PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pope Cozad (ranked 4739 p4p, 4499 weight class) and Antonio Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cozad
vs
Ray

181 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
178
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers $120 160q Rec&St

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pope Cozad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antonio Ray!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ray misses with a body kick.
A big right from Cozad misses.
Ray throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cozad.
Ray throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Cozad pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cozad missing with a left hand there. Ray was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Cozad darts in and clinches Ray up against the cage.
Cozad fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cozad struggles to land a body shot inside as Ray controls his hands.
Cozad working aggressively here.
Ray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ray lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cozad backwards.

Ray's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ray tries to land a leg kick but Cozad saw it coming and moves away.
Ray tries to land a front kick but Cozad steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cozad tries to clinch but Ray is having none of it.
Ray lands a head shot.

Cozad clinches up against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cozad throws a head punch that misses.
Cozad misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cozad working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Ray.
Cozad swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ray misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cozad will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ray up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cozad.
Ray blocking some punches.
Ray tries to work over Cozad's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ray.
Cozad fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ray swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cozad misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ray.
Cozad working aggressively here.
Cozad blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cozad is trying to maintain a safe position but Ray gets an underhook and turns Cozad into the cage.
Cozad blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ray misses with a punch on the inside.

Ray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cozad checks a leg kick.
Cozad takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ray misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ray throws a head kick that misses.
A quick step to the side and Cozad tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ray with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Cozad gets a clinch.
Cozad swings wildly with an uppercut but Ray uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cozad looking to slow down the pace here.
Ray fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cozad misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cozad misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cozad struggles to land a body shot inside as Ray controls his hands.
Cozad throws a head punch that misses.
Cozad wants to stall.
Cozad creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ray looking to stall.
Cozad has Ray pushed against the cage.
Ray wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ray's efforts to push away.
Ray tries to work over Cozad's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cozad taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cozad as Ray tries to tie him up.
Ray blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ray has Cozad pushed against the cage.
Ray blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cozad misses with a punch on the inside.
Ray tries to stall but Cozad uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Ray manages to break the clinch.
Cozad is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ray.
A thudding body kick lands there by Ray!

Cozad has closed the distance and engaged Ray in a clinch.
Ray is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ray misses with a punch to the body.
Ray is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cozad tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cozad misses with a punch on the inside.
Cozad looking to stall.
Ray misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cozad fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ray blocking some punches.
Ray is trying to break the clinch but Cozad is controlling him.
Cozad is struggling to control the position.
Ray misses with a punch on the inside.
Ray lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cozad backwards.
Cozad tries to throw a body punch but Ray avoids it by throwing Cozad back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ray.
Ray swings wildly with an uppercut but Cozad uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ray looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ray throws a head punch that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cozad throws an elbow but it misses.
A head punch on the inside from Cozad fails to land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antonio Ray will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ray keeps Cozad at a distance using the push kick.
Cozad misses with a series of wild punches.
Cozad throws a body shot but no joy.
Ray connects with a solid leg kick.
Ray looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ray looks to land a body kick but Cozad moved away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ray blocks an uppercut.
Ray wants to get back to striking at distance but Cozad won't allow it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cozad is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ray is keeping busy.
Cozad fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cozad working aggressively here.
Ray stalling in the clinch but Cozad improves position.
Cozad has a couple of punches blocked by Ray.
Ray blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ray swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ray swings wildly with an uppercut but Cozad uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray blocks an uppercut.
Ray blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cozad misses with a punch to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Cozad slowing the pace effectively.
Ray is looking to break free of the clinch but Cozad has double underhooks.
Cozad stalling in the clinch.
Cozad tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ray.
Cozad tries to work over Ray's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ray wants to break free but Cozad has control.
Cozad trying to control the position but instead, Ray has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cozad into the cage.
Ray prevents a body shot from Cozad.
Cozad pressing his opponent against the cage.
Cozad fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray is looking to control Cozad's arms but Cozad gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ray has his back to the cage.
Cozad misses with a punch on the inside.
Cozad is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ray is looking to break free of the clinch but Cozad has double underhooks.
Ray misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Cozad fails to land.
Cozad has a couple of punches blocked by Ray.
Pope Cozad has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cozad trying to stall but Ray improves his position.
Cozad is trying to stall.
Cozad can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Cozad trying to stall but Ray improves his position.
Maybe Cozad would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Pope Cozad.
Cozad avoids a kick to the body.
Cozad pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ray is out of range and Cozad settles back down.
Ray throws a hook but Cozad blocks it.
Ray throws a head kick but Cozad moves out of range.
Cozad seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ray connects with a jab.
Cozad misses with a few strikes there.
Ray dodges the punch combination from Cozad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cozad takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Antonio Ray seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cozad shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ray misses with a body kick.
Cozad drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Cozad moves into the clinch.
Ray swings wildly with an uppercut but Cozad uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ray.
Ray misses with a body punch.
Ray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ray doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ray blocks an uppercut.
Cozad dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Cozad looking to slow down the pace here.
Cozad tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cozad slowing the pace effectively.
Ray being controlled against the cage.
Ray looking to slow down the pace here.
Ray working aggressively here.
Ray has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cozad misses with a punch on the inside.
Ray trying to stall but Cozad improves his position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cozad.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cozad.
Cozad tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cozad is trying to maintain a safe position but Ray gets an underhook and turns Cozad into the cage.
Cozad misses with a punch on the inside.
Cozad throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ray.
Cozad has Ray pressed against the cage, preventing Ray from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cozad is trying to stall.
Ray is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pope Cozad 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. This is the final round!

