
Dareal is in bad spot here.

Copeland is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Dareal is defending well though. Copeland let's go of the attempt for now.
Good control from Copeland.
Copeland doesn't have the hooks in and Dareal manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copeland has Dareal pulled in close to control his posture.
Dareal throws a big right hand that misses.
Dareal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Copeland throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Dareal escapes and throws Copeland's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Copeland is trying to escape the position but Dareal is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dareal working the ground and pound but Copeland is defending the strikes.
Rodney Copeland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jaquan Dareal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dareal just content to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodney Copeland showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dareal has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaquan Dareal!