PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommi Ritola (ranked 5213 p4p, 4799 weight class) and Mike Cozad (ranked 486 p4p, 465 weight class). Tommi Ritola has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ritola
vs
Cozad

200 cm
21
265
2 - 7 - 0

195 cm
20
275
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

PWNAGE™
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tommi Ritola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Cozad!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ritola tries to land a leg kick but Cozad saw it coming and moves away.
Ritola throws an overhand right that lands on Cozad's shoulder, as Cozad tries to avoid the shot.
Ritola sets himself, and Cozad steps forward looking for the clinch! Ritola avoids it this time.
Ritola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cozad is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ritola. Cozad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice defenses there by Cozad.
Ritola throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ritola throws a lazy right hand but Cozad sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ritola misses with a looping left.
It seemed like Cozad was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cozad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ritola.
Ritola misses with a kick to the body.
Cozad tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ritola throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A bone on bone clash there as Cozad blocks the leg kick.
Cozad drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ritola defends it well.
Ritola tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Cozad moves into the clinch successfully.
Cozad dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cozad - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cozad receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cozad takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ritola misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cozad holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mike Cozad.
Ritola misses with a hook. Cozad ducked under it nicely.
Ritola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cozad swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ritola throws a leg kick
and Cozad counters with a stiff right hand.
Ritola tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cozad is able to avoid easily.
Cozad paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ritola throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ritola misses with an uppercut.
Ritola jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cozad bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Cozad.
Ritola misses the jab.
Cozad connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cozad drops Ritola with a beautiful combination! Ritola stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Cozad is looking for the KO!

Ritola is rocked!

It looks like Tommi Ritola has been cut.
Cozad moves away from the strike by Ritola.
Cozad wants to counter the offense by Ritola and move into the clinch position.

Cozad clinches up against the cage.
Cozad avoiding damage as Ritola throws knees to the body.
Ritola misses with the head strike.
Cozad stalling.
Cozad managing to block the knees to the body from Ritola.
Cozad's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Cozad stalling in the clinch.
Cozad continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Cozad stalling.
Ritola tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cozad avoids it.
Cozad is struggling to control the position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mike Cozad.
Ritola throws out a loose jab but Cozad uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad clobbers Ritola with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Ritola pushes Cozad up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Cozad.
Cozad leaning against his opponent.
Ritola definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cozad has Ritola pushed against the cage.
Cozad avoiding damage.
Cozad is struggling to control the position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mike Cozad.
Ritola uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cozad.
Ritola lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Mike Cozad has been cut.
Cozad scores with a nice head shot.

Cozad has closed the distance and engaged Ritola in a clinch.
Ritola tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cozad avoids it.
Cozad stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cozad stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cozad stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ritola tries to land knees in the clinch but Cozad avoids the damage to the body.
Cozad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ritola misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cozad.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ritola misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cozad.
Ritola is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cozad is defending well for now.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ritola trying to land knees to the body.
Ritola is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cozad is defending well for now.
Cozad manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ritola tries to land knees in the clinch but Cozad avoids the damage to the body.
Cozad is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cozad managing to block the knees to the body from Ritola.
Ritola tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cozad avoids it.
A bit of stalling here from Cozad.
Cozad is stalling here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mike Cozad.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ritola. Cozad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cozad cracks Ritola with a right hand to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Cozad dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cozad closes the distance and pushes Ritola back into the cage.
Cozad is struggling to control the position.
Ritola letting Cozad take a breather here.
Cozad will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ritola up against the cage.
Cozad displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ritola up against the cage.
Ritola tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cozad avoids it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cozad takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mike Cozad.
Ritola misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cozad has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cozad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ritola.
Cozad looks to land a right hand but Ritola moved out of range.
Cozad bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cozad slips a jab from Ritola.
Ritola tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cozad was well out of range. Poor timing from Ritola.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritola tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Cozad closes the distance and clinches.
Ritola tries to land knees in the clinch but Cozad avoids the damage to the body.
Ritola trying to land knees to the body.
Cozad dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The referee calls for Cozad to work.
The crowd are getting on Cozad's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Cozad pressing his opponent against the cage.
Cozad taking a breather.
Ritola is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cozad is defending well for now.
Cozad slowing the pace effectively.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mike Cozad.
Cozad moves out of range as Ritola strikes.
Cozad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cozad blocks a head kick by Ritola.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritola throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Cozad counters by moving into the clinch.
Cozad slows down the pace here.
Mike Cozad seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cozad - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cozad has Ritola pushed against the cage.
Cozad dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mike Cozad.
Ritola swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ritola loads up on a big right hand but Cozad slips the punch.
Ritola connects with a leg kick.
Cozad lands a nice shot that snaps Ritola's head back.
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!
Ritola misses with an uppercut.