Ray throws a low kick, looking for Cozad's leg but Cozad calmly moves out of range.

Cozad has managed to clinch.
Cozad tries to throw a body punch but Ray avoids it by throwing Cozad back against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ray misses with a body punch.
Ray throws a head punch that misses.
Cozad struggles to land a body shot inside as Ray controls his hands.
Cozad has a couple of punches blocked by Ray.
Cozad is trying to maintain a safe position but Ray gets an underhook and turns Cozad into the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Cozad stalling in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Pope Cozad.
Cozad throws a right and a left that Ray avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ray throws a half hearted mid kick.
Pope Cozad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ray just misses with a punch to the body.
Ray moves away from the strike by Cozad.
Pope Cozad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ray uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cozad misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ray looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cozad throws a series of punches but Ray avoids them all with ease.
Cozad has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ray.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cozad misses with a shot to the body
and Ray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ray tries a head kick but it misses.
Cozad swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ray throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ray looks for the body kick but Cozad saw that one coming.
Cozad loads up on a big right hand but Ray slips the punch.
Cozad takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Ray comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ray lands a glancing blow to the side of Cozad's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice leg kick lands there from Ray.
Ray misses with an uppercut. Cozad saw that one coming.
Cozad is looking to clinch.
Ray tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray tries a head kick but it misses.
Cozad tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cozad misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ray wants to slow Cozad down by chopping away at his legs.
Ray throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cozad sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cozad throws the left hand but Ray avoids the punch easily.
Ray throws out a leg kick but Cozad moves out of range and Ray only half commits.
Cozad wants to land a leg kick but Ray is out of range.
Cozad misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ray does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ray will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ray keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cozad.
Ray takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Cozad misses with a double jab.
Ray showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cozad.
Ray replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Cozad blocks it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray tries a head kick but it misses.
Cozad tries to close the distance and clinch but Ray swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A slow jab from Ray misses its intended target.
Cozad on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ray. Ray obviously looking to wear him down.
Ray throws a head kick that misses.
Ray scoring well with a low kick there.
Good work by Cozad as he checks the leg kick.
Ray looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ray has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Cozad pushes Ray up against the cage in a clinch.
Cozad content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ray blocks a body shot from Cozad.
Ray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Ray breaks the clinch.
Cozad throws a hook but Ray avoids it easily.
Cozad's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Cozad swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ray replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Cozad blocks it well.
Nice straight punches there by Ray. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ray.
Cozad throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Pope Cozad has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cozad tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ray manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ray.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ray lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cozad has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cozad and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Ray. Cozad shrugs it off though.
Ray is looking to land body kicks.
No joy there for Cozad, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ray circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cozad is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ray thuds his shin into the meat of Cozad's side.
Ray scores with a spinning back kick!
Ray lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cozad moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Cozad is rocked!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Ray - that will leave a mark!
Oh Cozad is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ray connects with an inside leg kick.
Cozad moves out of range of the body kick from Ray.
Cozad seems to have got his legs back now.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Ray. Cozad shrugs it off though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Ray comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ray has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Ray!
Antonio Ray was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.