PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steven Kopp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Abelha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven Kopp has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kopp
vs
Abelha

170 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Instinct
Machine Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steven Kopp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mauricio Abelha!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kopp looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kopp accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kopp throws a strike but Abelha rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Abelha drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kopp manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Abelha has Kopp in his guard.

Kopp lands a couple of digs.
Kopp pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Abelha is keeping the position for now.
Kopp cracks Abelha with a solid left hand.
Kopp throws a strike but Abelha rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kopp 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abelha wants to control from the top but Kopp keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abelha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kopp swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Abelha stopping the sweep attempt from Kopp.

Abelha thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Abelha trying to control but Kopp is working from the bottom.
Abelha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kopp is keeping the position for now.
Kopp keeping moving, preventing Abelha from controlling successfully.
Kopp manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Abelha manages to get himself to full guard.

Kopp throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kopp working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Abelha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kopp.
Kopp throws a strike but Abelha rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Abelha thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Abelha works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kopp trying to hold on to Abelha's head to control him but Abelha postures up.
Kopp is trying to get back to full guard.
Kopp regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kopp is controlling Abelha's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abelha passes Kopp's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Abelha wants to pass to mount but Kopp is defending the position.
Kopp is trying to get back to full guard.
My spies in Soul Supremacy Rio inform me that Abelha has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kopp makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kopp.
Kopp not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Abelha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kopp is keeping the position for now.
Kopp looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
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 Steven Kopp will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Abelha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kopp manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Kopp shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Abelha napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Abelha takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Abelha manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Abelha has hold of Kopp's hands but Kopp slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kopp drops an elbow to the side of Abelha's head.
Kopp lands with a punch from half guard.

Abelha is rocked!
Kopp lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Abelha! More strikes land and this one is all over! Kopp jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Steven Kopp!
Steven Kopp seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.