Cozad takes the fight into the clinch.
Cozad stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritola working aggressively here.
Ritola is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cozad is defending well for now.
Ritola is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cozad is keeping busy.
Cozad blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cozad slows down the pace here.
Ritola letting Cozad take a breather here.
Cozad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cozad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ritola scores a nice knee to the body.
Cozad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cozad effectively controlling the action here.
Cozad controlling the action here for a moment.
Cozad is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cozad avoiding damage as Ritola throws knees to the body.
Ritola misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cozad.
Ritola misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cozad.
Ritola is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cozad is defending well for now.
Ritola is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cozad is defending well for now.
Cozad managing to block the knees to the body from Ritola.
Ritola being controlled against the cage.
Cozad managing to block the knees to the body from Ritola.
Cozad stalling.
Cozad displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ritola up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mike Cozad.
A slow jab from Cozad misses its intended target.

Cozad clinches up with Ritola and pushes him back against the cage.
Ritola swings wildly with an uppercut but Cozad uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ritola has a couple of punches blocked by Cozad.
Cozad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ritola is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cozad is defending well for now.
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 Tommi Ritola will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cozad avoids the head kick by Ritola.
And Cozad tries to counter it with a takedown but Ritola pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ritola is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cozad.
Cozad drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ritola defends it well.
Ritola cracks a nice hook into Cozad's ribs.

Cozad has closed the distance and engaged Ritola in a clinch.
Cozad manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cozad - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ritola being controlled against the cage.
Cozad just leaning against Ritola, taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for Cozad to work.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mike Cozad.
Ritola misses with a body shot.
Tommi Ritola is winning the standup battle so far.
Ritola throws a low kick but Cozad avoids it.
Ritola throws a leg kick but Cozad sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritola tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cozad moves away from the strike by Ritola.
Ritola throws a leg kick but Cozad sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cozad drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ritola defends it well.
Cozad misses with a looping right.
Ritola misses with an uppercut.
Cozad takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ritola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cozad.
Ritola looks to land a body kick but Cozad moved away.
Ritola lands a nice looking body kick.
Cozad lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ritola's sensitive parts.
Cozad throws a hook to the side of Ritola's head but Ritola sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ritola misses the shot to the body.
Cozad slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritola throws the left hand but Cozad avoids the punch easily.
Ritola tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cozad tests Ritola's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Cozad clinches.
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 controlling the action here for a moment.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ritola tries to land knees in the clinch but Cozad avoids the damage to the body.
Ritola missing with knees to the body.
Cozad managing to block the knees to the body from Ritola.
Cozad taking a breather.
Cozad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cozad's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Ritola missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritola missing with knees to the body.
Cozad stalling.
Ritola is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ritola landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cozad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ritola misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cozad.
Cozad taking a breather.
Cozad is looking to control Ritola's arms but Ritola gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cozad has his back to the cage.
Ritola misses with some punches.
Ritola trying to land knees to the body.
Cozad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cozad stalling.
Ritola unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ritola lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cozad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cozad is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cozad holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mike Cozad.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Ritola.
Ritola thuds a left hand into Cozad's body.
Ritola throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cozad takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd cheers as Ritola lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cozad doesn't seem phased though.
Cozad looks to clinch
and Ritola counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cozad's knee momentarily.
Ritola misses with a kick to the body.
Ritola jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ritola throws a chopping leg kick but Cozad manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Tommi Ritola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ritola misses with a body punch
and Ritola takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommi Ritola showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ritola has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommi Ritola!